Tourists mesmerized as Nollywood takes over Hollywood
News & Trends •
saturdays screening was at the reputable eileen norris theatre inside the university of southern california usc1 the nigerian movie industry nollywood made a historic outing to showcase some of nigerias best films 93 days the bridge and isoken at hollywood los angeles1 the event started on friday at egyptian theatre with a star-studded red carpet highlighted by the filmmakers and actors in the films on showcase 93 days the bridge and isoken1 the inaugural nollywood in hollywood event was the biggest cultural showcase for nigeria outside the country in decades the organisers said1 nollywood artistes also used the platform to promote nigeria talents and call for co-productions and technical cooperation between nollywood and hollywood1 mr jeff byrd moderator for the opening night film and chairman of the african-american steering committee of the directors guild of america dga praised the ingenuity of nollywood1 nollywood seems so far away but there is some curiosity. this is a great event for hollywood to know more about the nigerian cinema1 the film tonight 93 days is an excellent film a really good piece1 there are conversations to be had for example how can we make it possible for people like steve gukas and good nollywood filmmakers to be a part of the dga byrd said1 thousands of hollywood tourists from all over the world were held spellbound over the weekend by the spectacular nollywood in hollywood event1 the theatre which had hosted films by reputable usc alumni including ryan coogler of the black panther george lucas john singleton bryan singer and shonda rhimes among others was now playing host to nigerian films1 a late-arriving crowd saw the matinee screening of the bridge on saturday after which its director kunle afolayan held the packed audience to an engaging question and answer session1 as dusk approached a standing room only crowd saw the final film on the showcase isoken whose theme and subject matter engaged the crowd1 actress dakore akande had a very colourful and stimulating questions and answer session with nigerian-american filmmaker ose oyamendan after the screening1 in a panel on nollywood the nigerian filmmakers made a point of letting the hollywood audience and decision makers know that nollywood grew without government support1 the nollywood artistes also regretted the lack of nigerian governments presence at the biggest cultural showcase for nigeria outside the country in decades1 gwen deglisse director of programming for the american cinematheque operators of the egyptian theater described the nollywood in hollywood as a huge success1 as first events goes this was a success. we were worried because it is a new territory but ose was very passionate about giving a platform to nollywood films1 now we will see how we can make it better. we obviously need more sponsors and hopefully the nigerian government can be involved from the next one deglisse said1