Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced on Thursday that his administration plans to commence construction on the $100 million African Film City project in Epe by the end of October. The film city, spanning 100 hectares of land, aims to lead in Lagos State and boost original content creation in Nollywood.
Sanwo-Olu mentioned that the first studios are expected to be ready within 24 to 30 months after the groundbreaking. Additionally, the state government will increase its support for aspiring filmmakers through capacity-building and grants, emphasizing the importance of creating culturally rich African content.
Sanwo-Olu expressed excitement about the 2023 African film festival, emphasizing the significance of telling African stories to the world. The 12th African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) is scheduled to take place from November 5 to 11, with a focus on promoting indigenous content and educating creatives about international policies and laws in the film industry. Over 1000 quality films will be showcased during the festival.