Wife of Cross Rivers State Governor, Mrs. Obioma Imoke
Wife of Cross Rivers State Governor, Mrs. Obioma Imoke, and the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, were among the prominent indigenes that welcomed film stars to the state capital, Calabar, on Sunday, when the African International Film Festival began.
Top stars from different parts of the world are attending the event, which its founder, Chioma Ude, described as a platform to celebrate the movie kingdom on the continent, while also seeking ways to grow the industry.
Welcoming the visitors, Imoke noted that the hosting of the festival in Calabar for the second time in a row was a clear indication that the goal of making Cross River a tourism destination in Africa was fast coming to fruition.
She said, “If the filmmakers came here last year, and it was a disaster, they would never be here this year. So, for us, we are excited and we feel fulfilled that people are beginning to key into what government has tried to put in place.”
She advised participants to avail themselves of other opportunities that abound in the state, praising the security of the state, the tourism locations and the people’s cuisine.
On his part, Duke urged them to project Africa to the rest of the world in a positive light, giving credence to the rich cultures and traditions of the continent.
He said, “It is our delight to join you once again in this theatre of dreams in Calabar to acknowledge and celebrate a galaxy of stars that are here in Cross River State, whose works, creativity and fashion designs continue to redefine the place of the movie industry in the world. It is my belief that it is proper to acknowledge and celebrate all of you, who in your different and various roles have woven together the story of Africa – its trial, tribulation and triumph; its joys, pains and the stories of warmth and generosities that is the hallmark of Africa.”
While the opening programme featured the screening of The Square, a documentary film on Egypt’s most recent revolution, directed by Jehane Noujaim, Ude noted that apart from the festival creating the platform for Africans to tell their true stories, it also provides the opportunity for film practitioners across the continent to network their lots in the film industry.
She said at the event holding at the Tinapa Resort, “Nobody can tell our story better than us, you get to know what is happening in other countries of Africa, and that’s the aspect that unifies us, because people know they are telling their stories. So, our vision is being to unite Africa.”