Ace filmmaker and co-founder of Fenmore Studious, Allen Agozie, has urged teeming unemployed youths to embrace opportunities that abound in the Nigerian film industry in order to become self-employed.

Agozie made the call in an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the maiden edition of the Fenmore Film Festival on Saturday in Abuja.

The one-day film fiesta, organised by Fenmore Studious in collaboration with the French Institute, had in attendance industry stakeholders, young filmmakers and film enthusiasts drawn from different parts of the country.

He said that as Nigerian youths grappled with unemployment, the film industry was a viable option that could create jobs and make people self-employed if only the youths could tap into it.

Agozie said that a lot of opportunities were available both before and behind the camera for creative and talented young Nigerians whole may want to venture into the motion picture industry.

“There are opportunities for every passionate and talented youth out there in the industry; from acting to cinematography, script writing, costume design and many more.

“A lot of Hollywood films are being made with millions and millions of dollars and that is because they think it is an industry worth investing in, and Nollywood actually has the same potential.

“So, what we really need to do is to start telling our own stories very well, genuine stories that a lot of people will be interested to take and make bigger on a larger scale.

“That is when the money and employment will come, and the industry is definitely worth investing in your time, talent and money.’’

Agozie said that as Nigeria faced economic challenges and sought to diversify its revenue mainstay, its rich culture and creative sector was a veritable alternative, if well harnessed.

He urged the government at all levels to make the sector attractive to creative young Nigerians by providing necessary support in the form of funding and capacity building.

According to him, the film festive is an initiative to offer young filmmakers a platform to showcase their talents and creativity.

“As a production company, Fenmore Studio decided to organise this film festival in collaboration with the French Institute to celebrate short films and young filmmakers who are trying to tell our stories.

“The aim of Fenmore Film Festival is to give them a platform to showcase their works and encourage them that they can be genuine and tell original humane stories.

“The theme of the festival is ‘Contemporary African Narratives’, which is about the new ways of telling African stories, and we want to tell our young filmmakers that they can change the nation through film.

“We selected and exhibited eight films that we believe show exactly what it means for young filmmakers in this generation to tell the same story that has been told before about society.

“We hope that anyone that attended this festival falls in love with the films, and with this happening in Abuja, youth will join this community of young filmmakers,” he said.

Some of the short films screened at the festival include ‘Swimming in a Sea of Trauma’, ‘You Matter to Me’, ‘Boy Meets Girl’, ‘Cementary of Doves’, ‘Rare Fish’, ‘Hanky Panky’, ‘A Quiet Monday’, among others.

(NAN)