By Emeka Amaefula
RIVERS STATE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2ND EDITION HELD IN AMAZING GLORY OF FUN AND THRILLS
The much awaited Rivers International Film Festival tagged RIFF 2024 will on Thursday 24th 2024 open its second edition
Already there has been submission of 2,230 Films Entries Made for the festival.
It is a 4-day event which is expected to terminate on the 27th of October, 2024 with 172 films scheduled to be exhibited; selected from 2030 films’ entries made.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt, Ms. Kate Ezeigbo, who is the Founder and Festival Director told newsmen that the festival, which is in its second edition has a milestone achieved even as the festival was birthed in October 2023
Ms. Ezeigbo stated that RIFF, a humanity based film festival with the vision to educate and empower the ‘next generation of film makers’ is the first indigenous film festival ever to be held in Rivers State
THE EAR WITNESS News Publisher/Editor-In-Chief, Emeka Amaefula +234(0)8111813069, was present at the pre-event media briefing as he brings to you the expectations and much awaited early preparation of events.
Excerpt
Maiden Edition
The first edition which I said was a mile stone was birthed in October, 2023. The festival is organized by Desgol Entertainment Worldwide. In the maiden edition, 582 films were submitted from 82 countries in this second edition, 2,230 films were submitted from 172 countries. This include entries from the United States of America and India with both having the highest submission of films.
Milestone
The number of films submitted sets a milestone which explains the possible socio-cultural relationship that can exist between Rivers State, by extension Nigeria and all these countries. It was so difficult to select movies to contest in the forthcoming festival because they were too beautiful and competitive. Thanks to all who sent in their films.
Requirements for 2024 RIFF Submission.
“The organizers required that participating films producers submit films that addresses culture, gender inequality, sexuality, power dynamics, security and racism; social justice at the national and regional level. Again, the films must tell stories that address indigenous and cultural or racial groups that are usually marginalized, disabled and a wide variety of other cultures and communities who make up the diversity of human life; and as well as stories that tell the realms of technology, psychology, medicine and spirituality as it intersects with human believes and practices.
Add Ons
“As a part of our social impact responsibility, to the creative industry, the following initiatives were introduced into the October 2024 festival. There are RIFF free medicals, RIFF Empower, Pitch Your Project, Tour Rivers Initiative and RIFF Film Project.
Challenges
“In recent times, the sudden death of films practitioners in Nigeria became alarming and scary. We embarked on a research and found that because of the peculiarity of their jobs being very tedious and time consuming, they barely have the time to do a routine check on their health and that is why RIFF free medical was created so that every October film practitioner, film lover and film critic can access free minor surgery, routine checks and free drugs for certain ailments.
Mitigation
“We intend to use RIFF Free medical outreach to reach out to agencies associated with film making to have a structured healthcare scheme plan for Nollywood practitioners. So in this second edition, we shall provide thirty minor surgeries, malaria treatment, hypertension, diabetes, ulcer, diarrhea, STD and free eye test would be carried out during the four days film festival.
Again, because of the peculiarity of the Nollywood industry where you have to become a celebrity before you are well paid, RIFF would take the form of an advocate to call on actors to diversify into other career paths to avoid sex for roles or becoming a nuisance in the industry. RIFF will provide a platform for training on cinematography, smart phone videography for content creation, production of hair products, make up, balloon decoration, cake making and general baking.
In our Pitch Your Project platform, we intend to bring content creators and executive producers together to interface. The view is to solve the problem of funding especially for those who have good content but can’t access funding. The Rivers Film Project is to encourage the production of films that promotes and bring to bear the culture of rivers people which are yet untapped. This will promote film productions that would turn Rivers State to a movie hub. This year, we intend to give a plot of land to the best River film project won. The Tour Rivers Project is to showcase the sight and sounds of Rivers State to our worldwide audience.
The Second Edition Riff Theme
” Yes, the theme for the second edition of RIFF is “The Shift” and it celebrates the shifting landscape of film making, fostering creativity, diversity and collaboration among Nigerians and international film makers. The focus of ‘The Shift’ is to showcase innovative and compelling films that reflects the shifting narratives in the film industry and to facilitates knowledge sharing, skills developments through workshops, master classes and panel sessions as well as to contribute to the growth of Nollywood industry in Rivers State and Nigeria.
Expectations
“The second edition of RIFF focuses at enhancing creativity and innovation in film making, increased collaboration and networking opportunities, improved skills and knowledge of film makers, greater cultural exchange and understanding and contribution to the growth of the Nigerian film industry.
Much as that, the founder and director of Riff added that the target audience in the second edition include film makers, industry professionals, film enthusiasts, students, educators, local and international visitors, heads of industries and organizations, governments and the private sector.”
There has been a Road walk by the organizer which has a lot of participants and spectators who adorned various costumes as ensembles and props although in a dry rehearsals format replica of movie location scenery. a lot of activities has been organized to promote the RIFF 2024 edition as a visit by Ms. Kate Ezigbo to the Deputy governor Professor Ngozi Nma Odu in her office at Port Harcourt also played major part in sensitizing members of the political class and the business community in rivers state about the upcoming event which will take place on Thursday 24th of October, 2024. Majority of the hospitality outfits in Port Harcourt especially those around SARS Road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of rivers state are now having upscale in patronage by visitors and residents who all look forward to seeing most of the Movie celebrities those used to watch in Films.
Rivers International Film Festival 2nd edition began receiving submission of entries of films from 5th of May, 2024 for early to having regular deadline entries set on 31st of May, 2024. However the last deadline was set on August 30th, 2024. This second edition is slated to have exhibitions, MyRivers Cocktail Party, TourRivers Initiatives, Networking, Rivers Film Project, Pitch Your Project, Riff2Screen Initiative, RIFF Free Medicals, mentoring, Panel Session, RiffEmpowers, Riff Awards. The awards categories include Overall Best Film, Riff Crew Awards, Best Rivers State Film Project, Best Documentary, Best Animation, Best International Film, Best Indigenous Film, Best male Actor, and Best Female Actress.
——–Emeka Amaefula—-+234(0)8111813069—-
