The most prestigious Guild that serves as the umbrella for film and television directors in the Nigerian motion picture industry, the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria (DGN) is proud to announce its 20th Anniversary Celebration.
The Guild led by Olorogun Fred Amata and originally founded in 1999 with the purpose of advancing the art and science of motion picture, brings directors together to exchange ideas, discuss techniques and promote motion picture as a veritable contributor to the socio-economic development of Nigeria; a mission that continues today, 20 years later.
The President of the Guild that prides itself as the custodian of the film art of Nigeria, Olorogun Fred Amata, whose head wears the crown is very optimistic about the guild and stated, “It is vital to support programmes that increase the pipeline of talent across creative and executive fields as well as work within the industry to enhance the momentum for full inclusion.”
“This is DGN’s work. Seeing the practice improve to comparable world cinema standards, having directors back together again reaffirms what made it special 20 years ago when six angry men came together and founded the guild” He affirmed.
DGN revels in the proud history of its founders; Fidelis Duker, Sam Azubuike, Amb. Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, Victor Okhai, Madu C. Chikwendu, and Jeff Obahor. Angered by the poor work conditions and remunerations of directors in the emerging industry, proposed a Guild and DGN was born. They became known as ‘The Six Angry Men’. Determined to keep the Guild devoid of political squabbles, none of the six angry men put themselves up to run the Guild, instead agreed on the most suitable practitioner and Matthias Obahiagbon became the founding President of DGN. DGN serves as an example of democratic associations even in Nigeria. From inception, DGN transitions have always been keenly contested yet without rancour. From Mathias Obahiagbon to Fidelis Duker, then Bond Emeruwa to Andy Amenechi who handed over to the current President, Olorogun Fred Amata.
DGN continues to inspire and seek frontiers of interaction to advise and contribute towards the betterment of the practice and its environment.
“The biggest challenge DGN producers and directors face is related to funding, access, and opportunities. Filmmakers need to be in these chambers of power, in decision-making positions with access to funding, because it trickles all the way down. In the next 20 years, we’re going to be spotlighted; because not only will we have the demographics, we’ll have the spending power,” stated the DGN President.
Moving forward, President Amata is looking beyond Nollywood and hatching a plan for DGN to go global. The guild intends to increase its presence at film festivals in Africa, Europe, India, and North America. New York University (NYU) for instance, incorporated DGN into its programming as a keynote last year.
Remembered fondly by two decades of filmmakers, and renowned for inspiring practitioners to learn, engage, explore and participate in filmmaking, the now-iconic Directors’ Guild of Nigeria (DGN) had its press conference on Monday, March 16, 2020, at Shoregate Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos state.
The Directors’ Guild of Nigeria 20th anniversary celebration supported by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), National Television Authority, Silverbird Group, Inside Out Media Ltd, Consolidated Media Associates Group and Megalectrics Ltd will take place on April 23rd to 25th 2020 across the city of Abuja with the closing Anniversary Gala & Awards at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
The 3-day event will feature new inductees, nollywood walk against corruption, roundtable sessions from panels, and training workshops, novelty matches between Nollywood & House of Rep, and the DGN Awards/Gala. Prior to this, a call for entries of short movies by directors will be initiated, and the selected best will be sponsored for a master class in the Art of Film Making at NYU as to re-iterate our commitment to developing capacity in the industry.
The recognitions and awards bestowed on distinguished individuals such as: Past President of Nigeria; Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Grand Patron DGN; the Ooni of Ife, Evelyn Oputu, Prince Ned Nwoko, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Chief Peter Igho (MFR), Honorable Femi Gbajabiamila to mention a few; Icon Institutions, Governments organisations and the talents that made what today the world refers to as the Nollywood Phenomenon.
