Accelerate premieres ‘The Mindset Series’; the top 5 short films from its 2019 Accelerate Filmmaker Project, at the Accelerate Day of the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) held at Film House Cinemas, Landmark Retail Village, Lagos.
After a full week of intense trainings in the art of filmmaking by some of Nollywood’s finest; If Only, Blast, Black Monday, Last and Scar were selected as the winning films of the Accelerate Filmmaker project.
Touching on the power that the mind yields and how a people’s mindset can affect their lives, the stories interpret the theme through different styles, and the five winners; Tosin Ibitoye, Olabisi Akinbinu, Miriam Dera, Alfa Farouk and Adetola Films, had their short films produced by Accelerate and Access Bank Plc. Also, they got an opportunity to be mentored by veterans in the Nigerian film industry such as Kemi Adetiba, Kunle Afolayan, Niyi Akinmolayan, Victor Aghaowa and Seyi Babatope.
At the premiere of the series, Colette Otusheso, head, Accelerate Television, said, “Each of the top 5 winners put in their best for these films, from working on set with the crew through to post production. It was great to see them work together, even with the filmmakers that did not get a chance to be in the top 5. We are indeed proud of the hard work of these young filmmakers and are even more proud to showcase another set of our Accelerate Filmmaker Project short films at the prestigious African International Film Festival for the third year in a row.”
Read also: AFRIFF announces three awards for ‘The Ghost and the House of Truth’
Commenting on his film on stage, Alfa Umar Farouk, told the audience that filmmaking is designed to make positive impact on the society.
“Every creativity and talent is a gift meant for mankind for a larger or small world. Filmmaking is one the most powerful tools to make positive difference.” He said.
For Tosin Ibitoye, premiering his film entitled: “Blast” on cinema is unprecedented experience in the make- believe business. “This is a very special moment for me. It is my first experience in filmmaking. I conceived the film story when when I was in a bathroom and I enjoy how it would be like when put on screen.”
He said, his venturing for the Accelerate Filmmaker project is hinged on his penchant for story telling, entertaining the audience and a dream come true for him.
Mirian Dera, also one of the 5 Tops said, film gives her the platform to link to events around her, because through it she discovers things that she had no knowledge.
“Film has always been a mean for me to connect with what happens around me because it tends to mirrow life itself. Through films I find out about things I never knew and and learn more.” She explained.
In deed, the Top 5 Films demonstrated the creative ingenuity of the filmmakers. The audience also applauded the rich content of the films, a boost to Accelerate Television vision of raising young generation of filmmakers with international standards.
Addressing the audience, Otusheso said a lot of young people lack the platform to showcase their talents in filmmaking and the need to fill the gap is the the reason behind the filmmaker project to raise a generation of film stars.
“When I started working in the Nigerian media industry, I felt there were a lot of young people that wanted to do great things, but did not have the opportunity to do so, hence the Accelerate Filmmaker Project was created to train, empower and give opportunities to the young demographic”, she said.
Otusheso noted that Access Bank’s many initiatives to stimulate and support the development of young talents in the country, gave her the motivation to create the filmmaker project to enable young realize their natural potentials.
The short films from the 2019 Accelerate Filmmaker Project will be available to the public on the Accelerate TV YouTube channel from December 1, 2019 to January 2020.
