#Trending: Wine's Growing Influence on Culture

4 Sep 2013 18:01 Africa/Lagos  


#Trending: Wine's Growing Influence on Culture

World's Largest Trend Community Weighs in as Wolf Blass ^® Marks 30 ^th Anniversary of Yellow Label in Canada

 

TORONTO, Sept. 4, 2013 /CNW/ - Canadians love their wine. So much so, we're not only among one of the fastest growing wine consumers globally¹, we're fundamentally changing an industry centuries in the making as wine continues to become a key part of our lifestyle. 

According to "Top Trends in Wine" released today by Wolf Blass and Trend Hunter, the largest online trend community encompassing approximately 12,000 Canadians: our growing knowledge of wine is fueled by technology, we have an infatuation with fashion, and a thirst for experiences are among the trends moving wine out of the cellar and putting it squarely on our 'social agenda' in and out of the home.
Five Hot Trends, One Top Blend:*

 

Trend #1:	We're all becoming Everyday Sommeliers thanks to social media, social apps, and direct access to winemakers. The trend is especially evident among men, fueled by high-tech wine cellars, digital catalogues and computerized sommelier systems. At the same time, we're equally okay to poke fun at wine. Among the most attention-getting wine innovations are those which diffuse the snobbery, injecting a sense of humour into occasions.
Trend #2:	Wine-Inspired Style. Boxed wines shaped to look like designer handbags, stylized stemware and statement wine cellars are in vogue as wine is becoming a key element of our personal brand.
Trend #3:	We're infatuated with experiences. Wine is the reason to gather, not what we enjoy when we gather creating a trend that impacts packaging, weekend plans and tourism on a global scale including: Wine as Activity. Packaging that can be personalized for the occasion. Winecations. Boomers seek new experiences leading to wine country tourism around the globe.  Wine Painting Parties. We're heading out to enjoy wine and paint, including walls of winebars!    Social Sharing.  In 2009, there were over 19 million blog posts with 700 dedicated wine bloggers2. By 2011, there were 452 Wine Apps for the iPhone3. Today, more than 21,000 Canadians follow Wolf Blass Wines Canada on Facebook.4
Trend #4:	"Celebrity Crush": Pop culture is enamored with new wine releases from rock bands, to Hollywood superstars to sports celebrities.
Trend #5:	Calorie-Conscious Consumption. Wine lovers concerned about their waistlines have given rise to an entirely new category of portion controlled and reduced alcohol options.  Accessories with built-in reminders help others stay on track with health goals while satisfying their craving for indulgence.

Regarded as an innovator globally, the wineries' founder, Wolfgang (Wolf) Blass, is credited for setting many wine trends, including helping to establish quality wines from Australia in Canada. Today's release of the "Top Trends in Wine" coincides with the 30^th Anniversary of Wolf Blass Yellow Label in Canada, ranked as Canada's top-selling Cabernet Sauvignon. The milestone is being marked by the release of a "Limited Edition" Yellow Label Shiraz-Grenache-Mourvèdre Barossa blend and through a series of wine experiences and social campaigns (#HadABlass), placing Wolf Blass squarely in the trends.
Wolf Blass History of Innovations / Milestones:

• 1960s: Australian table wines first introduced to Canada.
• 1970s: Amidst an industry of plain white labels, Wolf Blass introduces colour coded labels to simplify wine shopping.
• 1983: Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon available for the first time in Canada.
• 1991: Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon now a general list in Ontario - LCBO price $13.30.
• 1996: Wolf Blass becomes Canada's top selling Australian wine (750 ml).
• 2000: Wolf Blass moves to screw cap closures across its entire portfolio of wines.
• 2006: Wolf Blass collaborates with LCBO to launch world's first 750ml unbreakable wine bottle.
• 2013: Wolf Blass named Red Winemaker of the Year at London's International Wine and Spirits Competition.

Quotes:
Jeremy Gutsche, Chief Trend Hunter and Author Exploiting Chaos: 150 Ways to Spark Innovation During Times of Change. 

