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The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku says the Federal Government will establish a film fund in order to develop the industry.
Maku said this when he declared open the 6th edition of the Zuma Film festival on Sunday in Abuja.
He said the fund, when approved, would enable artistes, producers and other entrepreneurs in the industry to easily access funds that would aid them to boost film production.
Maku noted that the move was crucial to guarantee quicker and easier access to funds by practitioners than sourcing funds from commercial banks.
He said the proposal was, however, subject to the federal executive council’s consideration and approval.
``We will drive that process and we hope that when that fund is finally established, a number of people who are really participating in this industry will have the funding they require.
``And they will continue to invest and indeed bring their dreams to reality.’’
Maku said the film industry, popularly known as `Nollywood’, was a major source of national pride.
He said Nigeria had benefited immensely from the resilience and ardent resource of Nigerian film practitioners within the industry.
Earlier, the Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation, Mr Afolabi Adesanya, said the festival tended to portray the filmmaker as a social realist and cultural advocate.
The Zuma film life time achievement awards 2012 were presented to Oba Sanya Dosumu of Owu Kingdom, Abeokuta Ogun state, Prof. Jonathan Hayes and Mrs Hanes Manrique.
They were awarded for their notable contributions to the growth of Nigerian motion picture industry and the projections of the works of filmmakers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four-day event would feature colloquiums, workshops, film screenings and the annual film lecture.
The festival with the theme, ``The Human Story, Connecting People” will showcase a network of ideas, people and works of art especially in the motion picture industry. (NAN)
