Forty  practitioners in the Nigerian film industry have been awarded various grants under the recently launched Capacity Training Fund of the Presidential Intervention scheme for the industry also known as Project ACT Nollywood.

“The applications submitted by the practitioners successfully scaled the rigorous qualification processes for the training and skills acquisition segment of the Capacity Building Fund,” said Paul C Nwabuikwu, Special Adviser to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

He explained that “the grants which are currently being processed will enable the practitioners receive high quality training in accredited institutions to improve their competencies in various areas of film craft.”

The Training part of the Capacity Building Fund is valued at N150 million and is dedicated to training and skills acquisition for Nigerian movie practitioners in all competencies along the entire value chain of Nigeria’s movie industry.

These include Scriptwriting, Directing, Production and Production Design, Special Effects, Lighting, Sound, HD Techniques, Acting, Cinematography, Make-Up, Editing, etc.

The second component is the Capacity Development Fund which is also worth N150 million. It will give grants to existing Nigerian-owned private institutes that offer training courses, programmes and technical certification in the movie industry.

While expressing satisfaction with the development, Okonjo-Iweala has appealed for more applications from qualified practitioners.

Her words, as conveyed through a statement signed by Nwabuikwu: “The objective of ACT Nollywood is to help the industry to make further progress on a more solid foundation. That is President Jonathan’s vision. But we need more practitioners to come forward and take advantage of the opportunity. Go to the website and apply, apply, apply. That’s what we want. We need more qualified practitioners to apply from different parts of the country. The rate of applications from the north has been particularly low. This project is for the whole movie industry so practitioners need to come forward and take advantage of the opportunity.”

In a related development, another segment of Project ACT Nollywood, the Film Production Fund, has also become operational. Already the website, www.projectactnollywod.com.ng has been activated and is ready for applications.

The Film Production Fund (FPF) is a N700 million instrument which allocates grants to production companies and independent producers for the making of commercially viable films at any stage of production. This includes:

•Pre-production (scripting, budgeting, location, cast and crew);

•Production (shooting, film set);

•Post-production (editing, sound, and graphics); and

•Marketing/distribution/exhibition (selling the movie to audiences)

“The FPF contributes to commercially viable film projects with grants of up to N10 million,” Nwabuikwu said. “A number of medium budget film projects will be considered for a higher grant contribution. Funds are used to subsidise pre-production, production or post-production costs of films, and in making these grants the initiative supports the further development of the Nollywood film industry and filmmaking talent.

“Eligible formats include feature films, documentaries, animation, short films, tv formats. Movies may be in English or from any of the three main regional genres; a limited number of films in other indigenous languages may be considered. To qualify, movie projects must have national and international appeal.

“Interested and qualified practitioners can get more information from www.projectactnollywod.com.ng.”

•Photo shows the shooting of a scene in a Nollywood movie.