Film plays an important role in the development of societies. It creates employment, interrogates topical societal issues, attracts FDI, sets trends and shapes the image of entire countries.

DStv Africa Magic, Nollywood Channel UK, Movistar, HiNolly and many other television stations survive based on the content supplied by Nigerian Producers.

In a decade and a half, Nigeria’s video film business has grown from a trickle of experimental productions to a multi-million dollar industry. South African film Tsotsi wins Best Foreign Language Film at the 2006 Oscars.

Releasing between 1400 and 2000 films a year, Nollywood – the term first used in a 2002 article in the Washington Post, entitled ‘Step Aside Hollywood, Bollywood, here comes Nollywood’ – is the third biggest film industry in the world. Indian film Slumdog Millionaire grosses $393 million and counting after winning 8 Oscars in 2009.