By Efe Onodjae

The Chief Executive and founder of Good Media, Toyosi Etim-Effiong, is set to feature Nigeria prominently at the Essence Film Festival 2024, which will be taking place in New Orleans, United States, from July 5th to July 7th, with a special Nollywood activation on July 5th.

This was disclosed by Toyosi at the press briefing during a panel discussion with the topic, “Building Bridges: Collaborating with Nollywood for Global Success,” at Metro Garden Estate, Lagos, during the week.

According to her, it aims to underline the importance of international partnerships in elevating Nollywood on the world stage. “Panelists will discuss strategic alliances and the role of storytelling in fostering cultural exchanges and deepening global understanding”.

The Essence Film Festival is a prominent platform for celebrating African-American culture and showcasing diverse voices in the film industry.

Sharing her vision, Toyosi added, “Our participation at the Essence Film Festival not only showcases the unique narratives and talents of Nollywood but also reinforces our commitment to creating global dialogues through film.”

“Getting Nigerian actors and filmmakers on a global stage at the Essence film festival is our aim. 2022 was the first and this is our third year. The intention is to open Nollywood to international collaboration, just like what is happening in Nigerian music where most of our artists are collaborating with foreign artists to produce good music. That is what we want to see in Nollywood.

“This year we are taking Nollywood players to the stage. We are going to give them the opportunity to share ideas with other actors across the globe as well as sell their products with other foreign actors.

“I am not an actress but married to an actor and I have a degree in production and journalism.”

Director of the Essence Film Festival, Lamonia Brown, added, “We are thrilled to host Nollywood’s vibrant showcase, which is a testament to the rich cultural heritage and storytelling prowess that Nigerian cinema brings to our global audience.”

Reflecting on the success of the 2023 Essence Film Festival’s inaugural Nigeria Day, the event highlighted the vibrancy of Nigerian cinema and culture, featuring prominent Nigerian film personalities such as Richard Mofe Damijo, Stella Damasus, and many others.