Award-winning producer and filmmaker Kunle Afolayan recently shared advice to young filmmakers looking to take their art global. Recall that he signed a deal for three films with Netflix in 2021.
“So again, if we have some of these guys who are investors, but at the same time, who allow you to stay creative and do your thing without necessarily controlling how you tell your narrative, then I think it’s a great thing for Nigeria and for Africa. Unlike before, when most of the Francophone films were funded by Europe, France, Germany, Belgium and all. And most of these films, yeah, great production value, but even the citizens and indigenes of all of those countries actually don’t get to see the films,” he said.
According to Afolayan, “If you are a filmmaker and you only rely on brands it means you’ll probably do only one film in five years or ten years.” He explained that it was important “to go all out and… use your money to fund a film,” revealing how he had to take a loan even though it was against film-funding ethics.
“People don’t know. I used my money to make a film. I’ve taken a bank loan, which is actually against the ethics of film funding. But I’ve always looked for every possible way to fund film before this Netflix intervention and partnership came. So I think in the next five years, it will be safe to say that there will be more young filmmakers doing great things.” he stated.
When asked if young filmmakers could utilize platforms like YouTube, Afolayan responded: “You need a championing course, and this championing means that you need to convince people who listen to you and see sense and value in whatever it is you’re preaching, and once you’re able to do that, people will follow. You have to, of course, put in a lot yourself and that’s why I will say, start with a short film”.
“I’ve hired a lot of people to work – and these are the people I saw on Instagram. Maybe I just saw something newly done and for me, that is enough to want to give you a chance or an opportunity… start small and then dream with your eyes opened,” Afolayan stated finally.
