By Tadeniawo Collins
As part of the commitment of Relativity Media to the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in the area of capacity building for creative professionals in Africa, the school welcomed AFRIFF CEO, Chioma Ude to Los Angeles recently.
The visit by Chioma was to dwell on the success of the last edition of the festival, which took place in Calabar, Cross River State and asses the festival’s scholarship scheme for young filmmakers. It will be recalled that Relativity Media, the 3rd largest mini-major film studio in the world, participated actively at AFRIFF 2014; hence the move to formalise plans for further partnership between both organisations.
Its subsidiary, Relativity School, is the first and only school of its kind created with a major Hollywood studio, and the relationship with AFRIFF is their first in Africa which represents an important element of the institution’s global education efforts in film media and performing arts. As such, beneficiaries of AFRIFF’s scholarship scheme will enjoy first-hand training at Relativity School this summer.
The Los Angeles trip also provided Ude with opportunities to initiate other industry partnerships with value chain actors in Hollywood. It is expected that future editions of AFRIFF will include more international partners and deeper engagements with afro-centric stakeholders in Hollywood.
As a precursor to AFRIFF 2015, the Relativity scholarships to 20 creative professionals from Africa this summer will serve as a method of deepening the relationships between both ecosystems, by offering unique opportunities for selected professionals to hone their craft through training and development and create rich networks in the global market.