By Steve Ayorinde

It might seem a bit provoking to start an argument about the failure of Nigeria to have any film in any of the many sections at the just-concluded Cannes film festival. But with a pavilion, for the first time ever, and a memorable party that got everybody talking, no one will argue that Nigeria’s ‘impact’ was not felt at the French Riviera.

For more than four hours on Friday May 25, the party at the Nigerian pavilion got the whole of Cannes reverberating. It held at the instance of the African Movie Academy Awards, whose Chief Executive, Mrs. Peace Anyiam-Fiberesima, is known to spare no expense at making a statement.

Last November, she literally got the whole of Cape Town drunk at her AMAA party during the Sithengi Film Market, and in March, she stormed the FESPACO film festival with a private jet chartered specially to announce AMAA.

In Cannes, she achieved no less with endless stream of food, drinks and African music. The sexy London-based Nigerian actress, Funke Ajikawo, captured the scene so aptly: “Everybody became like animals. Civility broke down.” She was describing the tumultuous response of the guests, both black and whites, to the huge tilapia fish and fried plantain delicacies that Anyiam-Fiberesima had specially ordered from a Congolese caterer, which turned guests at the party to unrestrained gluttons.

“Our aim,” said Anyian-Fiberesima, “is to announce that Nigerian was here and that AMAA was part and parcel of Nigeria’s presence in Cannes this year.”

http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl....07060222534943

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Great PR and publicity. Smart lady.

You're still on duty?

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Nah so we see am oh!!!

Is all this happening IN Cannes or somewhere AROUND the city? I am sorry but I am very doubtful of any Nigerian film is playing at THE Cannes film festival, sorry...we are not remotely ready. Anyone can pay for a theater space in and around Cannes to screen a film but that doesn't mean that the film has been judged and entered into the Cannes film festival itself to vie for the prestigious Palme D'or award (the highest award given at the Cannes Film Festival). I am glad the industry is trying to pry doors open but please let's keep it real, no Nigerian film is being screened for the likes of Johnny Depp, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Taylor Hackford, Stephen Soderberg, Stephen Speilberg, Spike Jonz, Jerry Bruckheimer, David Katzenberg, Harvey Weinstein, Keira Knightley, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Helen Mirren, Anthony Hopkins, Daniel Craig, Meryl Streep etc.

All this noise for what? I would rather that money for private jet was spent on purchasing better equipments, improving editing techniques, sound, improving working conditions for ACTORS and providing them with a RETIREMENT PLAN so most of them will not end up broke as dirt after their collective beauties have faded and they've been replaced with fresh faces etc.

This is our problem as a people, we like to look good to people, show say we don land. This the classic Nigerian problem, empty vessels making the loudest noise in the pantry.

And watch how they will all go home and boast, AHHHH, we were at Cannes, o...we go Cannes, o...you never see anyting. Come see the big fish, fried plantain, Ankara material...CHEI! We were partying like animals, all civility broke down...OWAMBEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. Nna, we show dem say Niaja full ground, OH YESSSSSSss!!!!!

Nonsense, we are not even contenders in that big arena but we are going to be the loudest bunch up there in the noise bleed bleachers!

. Some of your comments were so funny... you yarn true talk...

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My dear, all that big fish, fried plantain and beautiful men/women dressed to the nine and blowing big English at the podium then they roll the clip - GBAMMMMMMMMMMMMm (lower volume) Buy your copy NOWWWWWWWWWWW 1/3 POUND ROAD ABA OR IDUMOTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaa, Sururele LAGOSSSSSSSSSSS DON'T WAITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

YOU DON JAM MY CAR AND STOLE MY WIFE STARRING RAMSEY NOUAH, JR., GENEVIEVE NNAJI AND RMD. WATCH AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXttttttt

Cue In: R. Kelly: I believe I can flyyyyyyyyyyyy (raise volume)

Roll Credit: TO GOD BE THE GLORY


I can't hide far enough under my chair.

You are funny

what garbage.
instead of spending the fish and plantain money on improving the juvenile productions being churned out, you are dragging the attention of the whole world on this semi-farce we call a movie industry.
**Mtue** I spit on the fish and plantain guzzling crowd.
*Mtue, mtue* i double spit on the lady who thought this was a brillaint idea to waste money at an event we have no business being in until further notice.

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@ blackbutterfly
The aim of Nigerian films is not for the likes of jonny deep and Brad pitt to watch, what are a bunch of uneducated individuals going do for us? Who is jonny deep? who is brad pitt? if u said steven speilberg, i would have said better. The problem with most nigerians is that they wait for the White man's approval, ONLY the white man can give a stamp of approval. Nollywood is 10 years old, comparing it to an established industry is not appropriate. ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY. You need to give credit to those who've decided to stay back home and build an industry that is now employing hundreds if not thousands who would otherwise have no job. Try to watch some hollywood movies made in the 20s and 30s. U'll get my point. I get infuriated when people like u who stay in states criticize effort made by others back home. They are trying, Years from now there will be a difference. I hate when people who don't know behave like they are pros. if it is that easy, why don't u go over and reform it.

As much as I love Nollywood and indeed I truly lurrrrrrrve Naija movies, I will also be the first to say...... They are CRAP when it comes to film quality/ movie production and your argument that we should cut Nollywood some slack coz it is a relatively new industry does not wash with me Look at Ghanaian movies. How long have they been around and still their videos are better quality?????

