How Nollywood Filmmaker Adekunle Adejuyigbe Reacted To His Selection As FESPACO 2021 Jury Member

Ace Nollywood filmmaker Adekunle Adejuyigbe better known in movie circles as “Nodash” has reacted to being named as a jury member of the ongoing Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO).

Nodash who once cautioned content producers to be weary of the kind of materials they dish out to the public in the wake of the #EndSARS protest last year, reacted to his selection as a FESPACO jury member when he was accosted by journalists on the sidelines of the 27th edition of film festival.

When asked how it felt when he got wind of his selection as a jury member, Nodash said that it is another proof that we have Nigerians who are on the same level as the most brilliant minds in the global film industry

He said; “My fellow Jury members are acclaimed professionals from all over the world -Oscar Nominees, Professors, critically acclaimed Authors, these are people who have been recognised on the highest level of global excellence. So it feels good to know that the international film community considers me a peer of such brilliant minds.”

He also commented on the manner of film entries expected from filmmakers across the continent, considering that the festival is a rare opportunity for African storytellers to showcase their creations on a global stage.

“I have been to festivals all over the world and I have screened my film at a bunch of them. So, I know that African filmmakers are going to bring their A-game as we have been doing in recent years at such forums.

“I expect to see a lot of well-made, thought-provoking films. Gone are the days when you would expect that African films would be below the standards of other films. With what I have seen in recent years, Africans are going to give everyone a run for their money,” the filmmaker said.

Nodash who has grown to become a silent force within the Nigerian film industry also opened up on the feeling of attendees despite all the challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, with Burkina Faso also gripped by a six-year war with armed groups linked to ISIL (ISIS) & al-Qaeda and local fighters.

He said; “FESPACO originally scheduled for February 27 – March 6, officially commenced this week and the feeling here in Burkina Faso is quite safe. There is a heavy security presence around the festival.

“As member of the jury, I ride around with a small entourage that consists of a personal assistant, a protocol officer and two security officers. So there is no way we wouldn’t feel safe, even for regular attendees, it feels very safe,” Nodash noted.

Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Nodash is blessed with knowledge of production design, years of experience as a producer/director/cinematographer and an unusual story telling ability. His works have been so exceptional that he was selected by the Berlin film festival in 2015 as one of the 21 cinematographers in the world to look out for.

He was running a company before, something Unusual Studios that produces high end TV commercials and documentaries for major brands like MTN, Bloomberg, etc. These projects generally have higher production standards which is an experience he brings into filmmaking.

More recently he has been working with a handful of filmmakers who are looking to make a mark. Industry insiders have said he is on speed dial of most of the serious filmmakers in the country. And it’s not just for his good looks but for his ability to make a film’s visual connect to the emotional aspects of the film by making each image tell a story.

His experience spans as producer, writer, and director on films, TV commercials, TV shows, documentaries, etc. Most of the projects he has worked on have won awards and international critical acclaim.

His last film ‘THE DELIVERY BOY’ was trending in over 20 countries when it was released on Netflix last year.

Some of his other film credits include Shuga season 3, Fifty, Gidi Up 3, Isoken, The Encounter, Silence and Tunde Kelani’s upcoming film.

He has also worked on society development projects with organisations like the UN, the American Consulate and the Niger Delta Creek project where he provided basic film-making training for ex-militants.

His latest project is an anthology TV series which he teased on his social media platform recently.

From the looks of it, and from insider information, we have gathered, this is going to be another groundbreaking, internationally acclaimed project coming out from Nigeria.