Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director of NFVCB.
The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) Thursday declared the need for more investments in community cinemas.
A community cinema is any volunteer-led and non-profit organisation that shows films in its community.
Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director of NFVCB, stated this during the second Lagos International Film and Cinema Convention (LIFACC).
The convention, held at EbonyLife Place, Victoria Island, Lagos, was attended by such prominent figures in showbiz as Joke Silva, Alibaba, Keppy Ekpeyong, and Mahmood Ali-Balogun, among others.
Husseini in his speech, called on stakeholders to seek partnerships with already established cinemas like Film One.
Said he: “We need to begin to invest in community cinemas. You don’t have to do it alone. You can have the building, then you go to already established cinema establishments like Film One.
“Tell them that you have a building you can convert into a cinema, ask them for equipment and then we’ll know how to share. It’s a cash cow, it’s where you’ll get your revenues from but presently as it is, it is a bit elitist”.
Said Husseini as he spoke on the classification of films: “We have improved and we will improve. All those years of ‘I sent my film and it took one week, three months’ is over.
“If you send your film today and you don’t get a response in 48 hours, send me an email”.
The convention brought together stakeholders and professionals in showbiz with the aim of proffering solutions to the problems bedevilling the industry.
