UNESCO - audiovisual e-platform

The development of the Nigerian film industry has developed so much in the last years that is becoming closer to the amount of productions done in India, the global leader in movie production. The advances of the Nigerian film sector have been underlined by a UNESCO report. This study published by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), states that Bollywood –popular name of the Mumbai-based film industry – produced 1,091 films in 2006, compared to the 872 productions created by Nollywood –Nigerian film industry. The United States’ number of production reaches 485 films in the same year. 56 per cent of Nollywood films are made in local languages, but English remains a strong language, which may contribute to Nigeria’s success in exporting its film industry. Development of video techniques has provoked a reduction of production costs and this has make possible the explosion of new film industries around the world, particularly in developing countries. Other big industries are represented by Japan –417 films-, China –330-, France –203-, Germany –174-, Spain –150-, Italy –116-, South Korea –110- and the United Kingdom -104-. According to UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura, “Film and video production are shining examples of how cultural industries, as vehicles of identity, values and meanings, can open the door to dialogue and understanding between peoples, but also to economic growth and development.”