NOLLYWOOD WORKSHOP – BENIN CITY EDITION

Since the beginning of November 2023, students from the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg have been working with young filmmakers from Benin City in Edo State in Nigeria. The project, which was initiated by the Film Academy, was inspired by the return of Benin bronzes (December 2022) and is funded by both the Nigerian and German governments. The aim was to combine the different perspectives and cultural backgrounds of the participants in a joint film. This film, entitled ỌKPẸN- ẸZẸ (BY THE RIVERSIDE), celebrated its premiere on Tuesday, 5 December at the Goethe Institute in Lagos.

ỌKPẸN- ẸZẸ is about Esohe, whose 10-year-old daughter Osayuki tragically drowns in a nearby river. According to current burial laws, her body should be buried near the river, but Esohe cannot part with the remains of her beloved daughter, whereupon the enraged water goddess Olokun takes possession of the dead girl's body.

In Nigeria, the participants in the project visited the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Lagos and took part in a workshop by Joshua Alabi (Kininso Concepts), during which the idea for the film was born.

The screening at the Goethe Institute marked the end of the first module of this three-year project. In the next phase, two participants from Nigeria will spend the summer semester of 2024 as guest students in the international class at the FABW in Ludwigsburg before the next Nollywood workshop takes place in Nigeria in November 2024.

The film was shot with the new ARRI Alexa 35 camera, which was made available as part of a sponsorship by the world's leading film technology company ARRI. The Nollywood Workshop is also supported by the Federal Government Commissioner for Arts and Media (BKM). In Nigeria, the Edo State Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub & Sound Stage and the AFRIFF / Africa International Film Festival are supporters of the project. Nigerian guest students at the Film Academy receive scholarships from the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts.
Co-director Osakpolor Omoregie finds ‘initiatives like this important, not only for us as people, but also as filmmakers who are entrusted with the great responsibility of developing stories that transcend borders,’ he explained. He also said that the workshop had improved his skills as a storyteller and enabled him to take local stories to an international level and reach a global audience.
Johanna Graewinger, one of the German participants, was happy to meet and work with the ‘wonderful filmmakers from Benin’. It was also interesting and enlightening ‘to realise this project in a different way of filmmaking than we are used to. Many of us also used this time to work in departments that are not part of our usual role on set. In this way, we were able to expand our cultural, social and professional skills. ’

Guido Lukoschek, Head of the International Office at the Film Academy: ‘I am very pleased about the opportunities that arise from this workshop. The participants each learn to communicate in a completely different film culture, get to know other narrative traditions and become part of a network that promotes equal cooperation. The great interest shown by the participants and the broad political and economic support on both sides shows us that this project has come at the right time. I would like to thank all partners and supporters as well as the workshop leader Mark Szilagyi and the coordinator Abel Alechenu.’

Written by: Leif Eisenberg (FABW), Oluwagbemiga Idahosa (N)
Director: Basilio Maritano (FABW), Omoregie Osakpolor (N)
Camera: Paul Sonntag (FABW)
Camera assistant: Johanna Gräwinger (FABW)
Producer: Joseph Okhomina (FABW)
Make-up and costumes: Isabella Omoregie (N), Gina Stephan, (FABW)
Rare electrician: Osakpolor Lawani (N)
Setton: Gabriel Opute (N)

Acting:
Osayuki: Benita Akoko (N)
Esohe: Choice Edobor (N)
Priest: Utetenegiabi Omo-Osagie (N)

Participant Omoregie Osakpolor and coordinator Abel Alechenu have completed a guest semester at the Film Academy in recent years, each funded by the Baden-Württemberg STIPENDIUM of the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung.