Filmmaking Reality Show Debuts In Calabar Carnival

“Unleash Your Creativity” also known as UCC, a film making capacity building reality TV show for youths is set to be presented as part of activities for the 2022 edition of the annual Calabar Carnival.

Mr Emmanuel Eyaba, Project Director of 2ET Media Network, organisers of the Programme, disclosed this during a news conference on Thursday in Abuja.

He explained that this years’s edition of the reality show is scheduled to hold from December 1 to 14,2022, with the theme “Youth Participation in Governance and Development.”

According to him, the 2022 edition of the youth talent hunt show, which has been holding since inception in the Federal Capital Territory, will hold in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Cross Rivers State as Part of activities for the Calabar Carnival.

He explained that the decision was to ensure more tourists involvement, especially youths, as the Calabar carnival is reputed to be a hub of creativity and entertainment.

“For 14 days, starting from 1st of December, young Filmmakers with varied interest in film making will be camped and trained, mentored, challenged with activities and filmmaking related tasks.

“This will include special sessions and mentorship from the Nigeria film industry heavy-weights of the Directors and Actors guild extractions of Nollywood.

“The Participating filmmakers will be grouped into three, with each team having the challenge of making a film project around balloted themes fashioned around pressing social development change and communication.

“This edition is also special because we are collaborating with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Cross Rivers State to host this edition as Part of activities for the Calabar Carnival 2022.

“The event will be aired on selected Terrestrial and Satellite TV Stations across the country. And it will also be on raw impact Africa TV on YouTube.

“A major bank Sterling bank has promised to sponsor a movie project for the winning team by the first quarter of next year and other producers and directors will be engaging winning acts and crew members after their program.

“Clay Films Academy here in Abuja will also be giving Scholarships to the 5 best participants to further their training in the Act of Filmmaking. Equipment, Startup DSLR Cameras, Laptops, and Production Jackets, are other incentives that we hope to be giving to the participants.

“Talks with major National Agencies like Nigeria Film Corporation, National Film and Video Censors Board, SMEDAN, EFCC, Armstrong Protection, and Afro Heritage group are in advanced stage to make this year’s edition a reality.”

Eyaba explained that :“Participation is through online registration at www.rawimpactafricatv.com there will be online auditions and selected participants will be contacted for the grand finale held in the ancient city of Calabar from the 1st to the 14th of December, 2022. The grand finale will be at the main bowl of the cultural Centre Calabar.

“We request your highly respected and good office to key into this partnership and sponsorship franchise as it shall not only be beneficial to your establishment but also stamp your organization on the sands of time for promoting youth creativity and talent in Africa.

“This program is brought to you by 2ET Media Network, with Endorsement from the African Union, Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Support from MTN, Emmanuel Eyaba Foundation. Clay Films Academy, Directors Guild of Nigeria, Bella Amor Aid Foundation, Active Movie Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria, BE Films, Ebanky Global, and the Zamarr Institute”, he said.

Earlier, in her goodwill message, the Ambassador of Cuba to Nigeria, Clara Polido commended the organisers of the ‘Unleash Your Creativity” and pledged her support and collaboration for the initiative.

She noted that Cuba has a deep root in African culture, especially in Nigeria, which has contributed immensely to the growth of Cuba culture in Africa.

Mr John Oba, the representative of Nigeria AU- ECOSSCC said “culture is our identity and we don’t want to leave any vacuum for the next generation so that our culture will not go into extinction.”

“We want to ensure that those script writers inject more of our culture into our movies thereby promoting our culture and identity,” he said.