TIPTOPSTARS

In counting her blessings in 2011, the film industry in Cameroon will certainly rank the NAFCA Awards experience at the top. Reason: It is at the NAFCA Awards that the country has had one of her biggest honours, at least this year. NAFCA, the Nollywood and African Film Critics Awards, this writer would imagine (pending an interview with members), is a film criticism outfit with the promotion of the seventh art in Africa at the back of the minds of organizers.

At the maiden edition of the recognition event, organized and staged in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA recently, Cameroon shined out with a highly contested best make-up award grabbed via Land of Shadow, the famous 2009 movie shot in Bafut, produced by Agbor Gilbert and directed by Zack Orji and Neba Lawrence.

With over six nominations, the country was represented at the red carpet event by a strong delegation of US-based Cameroonian film makers and two compatriots who flew in from home, producer Agbor Gilbert and director Neba Lawrence. “It was a great time out there, communioning with other African film stars,” Neba told TIPTOPSTARS editor in Yaounde upon his return from the US. “I was particularly touched by the convivial atmosphere that reigned between Cameroon, Nigeria and Ghana as we all celebrated the success of the African film industry,” he went on.

According to the director of Royal Destiny, produced by Ayi Chatou Inoua, Cameroon was repeatedly mentioned as fast trailing Nigeria and Ghana in home movie production. He said: “In fact, Cameroon was ranked third after these two countries and that really inspired us. We are therefore going to work harder to score better grades subsequently.”

NAFCA 2011 opened a new platform for professional and film marketing contracts established between Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and the US. According to the Yaounde-based film director who has won several awards, African movie marketers in the US displayed an impressive interest in most recent Cameroonian movies and are ready to market them the world over. “For instance, film marketing outfits such as Franco Films, Executive Images and www.boyceeondemand.com now have deals with us and will be marketing our films out there,” Neba revealed.

It should be noted that Cameroon has regularly been featuring in several international film festivals and awards of late and winning prizes. A prominent awards in which the country has had a brilliant performance is the ZAFAA where Nchifor Valery has just been declared best up-and-coming actor in the people’s choice category. Last year, Musing Derick’s 30^th Day won a prize at the same competition. ZAFAA is equally run by Nigerian film promoters in the UK.