Benin Film Academy Unveils Future Nollywood Stars

By Akinwale Kasali

The likes of Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde, Mercy Johnson, Funke Akindele, Ramson Nouah, Jim Ikye and a host of other known Nolly actors may soon take the back seats as Nollywood unveils a new set of actors and actresses.

The move has placed Nigerian film industry popularly known as Nollywood  in a joyous mood. The reason: The addition of new sets of Actors, Cinematographers, Editors, Script writers and producers to the fourth largest movie industry in the world is a good omen.

The glamorous and high octane event was held in Benin City the capital of Edo State, Nigeria, and witnessed by hundreds of people.

Those unveiled are graduates of the Benin Film Academy, BFA, a movie school tucked in the heart of Benin City, and ran in conjunction with The Igbinedion University, Okada.

While unveiling them at a very colorful and well attended Festival of Short Films and Graduation ceremony held at Kada Cinema, Benin City, the entertainment center of Nigeria which is the core of the Academy, these new sets of Nollywood actors vowed to take over the industry in a short period of time.

Tagged “From The Street To The Big Screen”, short films made by the graduating students were screened to the wide admiration of a large audience made up of people from all works of life.

During their 6 months course, seasoned and notable actors and producers like; Segun Arinze, Monalisa Chinda-Coker, Judith Audu, Emem Isong, Kanayo. O. Kanayo, Andrew Osawaru, Hyginous Ekwuazi, and Eseosa Egbon were some  Nollywood greats who drilled them.

The Movie Academy went into partnership with Igbinedion University Okada, Benin City and Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen’s Nollywood Project 101 on January 14, 2017 at the 18th Matriculation ceremony of the University, the move which makes the Higher Institution the first private University in Nigeria to achieve such a feat.

Benin Film Academy which is described as the gateway to the heart of Nollywood across the country is an initiative of Igbinedion University and Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen’s Nollywood project 101.