By Moshood Adebayo
Lagos State Government has concluded plans to feature eight films during the Toronto Film Festival, which holds in Canada in September.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde and his counterpart in Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Folarin Coker, disclosed this during a press briefing at the state secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos during the week.
According to Ayorinde, the move was in line with the present administration’s efforts to make the state a hub for tourism, adding that the eight films to be selected will not necessarily be about Lagos, but films produced in Lagos.
His words: “What is important is that the films that will be selected will be films by filmmakers that are Lagos-based, it won’t matter what subject matter you are dealing with, it is about the creativity, the talent you are exhibiting as a Lagos-based filmmaker that Toronto is interested in. “
Ayorinde said the government would be fully involved in any collaboration to celebrate the city and market its potential as well as appreciate the talent of the motion industry.
“What this policy implies is that the government will promote any initiative that will project Lagos as the home of filmmaking not only in Nigeria but also before the entire world,” he said.