AFRIFF to Sponsor 10 Students to American University for Film Training

As part of its developmental agenda for the film sector, the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) is planning to take 10 students to the United States for practical training in various aspects of filmmaking.

Founder/CEO of the festival, Ms Chioma Ude, revealed that the top 10 students who show the most aptitude during the AFRIFF organized training workshops which will hold during this year’s festival will be eligible for the sponsorship.

This disclosure was made at her Victoria Island office recently, where she said that the training in America is planned as a reward scheme for these meritorious film students.

According to her, the scholarship will be to attend a short film course at a prestigious American university, and is a collaborative effort with a key AFRIFF partner.

The aspects of filmmaking to be taught at the workshops this year will be Acting; Scriptwriting; Directing and Cinematography.

This year’s edition of the festival will hold from November 9 to November 16, 2014 at the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort, Calabar, Cross River State.

Organisers say interested candidates for this year’s workshops should register at the new AFRIFF website, www.afriff.com, as only registered candidates will be eligible for shortlisting for the workshops. Registration for participation in all aspects at the festival begins from Monday, September 14, 2014.

According to Ude, this skill acquisition and youth development initiative was conceived using filmmaking as a veritable vehicle for youth empowerment. Tagged AFRIFF Talent Development Workshops, the initiative provides beginners and intermediate courses for young people. AFRIFF also organizes master classes for more established filmmakers and professionals in the industry.

Ude noted that the planned US training is in line with the vision of providing growth opportunities for graduates of the festival’s training program.

she said: “AFRIFF has since its first edition in 2010, provided free training and talent development opportunities for young people and aspiring filmmakers. We have provided ground-breaking education in Sound for Film, Cinematography and Screen Writing for over 500 students. This we have done in partnership with Sound & Motion Technical College and City Varsity, Cape Town, South Africa. We have also worked directly with students of the National Film Institute, Jos; the Creative Arts Department of University of Port-Harcourt; PEFTI Film Institute, Lagos, as well as other aspiring young film makers.

“We believe we can use this model for a social revolution that will change the economic horizon of the African film industry, by providing technical knowledge and skill sets to the abundant talents in our film community.
“AFRIFF 2014 team is currently resourcing for this year’s talent development training workshops in association with top industry partners who will also be announced later.”

The beneficiaries will be expected to shoot a short film after their course abroad, in fulfillment of their training billed to be entered into the festival’s students’ short category for the subsequent AFRIFF in 2015.