One of the greatest tools to film development in Africa is continuous learning by film practitioners through film schools, Online Tutorials and Masterclasses Facilitated by film professionals.
The Masterclasses at the Coal City Film Festival this year is facilitated by Veteran filmmaker, Izu Ojukwu, Producer of shanty town on Netflix Chichi Nwoko and Award-winning Filmmaker and Media Executive Theo Ukpaa from 11-15 April 2023.
There has been a lot of expectation from the masterclasses especially the BUSINNESS OF FILM Masterclass facilitated by AFRIFF Chief Operations Officer, Theo Ukpaa. There is no surprise regarding the high expectations for his Masterclass following the success of his Masterclasses all around the globe, incorporating his many film lectures at various international universities. Mr. Ukpaa has spread his teaching to institutions in Europe, America and African continent. The Business of Film Masterclass integrates a Filmmakers technical and conceptual understanding of filmmaking with the practical dimensions of a managing career in the film industry. Students will examine current industry business models and develop plans to advance their careers in filmmaking.
According to Theo “Often times people focus merely on the show and glamor as well as the razzmatazz that comes with filmmaking, and end up dying broke. A strong national economy depends on a strong creative economy—and it all starts with a story. The film and television industry supports 2.4 million jobs, pays out $186 billion in total wages, and comprises over 122,000 businesses. As a Filmmaker, one of the best moments is directing real stories of real individuals, getting them to the big screens and smiling to the Bank”. He believes that passion can burn out when expenditure and hard work does not produce financial returns. These are part of the important basics he wants to teach at his Masterclass at the coal city film Festival.
Theo Ukpaa is an African filmmaker, playwright, and entrepreneur. His First Feature film, ‘Lagos Landing’ (2018), in partnership with Alliance Françoise travelled to Film Festival around the globe and won prestigious Awards. Lagos Landing is a story about an uptight French woman who joins a dating site and connects with rich, young lawyer in Africa and ends up victim of a mistaken identity. Lagos Landing was acquired by Prime video, Tubi and Showmax. Theo Ukpaa was listed as top 10 most promising new directors by Africa Kulture Magazine in 2020.
Founder/CEO of Tiger Republic Studios, a fully consolidated studio that specializes in the production of TV Commercials for corporate advertising Agencies in Nigeria, producing and directing Live Shows including, Music Concerts, Comedy shows, Fashion shows, Awards and Festivals in Nigeria, Ghana and Congo. In the past 3 years Ukpaa has produced Various Original feature films for Showmax and Africa magic Channels, including ‘Third Party’, ‘Haywire’, ‘The Hunter’, ‘Lovers Nest’ and ‘Oak Island’.
Over the years, Ukpaa has helped in corporate TV Chanel start-up and development including Soundcity/SpiceTV (Africa’s biggest music/Fashion chanel) and Trace Naija, (a French pay-TV music video television channel owned by TPG CapitaI). In 2021,
Theo Ukpaa was announced Chief Operations Officer for Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF); Africa’s Hallmark film festival in its 11th year running. AFRIFF was founded by Africa’s leading entertainment Mogul, Chioma ude. In 2022 AFRIFF hosted the African Premiere of Marvel Studios Blockbuster ‘Wakanda Forever’ in partnership with Disney Studios and Filmone Entertainment; it was themed the biggest film premiere in the history of Africa.
Ukpaa is a certified project management professional offering a Master’s in Business Administration degree from the prestigious Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California plus a Diploma in Contract Law from the esteemed Harvard University. A Native Nigerian with a passion to empower young art and culture creatives through teaching and Masterclasses at various free empowerment across Africa.
In a recent BBC interview Theo says “Filmmaking is also a very risky investment, since most movies, even those small, intimate dramas, take several million dollars to make. Still, it’s definitely a hugely profitable business—if you hit the jackpot aka the target audience, in this Masterclass I will share my wealth of knowledge on building great film business, accessing grants, networking with great film studios and distributors plus Maximising profit in Film”.
Coal City Film Festival celebrates the originality of African and world cinematic expressions in the city that arguably gave birth to the Nigeria Film Industry otherwise known as Nollywood. Enugu State, Nigeria.