We Nigerians too dey cut corners eeeya

You know you are wrong for that....get thee to the corner and face the wall..lololololol

Before BB answers you,please slow down with this attempt to compare Nollywood now and Hollywood in the 20/30's.Somebody already reffered you to the quality of Ghana films so that is already a check for this weird comparism.
Truth is that people are pissed with Nollywood bcos we have the oppurtrunity of appearing in the 21st century while your Hollywood comparism was in the depression years of the 20s and 30s.
You see warra mean

Your argument is not for this thread oh...you miss road small...

The point is what were Fiberesima and company doing at the Cannes and hosting loud parties when they have nothing to show at the festival..Were they making industry contacts or were they there to wheel and deal, to move the industry forward or where they there to showcase our works(fear no catch dem )?

If the answer is negative to all questions and nah just to show face and throw party then I'm sorry, It was a stupid venture...what exactly where they there to do that can move the stale industry forward.If we do not need oyibo man approval and we can go our own way as you said..then why spend millions at Cannes for a stupid party.....Nigeria we hail thee ohhhhhh! Wondiaful!

The topic of diasporans right to critique the movie industry back home versus the home based practitioners' perception is a long travelled road on this board..when I get time I will find you several threads were you can air all your views and join the argument...but on dis wan...you miss road big time!

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Nah so we see am oh!!!

1. IF the aim of Nigerian films is not to target the likes of JOHNNY DEPP and Brad Pit then why the constant seminars in Los Angeles? Why create the first Nigerian INTERNATIONAL film festival? Why attend Cannes? Why participate in the film festivals in New York, Berlin, Burkina Faso? Why extend invitations to the likes of Viveca A. Fox, Louis Gossett Jr, Danny Glover and Wesley Snipes to come to Nigeria and possibly contribute to the industry? Why were those Nollywood stars brought to the Nigerian Embassy in 2003, paraded around Washington DC and why is there constantly a flyer in the African markets for fans to attend an autograph session? You have got to be kidding me, right? And why Brad Pitt - because he is not only an actor but a major producer, ever heard of Plan B Productions - they are currently producing a Might Heart, a true story of the kidnap and murder of Daniel Pearl in Pakistan by terrorists. Johnny Depp happens to be the most prolific actor of his generation, an investor in films and a man loves a challenge and if he saw NOllywood as a challenge, he could sink money into it if so inclined....anything is possible. IF you don't know, say you don't but its obvious of all the people I listed, you only know Spielberg.

2. I totally disagree with your statement about Nigerians/Nollywood waiting for the Caucasian stamp of approval. IF they were waiting for that then they will NOT have gone anywhere in the first place and as a people we are go getters even if we go about it the wrong way. And I really do wish people like you will find other adages besides "Rome Was Not Built In A Day," that statement is so redundant I can't take it. Nollywood causes itself to be compared to Hollywood when they start copying Hollywood, Western ideals and the can't do it properly. They bring about the comparisons. And noone is saying they should be on the same level but some of the issues they are still struggling with are issues that should have been resolves a long while ago. After TEN YEARS why am I still raising and lowering the volume on my remote control? Even the old films in Hollywood didn't have that problem even if it was black/white and silent films...the music still played at the appropriate levels. I am a huge fan of the Golden Age of Hollywood and yes some of my favorite actors are from the
20s, 30s, 40s - and I would still rather watch those than watch some of Nollywood drivel...yes, ma'am - I'd rather watch Mary Pitford, Rosaline Russell, Bette Davis, Spenser Tracy, Ernest Borgine, James Cagney, Cary Grant anyday than watch Emeka Ike, Mike Ezerounye, Tony Umez, Bob Manuel Udokwu, Fred Aseroma, Mona Lisa Chinda etc.

You obviously just arrived at this website but anyone who has been here longer than 10 minutes knows fully well that I am one of those that champions Nollywood when they are on the right track but I will equally excoriate them with equal intensity if they make the same useless mistakes. "They are Trying" when does that translate to "DOING?" When will I be able to say "HECK, they are doing the darn thing!." The day I can watch a Nigerian flick and find no holes in the story, don't touch my remote just for starters then I will say they are beyond "trying" and have moved into "doing."

As for that comment about me being in the States, complaining and your advice to me to go home and improve it? I can only say this to you, you dey dis USA too abi and since you are so full of praises, why don't you quit your job and go back and help to build "ROME" faster especially since the likes of me are so full of complaints. Please go home and prove me wrong and I will give you a high five at the end your day in the hot sun!

And my dear, using the word "HATE" is rather strong, wouldn't you say? And do you have to be a pro to see what's wrong with that industry? Stevie Wonder can see what's wrong with Nollywood!!! Ain't nobody gotta be a pro to know that shooting on White WALLS without appropriate lighting albeit expensive lighting is just dead wrong unless you put painting on the wall to deflect shadows! You ain't gotta be a pro to buy a body mic! You ain't gotta be a pro to know that if someone one has an acid burn on their face they can't lie down on their face and cry!!! You ain't gotta be a pro to know that a journalist doesn't go to interview a major star without his shoes - Lancelot Imasuen!!! You ain't gotta be a pro to do research on the internet for the appropriate names for illness so the doctor in the film can speak intelligently instead of saying "there is someting wrang, we shall run several test. Oh, yes the test has shown that there is noting wrang...(patient is still howling on the table.) It's alright, please you can take her home." You ain't gotta be a pro to write a scene of people wandering aimlessly on the streets in four scenes.

Please my dear, next time pick your battles wisely.