In a move to further strengthen Nigeria’s burgeoning film industry, the Federal Government has announced a licensing waiver for investors looking to establish cottage or community cinemas across the country.
Abuja, Nigeria- This initiative, led by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), marks a significant step in fostering local cinema culture and expanding the film exhibition landscape, particularly for Nollywood, one of the largest film industries in the world.
The announcement was made by Dr. Husseini Shaibu, Executive Director and CEO of the NFVCB, on Monday in Abuja. This waiver aligns with the agenda set by Nigeria’s Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hanatu Musawa, who has advocated for strategic policies to stimulate investment in Nigeria’s creative sector.
By waiving licensing requirements, the government hopes to incentivize local investors to build community cinemas in areas where access to large-scale movie theaters is limited.
According to Dr. Shaibu, this initiative is expected to have a “huge multiplier effect in the bottom rung of the cinema exhibitor pyramid.” By lowering entry barriers for smaller investors, the waiver is set to create job opportunities for young Nigerians while expanding the reach of Nollywood films into more local communities, towns, and villages. This move is also anticipated to enhance revenue generation for both the government and filmmakers, as more cinema screens become available across the country.
The waiver aims to democratize access to cinemas by encouraging the establishment of smaller, more localized cinemas that cater to the specific needs of rural and underserved communities. These community cinemas are envisioned to bring cinemagoers back to the big screen, fostering a cultural resurgence in areas where watching films in a communal setting was once a staple of entertainment.
Citing successful examples from countries like India, where community cinemas exist alongside larger, more sophisticated theater chains, Dr. Shaibu explained that Nigeria can similarly adopt this dual model to great success. “The decision to grant a licensing waiver would not only expand the number of cinema screens but also promote the local box office for Nollywood films,” he said. This would provide filmmakers with more avenues to distribute their content while making cinema-going more accessible to a wider audience.
As part of this initiative, the NFVCB has granted provisional approval to an investor to conduct a twelve-month test run of a community cinema project. This pilot project, endorsed by Minister Musawa, is expected to serve as a model for future community cinema investments. If successful, the NFVCB plans to recommend broader waivers to additional stakeholders, potentially leading to exponential growth in the cinema exhibition sector.
Key Advantages for Filmmakers and Communities
One of the major benefits of this initiative is the focus on local content and Nollywood films. The establishment of community cinemas will provide a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work to audiences that might otherwise not have access to cinemas. This is a key factor in ensuring that Nollywood films, which are rich in local culture and stories, continue to thrive both nationally and globally.
Dr. Shaibu emphasized that the initiative will also boost the overall quality of films produced in Nigeria by providing filmmakers with more direct feedback from local audiences. The expansion of cinemas will create a more competitive environment, encouraging filmmakers to improve the quality of their work, knowing that their films will be screened in more locations. “This initiative will create job opportunities, increase local revenue, and promote Nollywood films,” Shaibu noted.
To further promote investment in community cinemas, the NFVCB is exploring collaborations between established cinema operators and community cinema stakeholders. Such collaborations would help bring high-quality cinematic experiences to underserved areas, providing audiences with access to films that are not always available in local markets. This partnership could also lead to improved technological infrastructure and modernized cinema equipment in rural and suburban areas.
In an effort to broaden the business landscape for cinema exhibition in Nigeria, the NFVCB has also proposed reducing exhibition and distribution license fees for operators. This proposal is expected to encourage even more investors to enter the cinema business, making it easier for them to set up operations in areas where establishing larger cinemas may not be economically feasible.
Dr. Shaibu also outlined several reforms aimed at streamlining the film classification process for filmmakers. One such reform is the reduction of classification time for full-length feature films to a maximum of 48 hours, while same-day classification will be available for dramatized short content like skits and musical videos. This faster turnaround time will help filmmakers get their content to the market more quickly, which is essential in an industry where timing is critical for profitability.
The introduction of online submission processes is another important reform that will benefit filmmakers. This new system will simplify the submission and classification of films, making it easier for content creators to navigate the regulatory framework. By reducing the time and effort required to classify films, the NFVCB is removing one of the major barriers to entry for new filmmakers and producers in the Nigerian market.
NFVCB’s Long-Term Vision
Established by Act No. 85 of 1993, the NFVCB is responsible for regulating Nigeria’s film and video industry, including the classification of all films, whether locally produced or imported. The NFVCB also maintains a register of all cinema outlets in Nigeria and is committed to expanding the country’s cinema exhibition sector, with a strong focus on local content.
According to Dr. Shaibu, one of the key challenges facing the Nigerian film industry is the limited number of cinema screens available for Nollywood films. The NFVCB’s new initiative aims to tackle this problem head-on by incentivizing the creation of more cinema screens through community-based cinemas. By providing filmmakers with more opportunities to showcase their films, the NFVCB hopes to see a significant increase in the number of locally-produced films being screened in Nigerian cinemas.
The ultimate goal of this initiative is to make Nigerian films more accessible to a wider audience, while also ensuring that the country’s rich cultural heritage is preserved and promoted through film. With the granting of licensing waivers and other reforms, the NFVCB is well-positioned to lead Nigeria’s film industry into a new era of growth and success.
Join our Channel...