Nominations have opened for a N1 million prize for a movie or documentary promoting transparency, accountability and good governance.
HomeVida, which has been organizing the award for years, has partnered with the USAID’s Strengthening Advocacy and Civic Engagement (SACE) project, for the current round.
“What we are doing now is engaging with Nollywood [producers] to engage them on how they can tell the story of the effect of corruption in society,” said Samuel Umejiaku, administrator of the HomeVida award.
“By the time we start understanding what corruption has cost us and how it has affected us in this country, then it can instigate call for action.
“Until we start internalizing all these issues, we won’t be able to hold government accountable.”
Movie producers are the target of the award, which offers a cash prize to help producers recoup some production costs and extensive promotion on all HomeVida platforms for the winning movie or documentary in either category.
It will be the only award that targets producers putting down money for production, instead of best actor and supporting actors getting plaques.
“Some of these award platforms are focused on the audience and what the audience says. You see best supporting actor. But for you to be best supporting actor, somebody paid you to be in that movie,” explained Umejiaku. “The producer calls the shots.”
Only movies or documentaries made between 2015 and 2017 are eligible.
The platform for public nomination opened last week and jury selection will go through November before the award event in Lagos this December.
Last year “Oloibiri” by Rogers Ofime won the best feature film in Transparency, Accountability and Good Governance while “Nowhere to Run” sponsored by the Shehu Musa Yaradua Foundation won the prize for best documentary.
