Benin City recently hosted the Nollywood Workshop, a 4-week collaboration involving six filmmakers from Nigeria and six from the renowned German film school, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg.
This co-production, funded by the Minister of State for Culture and the Media and the Ministry of Science, Research, and Arts Baden-Württemberg, received support from the German camera manufacturer ARRI, Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub & Sound Stage, and the Edo State Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Diaspora Affairs.
Mr. Márk Szilágyi, Project Manager at the International Office of Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, expressed his satisfaction with facilitating this groundbreaking collaboration.
The workshop, a result of the repatriation of the “Benin Bronzes” to Nigeria by Germany in December 2022, aimed to create a short film titled “The Wandering Spirit” Szilágyi highlighted the rich cultural collaboration between Edo people and German students, with the support of ARRI’s cutting-edge film technology.
Mr. Osakpolor Omoregie, Co-Director of “The Wandering Spirit” and a participant in the Nollywood Workshop, praised the initiative for bringing together filmmakers from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
The 21-day workshop significantly enhanced Omoregie’s ability to craft narratives that resonate globally, bridging local stories to international audiences. Anticipation is high for the next installments of the “NOLLYWOOD WORKSHOP – Benin City Edition” in 2024 and 2025.