Trino Motion Pictures and the Nigerian International Film Summit (NIFS) have collaborated to induct 12 participants for the maiden edition of the International Sales and Distribution Executives (ISDE) programme.
The ISDE programme, which would run for six months, would be held virtually and physically within the period.
Uche Okocha, Managing Director of Trino Motion Pictures, said that the programme was meant to address the sales and distribution gaps of the film industry, which has been unprofessionally conducted in the past years.
Sales and distributions, the organisers said are the critical aspects of the film industry, hoping that the induction of the 12 participants in the first phase of the exercise, would address the obvious lacuna in the system.
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Okocha said that the training programme was conceived after the company’s two-year experience attempting to handle sales and distribution roles.
According him, the ISDE programme was packaged to equip professionals with expertise in international sales, aggregation, licensing, and distribution.
Okocha maintained that aspects of the film industry lacked structured pipelines for professionals, adding that there had always been inadequate training facilities for professionals.He explained that this initiative was aimed at addressing pressing needs in the creative industry, where talented individuals produce high-quality contents, but often lacked the wherewithal to effectively market and monetise their work globally.
He pointed out that the inductees were willing and ready to make remarkable differences in film sales, distribution and aggregation.
Okocha underscored the importance of identifying potential, building capacity, and creating opportunities to build a sustainable film industry.
He said: “So, the ISDE programme will have 12 finalists trained on the nitty-gritty of international sales and distribution for all formats: scripted, unscripted, television formats, documentaries, films and all.
“This will be for six months and will feature international executives as resource persons that have been in the sales and distribution space for at least over 15 years.
“We hope to have this as an annual programme going forward and maybe expand it to 24 participants so that we can keep supporting the industry and the personnel that we require in that space of sales and distribution to keep growing.
Okocha emphasised that the participants would have the opportunity to visit local film markets, local festivals, and international festivals in the course of the training.
Also, Ms. Ijeoma Onah, Founder of the Nigerian Film International Summit (NIFS), emphasised on the need to create a balance between the business side of film industry and the creative side.
Onah stated that NIFS as a platform for African initiative, started as a Nigerian film and summit in order to create a balance in the industry.
Onah maintained that professionals in the sector were yet to take a critical look into the many opportunities in the film industry, saying that the programme was trying to raise the next for the creative industry.
She posited that after the six months training, participants would go on an internship programme with international organisations.
She said: “We want to train a new generation of creative people that will be able to do what some of us are doing. We have them too little at the moment.
“For those of you who are privileged to be a part of this programme, you need to step out and build your own network. People need to understand that film is a product, and if the right knowledge is in place, then we can begin to see sustainable businesses birthed.
“A lot has been invested in this programme. We demand a lot of concentration and focus from you. We are bringing resource persons from Europe and America. We need total concentration to make the investment worthwhile.”
Godwin Nzekwe, Programme Director for ISDE programme said, the event marked the beginning of a bold and timely vision to prepare, equip, and position African creatives for the global stage through international storytelling, business strategy, and meaningful industry collaboration.
He reiterated that the ISDE programme was not just a training, but a launchpad for cross-cultural exchange, market access, and real transformation in our film and television space.
Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Executive Director, National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), underscored the importance of capacity building in developing a robust entertainment industry.
He enlightened the creatives on the application procedure to procure the Federal Government’s Creative Economy Development Fund (CEDF), which would only warrant a creative’s intellectual property (IP) as collateral.
The 12 participants are Adetayo Adebowale, Dr Sherif Adekunle, Ehinomen Azeta, Uneke Ekene, Faustina Okomayin, Lucy Adikwu, Mercy Akumute, Nneamaka Nwadei, Olatubosun Olasimbo, Precious lroagalachi, Daleshawn Butler and Temitope Sanni.
Faustina Okumayin, one of the beneficiaries of the programme who is a filmmaker and media entrepreneur, appreciated the opportunity.
Olatunbosun Olasimbo described the opportunity as heaven-sent, hoping to be transformed through the training.
Adetayo Adebowale, who had been confronted with the challenge of recouping his investment in film production, commended the initiative as he looked forward to a rewarding session.
Uneke Ekene, a Creative Arts graduate from the University of Lagos, said he was enrolling in the programme to give back to society.
Dr Sherif Adekunle, a filmmaker and teacher, pledged not to take the opportunity for granted.
