Both the Nigerian state of Lagos and Palestine showcased films and talent from the respective regions in official pavilions at the Cannes International Film Festival 2018.
For the first time at the Cannes International Film Festival, Palestinians have official representation adjacent to the first official pavilion from Saudi Arabia.
While 18 Palestinian films have been selected for the event since 1987, this is the first year the Palestinians have a presence at the marketplace.
Speaking to Euronews, Mohanad Yaqubi, Curator of the public programme at the Palestine film institute and one of the pavilion’s organisers said: “Palestinians have a special relationship with cinema because camera equals visibility, its been used as a tool by Palestinians.
Also at the marketplace for the second year in a row is Lagos State, the hub for the thriving film industry dubbed Nollywood. Speaking to the media, Permanent Secretary at the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Fola Adeyemi, said that the state is making deliberate efforts to position itself as the number one film centre in Africa.
Adeyemi added that the administration believed that it could be among the biggest 10 film markets in the world and was participating in Cannes to woo film-makers to explore Lagos.
The organisers highlighted Lupita Nyongos plan to shoot Chimamanda Ngozi-Adichies novel, Americana in Lagos; and John Boyegas proposed N9bn film project, among other initiatives.