By Joshua Olomu
The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) says the 5th annual Peace Anyiam-Osigwe Nigeria Digital Content Regulatory Conference (PAO NDCRC) will explore strategies for enhancing content quality and alternative funding for Nollywood films.
The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Shaibu Husseini, said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
The conference is scheduled to hold from Nov. 18 to 19, at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, with the theme: “From Volume to Value: Future of Nollywood in the Digital Age.”
According to him, the two-day event will bring together stakeholders, including tech-experts, filmmakers, investors and regulators to chart a common-front for Nollywood films in the digital age.
He said the conference would serve as a platform to refocus the industry from just outputs to quality, and for stakeholders to discuss alternative funding models, including crowd funding.
“We want to let people know that we have gone past where we only talk in terms of quantity , and so as stakeholders we need to discuss what wie are not doing right.
“We have always sought either grant or loan but there are so many other funding models that are available, so we are going to get experts to talk about that.
“As an agency of government, the board wants our motion picture industry to move from volume to value.
“Already, the Federal Government is playing a very critical role in making sure that we improve on all areas especially with the Creative Economy Development Fund (CEDF) by our minister, Hannatu Musawa,” he said.
According to him, the fund is meant to boost the creative sector, adding that industry stakeholders were considering boosting infrastructure, including studios to produce quality works and funds for script development.
The NFVCB helmsman said the conference would also explore how Nollywood filmmakers can effectively deplore modern technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) in film production.
According to him, discussions will also focus on creating scripts and storylines that can enhance content quality and sustainability in the digital era of filmmaking.
“Interestingly I have seen a couple of films where they have tried to apply AI (Artificial Intelligence), so we want to use the conference to look at its opportunities and challenges,” he said.
Husseini said one of the highpoints of the 2025 POA will be the recognition awards for Nollywood veterans who have contributed to the growth of the industry.
NAN reports that the PAO NDCRC, named in honour of the late AMAA founder and Chief Executive, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, is an annual event for discussions on film, content regulation, and the digital future of Nollywood.
NFVCB is the Federal Government regulatory body for the films and video industry in Nigeria.
It classifies all films and videos, whether imported or produced locally and also register all films and videos outlets/cinemas across the country and keeps a register for them, among other functions. (NAN)