Paris: Nigerian cinema is the world’s second-largest film industry in terms of output and has evolved a great deal since emerging in the 1990s. However, it still faces challenges as a relatively young industry, including profitability. One of the international events helping to shine a spotlight on films made in Nigeria and other African countries is the NollywoodWeek Film Festival in Paris. As the twelfth edition gets underway this week, we speak to Serge Noukoué and Nadira Shakur, the event’s founders. They tell us how Nollywood filmmakers are now “much more daring” and discuss how the industry is navigating the age of streaming.

According to France24.com, the NollywoodWeek Film Festival continues to play an important role in promoting Nigerian cinema on a global stage. The founders, Serge Noukoué and Nadira Shakur, highlight that filmmakers in Nollywood are taking more risks in their storytelling and production choices. This evolution is partly driven by the opportunities and challenges presented by strea
ming services, which have changed the way films are distributed and consumed.

Serge Noukoué and Nadira Shakur emphasize the importance of such festivals in providing a platform for filmmakers to reach international audiences. Despite the financial challenges that the industry faces, the increased daring nature of the films is seen as a positive development, helping to push the boundaries of what is traditionally expected from Nollywood productions. The festival aims to bring these innovative works to audiences in Paris, showcasing the creativity and ambition of Nigerian filmmakers.