Nollywood Foundation Presents NF Convention '07: 'Emerging Talents And Technologies'

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 11, 2007 -- The Nollywood Foundation, Inc. (NF) is delighted to have guests join them, along with many of Nigeria's and Hollywood's film industry talents, for NF Convention '07 from June 15th through 17th--a weekend that promises to be engaging, enlightening, creative and fun! The weekend kicks off on Friday, June 15th with practical workshops during the day followed by a VIP reception that evening at 7.00 pm at the Omni Hotel Los Angeles (251 S. Olive Street). The reception, hosted by the Nigerian National Film and Video Censors Board, will include catered delectables. On the evening of Saturday, June 16th, at 7.00 pm, NF features Hollywood icon and award-winning actors Danny Glover as the NF Convention '07 keynote speaker, and Nigeria's own, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje ("Lost," "The Bourne Identity," and "Oz") as a special featured guest. A special presentation highlighting the career of the Akinnuoye-Agbaje will also be shown. Other featured guests include Parminder Vir, OBE, of Ingenious Media UK and Emeka Mba, Director-General of the Nigerian National Film and Video Censors Board. Tickets for the NF Convention '07 are: $100 for convention registration, which includes all events, and $50 to attend the VIP reception only. Convention fees will be waived for participants traveling from Africa.

Consistent with its tradition of advancing the technical and creative standards of the Nigerian film industry, as well as encouraging international collaborations including with professional guilds and associations in Nigeria, the NF Convention '07 continues with a highly focused theme for this year's conference, "Emerging Talents and Technologies." The weekend will provide convention participants numerous opportunities to meet, interact and participate in engaging panel discussions with an array of entertainment industry panelists--some of whom are renowned personalities from Nollywood, Hollywood, and Bollywood--as they give insights on advancing Nollywood films through technology, pre- and post- production, directing, financing and distribution. Guests will also enjoy the opportunity to attend hands-on workshops focused on sound, post-production editing, cinematography, fashion and beauty and screenwriting.

"We are extremely excited at the positive response we have received from potential participants from Nigeria, the U.S. and the U.K. and the support from several new sponsors including the Nigerian National Film and Video Censors Board," says NF President, Egbe Dawodu. "We look forward to a very exciting event in Los Angeles this June."

The NF Convention attracts A-list celebrities from Nigeria such as Actors Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic, and Zack Orji; Directors Lancelot Imasuen and Mildred Okwo; Producer Ego Boyo; and Isaac and Nneka Moses, presenters of the award-winning "Goge Africa," a television series presenting highlights of different African countries. From the USA, the NF Convention attracts personalities such as John Maatta, General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer for the CW television network; Award-winning Screenwriter and author, Segun Oyekunle, President and CEO of Arufa Productions; James Makawa, Founder and CEO of The Africa Channel; Director of the hit movie "Phat Girlz," Nnegest Likke; Hollywood Actors Jimmy Jean-Louis ("Phat Girlz" and "Heroes"); Hakeem Kae-Kazeem ("Hotel Rwanda"); Razaaq Adoti ("Amistad"); Tangi Miller ("Madea's Family Reunion"); Hollywood Screenwriter and Producer of several hit television series, Michael Ajakwe, Jr.; Christina Marouda, President of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles; Producer and Academy Award nominee, John Corser; and James Mathers, President and Co-Founder of the Digital Camera Society.

The funds raised from NF Convention '07 are used to directly support NF's annual convention as well as to facilitate NF's rotation of its annual convention at various venues within and outside Africa to groups interested in Nigerian and African cinema. NF Convention '07 sponsors include the Nigerian National Film and Video Censors Board, King and Spalding LLP, African Vibes Magazine, Black Star News, BHF Magazine, Nirvana Woman Magazine, Next Day Site, Business Day, City People, Dondo Magazine, Global Excellence, and Genevieve Magazine.


About Nollywood Foundation:

Nollywood Foundation, Inc. ("NF") is an incorporated non-profit organization based in Los Angeles, California, USA. NF's objective is to bring Nigerian movies and culture to an international audience, to serve as a forum for new ideas and contexts, and to encourage Nigerian cultural development projects in film and new media. NF was formed as a result of "Nollywood," the movie capital of Nigeria, and a developing film industry that has become a mega million-dollar industry through its rise in video film and movie production. Ranked the third leading film industry in production terms behind film industry giants, Bollywood in India and Hollywood in the United States, Nollywood has found a home in the world of films by progressively improving film quality and producing a wide variety of films that focus on areas such as corruption, women's rights, politics, inter and intra-ethnic marriages, horror, romance, action and other topics of concern that the everyday Nigerian or other African citizen is confronted with. NF's annual convention provides promotional and educational benefits and also creates an avenue where significant international film/video industry collaborations and business occur - a U.S./Nigeria co-production was a tangible result from the NF 2006 Convention. As a follow-up to NF's '06 convention, NF was part of a team that met with the Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, and his economic management team to bring issues that affect Nollywood's industry to the forefront and find pragmatic solutions. NF also collaborated with the U.S Department of Commerce in a presentation to members of the Nigerian judiciary on copyright issues as they affect Nollywood. More recently, NF presented on "Developing Africa's Media and Entertainment Industry" at the 2007 Harvard Business School's Africa Business Club Conference and on "Working in Africa" to the Women in Film and Video, Washington, DC organization. The NF principals, who are legal, academic and developmental professionals, make no financial gain from NF's activities.

For more information, visit Nollywood Foundation, Inc. at www.nollywoodfoundation.org.

Media Contact:
media @ nollywoodfoundation.org

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