L-R: Chief Executive Officer, KAP Productions, Kunle Afolayan; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian International Film and TV Summit, Ijeoma Onah; Consule General of France in Lagos, Laurent Favier; and the Chief Executive Officer, Accelerate Group, Colette Otusheso at MIPCOM-Canes delegation meetup press conference in Lagos.
The French Embassy has partnered with the Nigerian International Film and TV Summit (NIFS) to sponsor Nigerian delegation for MIPCOM-Cannes in France, from Oct.21 to 24.
Mr Laurent Favier, Consul General of France in Lagos, announced this at a press conference on Tuesday in Lagos.
MIPCOM stands for Marché International des Programmes de Communication, and in english, International Market of Communications Programmes.
It is an annual trade show for the television industry held in Cannes, France, traditionally in the month of October for four days.
MIPCOM is renowned as the mother of all entertainment content markets globally with over 11,000 delegates, 3500 buyers, over 100 countries represented with more than 320 stands.
Favier said the sponsored delegates comprised about 20 companies with dedicated stands at the Nigerian Pavilion at Cannes.
He stated that the sponsorship is part of the Embassy’s commitment to support the entertainment industry’s development.
According to him, participants will engage in networking, knowledge sharing, and collaborative efforts aimed at pushing Nigerian content to the global forefront.
The consul general noted that industry professionals, TV catalogue right holders will come together to explore new opportunities and address the challenges facing the entertainment industry.
“After supporting a stand for Nigerian Animation Studios at Animation Film International Market in Annecy for the past three years, the French Embassy in Nigeria will be providing Nigerian Industry professionals with an umbrella at MIPCOM.
“Coordinated with NIFS platform, this stand will be hosting more than fifteen studios who will sell their movies, TV series, TV shows to international broadcasters and platforms.
“This support to Nigerian Audiovisual Industry was made possible due to an earmarked specific funds.
“The fund has been entrusted to us for a period of 18 months by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Commenting, Mrs Ijeoma Onah, founder of NIFS, lauded the level of support from the French Embassy in supporting Nigerian film and TV professionals for the global market event.
Onah said through this partnership, NIFS resolve to continue to drive international business for local Nigerian companies has been reinforced.
“We remain committed to the huge international revenue opportunities through licensing of local programmes.
“This is because the MIPCOM market and its outcome will definitely elevate and transform the dynamics of international distribution for local companies in Nigeria,”she said.
According to her, by accepting to join the Nigerian delegation to MIPCOM, participants reaffirm their commitment to highlighting and selling African stories that resonate not only on the continent but around the world.
Onah will lead the Nigerian delegation to Cannes along with Mr Christophe Pecot, Audiovisual Attaché of the French Embassy in Nigeria.
NIFS is a leading platform dedicated to advancing the film and television industries in Nigeria, across Africa and beyond.
By providing opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation, NIFS plays a pivotal role in driving the growth and global recognition of African content.