 
"Wolf Blass and Trend Hunter are revealing new research reflecting a radical shift in society's engagement with wine, fueled by our growing obsession with style, access to technology, and pursuit of experiences.  These trends are indicators of what we value socially, with our friends at our table, and socially in our network. One thing is clear: change has come to the wine industry affording a new opportunity to capture Millennials and Gen X'ers in addition to boomers."


About Wolf Blass:
Wolf Blass was established in the Barossa Valley in 1966 and has grown from a humble tin shed to become one of the world's most successful and awarded wine brands. A recipient of more than 3,000 medals and trophies at national and international wine shows, the essence of Wolf Blass wines is exemplified through the passion of its custodians past and present as they continuously strive to produce wines of quality, character and consistency.


About Trend Hunter:
Trend Hunter, based in Toronto, Canada, was launched in 2006. With 40,000,000 monthly views, TrendHunter.com is the world's largest, most popular trend community fueled by a global network of 121,000 members.  Trend Hunter crowd sources thousands of ideas and crowd filter the best articles using millions of weekly views. Trend Hunter TV and Trend Hunter PRO feature 201,000 micro-trends and cutting edge ideas.
* Additional data on trends by region and by gender available.
___________________________________
¹ http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1102565/canada-s-wine-and-spirits-market-to-continue-rapid-growth
² http://www.vintank.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/VinTank_SocialMediaReport.pdf
³ http://visual.ly/are-there-any-good-wine-apps-iphone
⁴ www.facebook.com/WolfBlassCanada
 
 
SOURCE Wolf Blass
Image with caption: "Wolf Blass Wines www.wolfblasswines.com. 2013 Marks the 30th Anniversary of Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon in Canada. (CNW Group/Wolf Blass)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130904_C9776_PHOTO_EN_30362.jpg
 
Image with caption: "Wolf Blass Yellow Label 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Blend (CNW Group/Wolf Blass)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130904_C9776_PHOTO_EN_30331.jpg
  
Image with caption: "Wolf Blass Wines Marks 30 Years in Canada with a look at wine trends around the world and evolution of Canada's top-selling Cabernet Sauvignon. (CNW Group/Wolf Blass)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130904_C9776_PHOTO_EN_30385.jpg

 

CONTACT:
Gabby Nobrega, Breakthrough Communications
gabbyn@rogers.com
(mobile) 416-930-9756
(office) 905-565-6112
@gabbynpr .


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Do You Want To Travel for Free and Even Get Paid?

 

10 volunteer opportunities for free travel

By Matt Scott On February 1, 2013.

 

The chance to give something back, share your skills and knowledge, meet other travelers, or simply to meet the locals — this is the essence of volunteer travel.

THERE ARE MANY reasons to engage in volunteer travel, and there are literally thousands of charities and organizations that provide volunteer opportunities for passing travelers.
Many ask for donations or fees to cover costs and others operate as for-profit businesses, but the list below includes only those that cost little or nothing to get involved with and help out:

1. WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms)

www.wwoof.org – Board and lodging is offered in exchange for a day’s work on the farm. Stays available from one week to many years, and with thousands of hosts available in 53 countries there are volunteer opportunities suitable for everyone.
For more information, check out A first-timer’s guide to WWOOF-ing.

2. Turtle Teams, Worldwide

A generic name for the thousands of small groups that help threatened sea turtles. Most groups are based at one or two nesting beaches — which are typically at risk from over-exploitation — and appreciate help for even just one night.
All-inclusive, week-long volunteer travel tours range in cost from a few hundred dollars to the thousands, their style of accommodations reflecting the pricetag. However, if you can cover room and board on your own, nearly all sea turtle organizations accept volunteers. A few even offer extremely low-cost housing (though typically very basic) for those willing to volunteer long-term, including Playa Las Tortugas in Mexico.
Search for groups at the local tourist office close to any tropical beach and help a species come off the endangered list. More information can be found at these larger organizations: www.seaturtles.org and www.cccturtle.org.

