Indeed, this is an exciting time for Nigerian
filmmaker and former ITPAN president, Femi Odugbemi.
Weeks after the premiere
of his latest movie, Gidi Blues, which African Magic
has since bought over, the movie seems to be attracting interest from festivals
across the continent, with requests to screen the film.
On
the other hand, Odugbemi himself, who chaired the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice
Award (AMVCA) Jury for three consecutive terms, has become one of the most
sought after filmmakers in the continent, having been selected as a judge for
different film festivals. From all indications, it’s going to be a busy year
for the CEO of DVWorx Studios starting from this month.
Currently, Odugbemi is among the curating panel of the the
Pan-African Representation for Golden Tree International FilmFest in Frankfurt,
Germany, and is excepted to jet to Goree Island, Dakar, Senegal, on Thursday,
August 18 through 22, for a meeting of the jury. Aside from particularly
proposing documentaries from Africa and Diaspora, Odugbemi will also join other
panelists to select a total of 40 films representing Africa and its Diasporas,
which will feature at the film fest in Germany.
From Senegal, the co-founder of iRep International Documentary Film
Festival will move to Accra, Ghana, where Gidi Blues has been selected as closing film for the
Black Star International Film Festival Ghana. Aside from being a big honor, as
the closing films of festivals are highly coveted, the platform will give
Odugbemi the opportunity to speak with Ghanaian film community, as well as
share his wealth of experience with festival attendees.
Meanwhile, Odugbemi has been returned as the Chief Jury for this year’s
Ugandan Film Festival, making it an unprecedented third time in a row.
“It’s a huge honour signifying a major acknowledgement of the quality of
Nigerian cinema and the respect with which we are viewed across Africa,” he
noted.
Aside from his role as Chief Jury for the festival, which opens on
August 22, 2016, in Kampala, Uganda, Odugbemi’s Gidi Blues was also picked as the opening film for the
festival organised by the Uganda Communications Commission.
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