Imo International Film Festival Beckons The World By March,2009

IMO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL BECKONS THE WORLD BY MARCH, 2009

The Nigerian Motion Picture industry known as Nollywood is warming up to witness yet another great film event in the country from 10th to 12th March, 2009,in the metropolitan city of Owerri; and that is the 1st edition of IMO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL(IIFF).

The metropolitan city of Owerri is poised to host the film community, investors, financial institutions, film critics etc. from within and outside the country.

Imo International Film Festival is tagged the biggest and largest film event east of the Niger,and is aimed at promoting our culture and tourism potentials.

The festival is expected to receive well over seven thousand guests in and around Nigeria, Africa and the World. Attendance will be made up of film practitioners, film and mass communication students, film lecturers , film critics, local and foreign journalists, cultural ambassadors, government dignitaries, corporate world, media houses, motion picture distributors, tourism and hospitality practitioners, and the general public. Among the expected film stars are: Aki & Pawpaw, Nkem owoh, John Okafor , (Mr. Ibu), Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade Ekinde, Ramsey Noauh, Olu Jacobs (AMAA 2007 BEST ACTOR), Kanayo O. Kanayo (AMAA 2006, Best Actor), Izu Ojukwu (AMAA 2007, Best Director), Mrs. Peace Anyiam Fiberesima (AMAA CEO), all the guild heads in the Nigerian Motion Picture industry,and all the prominent film and television practitioners, etc.

IMO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IS SET TO TAKE OFF.



Having contributed so much to the growth of Nollywood, as a scriptwriter and director, youthful Chimaobim Okoroji, is now set and ready to host the first ever Imo International Film Festival, early 2009. And in order to ensure a hitch free outing, Okoroji, a proud son of Imo State and his crew at Amgrove Production, are already working round the clock. Highlighting the importance of the forthcoming festival, Okoroji, argued that it would impact positively on the socio-cultural landscape of Imo and the nation in general. He further stated that it would provide employment, assist in the reduction of youth restiveness and above all, enhance tourism potentials in the state. Shedding more light, Okoroji, who is also the Festival Director, said lectures, seminars, exhibitions, marketing initiatives, screenings, arts and craft, would all be part of the activities lined up for the event.
“There will be the shoot and unveiling of a world class documentary on Imo State and its very rich and robust cultural heritage. All these are geared towards unlocking the huge investments potentials in Imo State, in the areas of arts, tourism and culture.” Meanwhile, Okoroji, is also calling on both the public and private sectors to support and buy into this global project, holding at the Concorde Hotel, Owerri.

Imo International Film Festival

IMO STATE

ORIGIN:
Imo State was created 1976 and the state has twenty-seven (27) Local Government Areas(LGAs).

CLEAN and GREEN INITIATIVE:
Transformation of Imo State from a waste dump to a clean and green state.

SECURITY:
"Operation Festival" which translates to ensuring security of lives and properties through all the Local Government Areas,fully linked up 24/7 realtime with communication facilities and joint army,police,civil defense and vigilante teams.

TRANSPORTATION:
Imo Municipal Transport Services(IMTS) is the first integrated municipal transport service since the creation of Imo State in 1976 and there is massive construction and rehabilitation of roads with high economic value in Imo State's senatorial zones.

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT:
There is site preparation going on at the #60 billion Imo Wonderlake Resort and Conference Centre to change the faces of tourism and economy of Imo State forever.

HEALTHCARE DELIVERY :
There is rehabilitation of hospitals and primary healthcare centres in the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State.Furthermore,there is cancer screening and laparoscopy equipment installed at the College of Medicine of Imo State University.Also,there is a facilitated visitation of foreign medical missions to rural areas for free healthcare.

EDUCATION:
There are thirty-three(33) model classroom blocks built in the 27 Local Government Areas.There are four hundred and ninety(490) teachers employed and there are also grant for facility update to Imo State University and Polytechnic at Umuagwo.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF IMO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL(IIFF)

IMO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (IIFF) has the following as its objectives:

1. To position Imo International Film Festival as a major annual tourist event in Africa and number one international tourism-oriented film festival in the world.

2. To Institute a world-class film festival in Imo.

3. To create training opportunities for young Nigerian and African Filmmakers.

4. The promotion and sustenance of cultural values and peaceful co-existence in the world through film, especially in Nigeria and other African Countries.

5. Creation of wealth through the art of filmmaking by creating industry support services and also creation of employment to young school leavers & graduates.

6. Using film as a catalyst for social, political and economic re-integration .

7. To create a forum for interaction among filmmakers, film critics, Screenwriters, distributors, directors, creative designers etc. from different parts of the world, annually.

8. To position Imo International Film Festival(IIFF) as an annual tourist event.

9. To establish a world class tourism-oriented film festival in Nigeria and the creation of a medium to promote locally made films internationally.

10. Using the film festival as a medium to create huge international market for Nigerian tourism potentials and sites in general and Imo State in particular.

11. To create a forum for interaction among filmmaker, student filmmakers,actors, writers film critics etc. from different parts of the world, annually.