3. Conservation Volunteers, Australia and New Zealand

www.conservationvolunteers.com.au – Through various short-term projects in Australia, New Zealand, and a few international locations, you’ll work in teams to protect habitats and promote ecotourism.
Volunteer opportunities that include overnight stays, meals, and lodging are typically provided at approximately AUS$40 per night for shorter stays, and starting from AUS$208 for week-long projects. The type of accommodations can vary widely from campsites to bunkhouses. UK-based TCV (The Conservation Volunteers) offers programs for EU residents ranging from no-cost day trips to pricier week-long International Conservation Holidays.

4. Sudan Volunteer Programme, Sudan

www.svp-uk.com – Teach English in one of the world’s most impoverished countries. Placements are at schools or universities, but many volunteers help with community projects in addition to their teaching.
Volunteers must pay for their airfare but all other costs are covered, and a small monthly stipend is provided.

5. Appalachian Trail Conservancy, USA

www.appalachiantrail.org – At over 2,000 miles long, the Appalachian Trail is the classic long trail in the Eastern US and home to almost 2,000 endangered or threatened species.
Volunteers help with trail building and maintenance in return for food and (usually very basic) accommodation.

Learn more: 44 volunteer and professional opportunities in Africa

6. Trip Leader for HF Holidays, Europe

www.hfholidays.co.uk – One of Europe’s most popular walking holiday operators is searching for volunteers to guide their treks. Leaders are provided with accommodation, meals, and the chance to explore Europe in return for sharing their passion and knowledge with the groups they accompany.

7. Help Exchange, Worldwide

www.helpx.net – A website that lists worldwide hosts who are looking for an extra pair of hands, whether it be in their farm or garden, working in schools or on religious projects, building houses or community centers, or simply helping a family take the kids to school.
A small membership fee is required to access host details, but board and lodging is provided in exchange for your work.

8. Peace Corps, Worldwide

www.peacecorps.gov – A unique chance to live and work in another country. Participate in a variety of projects, from healthcare and the environment to business development.
A commitment of 27 months to the placement is required, but for those who are willing, this is a life-changing position. Open only to US residents, but similar volunteer travel projects are available for other nationals with VSO.

9. United Nations Volunteers, Worldwide

www.unv.org – From healthcare and economic development to assisting after natural disasters, the UN offers volunteer opportunities for those that are dedicated to making a difference abroad.
While many positions are open only to experienced professionals, the UN has links to hundreds of international NGOs and QANGOs that are looking for help in similar fields on a less formal basis.

10. Kibbutz Volunteer, Israel

www.kibbutzvolunteer.com – An area that is rarely out of the news, Israel is a land of tight communities but complicated politics.
Engaging in volunteer travel here gives you the opportunity to experience this region firsthand while living as part of a socialist community where everything is provided. The region also serves as a good base from which to explore the Middle East and North Africa.
(Note: Traveling between other Middle East countries and Israel can be challenging, though you can fly from Israel to Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey. Having Israeli stamps in your passport will likely cause issues when attempting to enter some Middle East countries. Entry into Israel after having traveled the region is typically not denied, though you may be subject to travel delays for questioning.) .


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52 Hearty Cheers To an Amazon, Philanthropist and Mother

Chief & Mrs Eze C. Eze Cutting Their 20th Wedding Anniversary Cake.

52 HEARTY CHEERS TO AN AMAZON, PHILANTHROPIST AND MOTHER

~ By Eze Chukwuemeka Eze



“Every wise woman buildeth her house,” according to Proverbs 14 verse 1. It is based on this singular fact considering how this passage of the bible tallies with the vision of Mrs. Evang. Ada Chioma Henrietta Eze who toils daily to build her house from noting to what it is today that I hereby decorate this inspiring woman, whose life is totally dedicated and committed to building her home. She has become her family a model to many Christian families in all aspects of what a God fearing family should be.


