Nollywood excites Port Harcourt 09 Organizers

Nollywood, Nigeria’s movie industry, is generating positive excitement among the organizers of ION International Film Festival, Port Harcourt 09/OMCOMM for its creative talents and vibrant energy. Nollywood is now the second largest movie industry in the world after Bollywood (Hollywood ranks at number 3) for titles released.

According to Valentine Charles, partnership director at OMCOMM Studio in Lagos, “Nollywood represents the positive energy of the country and has become the primary face of Nigeria in international circles, portraying the huge potentials of Nigeria, particularly in the creative, entertainment and film industry. Artistes are carrying messages to the world, inspiring the people.”

ION International Film Festival’s choice of Port Harcourt as the first African city to host the festival that started in Los Angeles in 2004 and moved to Dubai in 2008 is based on our observation of the growing reference point of Nigeria and Nollywood as a creative hub for talents and creativity. The city of Port Harcourt, according to her, represents what ION film festival stands for – promoting peace, unity and global awareness.

We want filmmakers from all over the world to feel the energy of Port Harcourt, Rivers State and the Niger Delta that we have felt from the first time we visited. Our production team is on ground and we are working towards improving the standards we set in Dubai in 2008 with Nollywood’s exceptional growth and rating as one of the biggest movie industry in the world which reflects the vast untapped potential and impact this industry will generate.

IONIFF Port Harcourt 09 is the 6th edition of the film festival that is scheduled to hold between 9th and 12th December 2009, with a four day programme of international films, workshops, forums and glamour. ION will bring together over 200 international guests including Nollywood, Hollywood, Bollywood and European celebrities, artistes, producers and distributors.