31'  English Nigeria

In a terrain otherwise seen as ‘for men’, several female filmmakers, have been looked at strangely at our declaration of intent to be a director. ‘Are you sure?’ ‘Why?’ ‘Is your acting career not successful?’ Or simply, plain ridiculous laughter at the idea. Said without words, the Nigerian woman is not supposed to be a leader––a leader of men, a thinker, a [...]

In a terrain otherwise seen as ‘for men’, several female filmmakers, have been looked at strangely at our declaration of intent to be a director. ‘Are you sure?’ ‘Why?’ ‘Is your acting career not successful?’ Or simply, plain ridiculous laughter at the idea. Said without words, the Nigerian woman is not supposed to be a leader––a leader of men, a thinker, a creator. You should not be allowed to yell at anyone, let alone action or cut. You are an anomaly, either fiercely celebrated or ridiculed, especially in a country where the Senate in 2014, denied the passing of the gender equality bill into law, adhering fast to the philosophy that women are simply not equally human as men.
This documentary examines the careers of some of the very few female directors practicing in the very male dominated huge Nigerian film industry, widely known as Nollywood; their journey and pain, their joys, and the challenges and hurdles they had to jump to become directors of film.
This documentary also tries to answer the question, why are we so few? And why are we seen as anomalies? Or a threat? Referencing and dedicated to the life and art of Nigeria’s most prominent female director, the late Amaka Igwe, (1954-2014), who inspired and encouraged many female directors to explore the terrain and conquer the norm, this documentary carries the voice and thoughts of prominent and practicing female directors in Nigeria––and also examines how we as the contemporary filmmakers are encouraging the next generation of filmmakers and the future while overcoming the odds.
This documentary has been screened severally, and gone on to become a case-study and research tool in universities across the world.

Category:  Documentary 

Genre:  Historical  Human Rights  Other