We have met in the University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria in 1986 as undergraduates. I came to understand and appreciate what Proverbs 22:18 says, “Whosoever findeth a wife findeth good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord” as this lady turned my life from nobody to somebody.


Mrs. Ada Chioma Eze formerly Miss Henrietta Nwaorgu of Ngor-Okpala in Imo State was born on 5th September, 1962 to the family of Pa Paulinus Nwaorgu and late Mrs. Celine Ada Nwaorgu. She is the third child of a family of nine with renowned Physician, Prof O.G.B. Nwaorgu of ENT Department in UCH, Ibadan and Romanus Nwaorgu a senior Custom Officer as brothers. She started her educational career at Umuodage Ntu Primary School from 1970 to 1976 and Secondary School at Amala/Ntu Sec. School from 1976 to 1981 all in Ngor Nkpala Local Government Area in Imo State.


From 1981 to 1983 she attended the famous Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Owerri where she did her Higher School Certificate which qualified her for a direct entry admission in the famous Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri and University of Calabar in 1985. She however preferred the University of Calabar where she read History and graduated in 1988. Mrs. Eze did the compulsory National Youth Service, NYSC with the Ministry of Sports in Rivers State. By 2006, this Amazon obtained her Master’s Degree (MPA) in Public Administration from Federal University of Technology, Yola Adamawa State.


Though married to this wonderful lady for over 23 years now, writing about her gives me so much joy and happiness which only God can give. I met her as a student in University of Calabar, Cross Rivers in 1985 but sports brought us closer and since then we have being lovers till date and it never surprised many of her room friends including (Barr Gloaria Akor, Barr Mrs Uche Uriri and Mrs Ohunene Scott-Ananaba, all of who I met recently, that we were married.


I was the Faculty of Arts Sports Coordinator in 1986 and it happened that we were in the same Faculty so because of her outstanding interest and performance in Sports, I called her to assist me coordinate the female athletes as it will be difficult for me to be visiting the female hostels to ask them to come out for training and participation in the games. At the end of that year’s Inter-Faculty Games, Faculty of Arts came tops; while she was the most outstanding female athlete. I was declared the Best Sports Coordinator that year that afforded me to be elected unopposed as the Director of Sports in the SUG Election of 1986.


With the help of this true gift from God, I was able to manage the UNICAL Football Team to become the champions of the Maiden edition of the NFA/PEPSI COLA Football Tournament amongst Higher Institutions in Nigeria in 1987. With this feat, I was awarded scholarship with the rest of the players to complete our education in the University.


By 1987, she assisted me to organize the first Sports Honours Nit ever in the University where prominent sports sponsors like Alh. G.NA. Hamza, Chief M.K.O Abiola and Chief Emmanuel Iwanyanwu were honoured.


On completion of her youth service in Port Harcourt, she joined me in Yola in 1989 where I was posted for the same exercise. Again, this Angel assisted me to become the most outstanding Corps Member in the State and becoming the first Corps Member in Nigeria to have served the nation without receiving the normal allowances paid to NYSC members when I donated mine for the development of my host Community.
We stayed back in Yola after the youth service and by the grace of God was able to finish the normal traditional demands of her people and formerly got wedded by the then Rev, Ignatius Kagama now Bishop Kagama in charge of Jos Diocese of Catholic Church at St. Theresa Cathedral, Yola in May, 1992.


With her assistance, we established a Sports Company (Eze Continental Sports Ltd through which we donated several cups for competitions and made our names household in the entire Adamawa State. Regrettably after several years in Yola, we were forced to leave Yola about a year ago due to the menace of the Islamic sect, Boko Harams. Today, we are blessed with six wonderful kids, four in the university and one in secondary school while the last aged ten in still in primary school.


Mrs Ada C.H. Eze was born under the Virgo Astrology sign of August 23 –September 22 and when, I wanted to write on this wonderful woman, I looked through her Horoscope star and it seems that those that drafted it had her in mind “Analytical. