By Sulaymon Ruqoya
November 18th, 2024
Renowned Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, through his KAP Film & Television Academy, has announced a strategic partnership with the U.S. Embassy to train young Nigerian filmmakers. This initiative was unveiled at a media briefing on Tuesday at the KAP Village in Ikeja, Lagos.
The collaboration aims to empower emerging filmmakers through a four-day intensive workshop focusing on movie directing and cinematography. The program features expert facilitators from the U.S., including Angel Kristi Williams, a writer and director, and Erin G. Wesley, a visual artist and cinematographer. The training is scheduled to run from November 12 to 16.
Explaining the partnership, Afolayan said: “When the opportunity to partner with this U.S. Embassy came, we felt we could merge the capacity-building training. Because our focus is the young people. But Reel Circle is for everybody.”
He further highlighted the broader vision of KAP Academy, which includes collaborations with the French Embassy and a German company. “We just completed one with a German company. We have also held training for 10,000 youths. Some of these people work permanently in-house for us. For me, that is a success story,” he added.
The partnership offers significant benefits for participants, including hands-on training from seasoned professionals, certification, and the potential to boost their careers in the film industry.
Will Stevens, the U.S. Consul General in Nigeria, described the collaboration as a reflection of the shared cultural ties between Nigeria and the United States. “The power of our culture has led to increased interest in visiting and doing business in the United States,” he said.
The event was graced by notable figures such as Sola Sobowale, Tunde Kelani, Steve Sodiya, and Ope Ajayi, further emphasizing the importance of fostering global collaboration to nurture the next generation of storytellers in Nigeria.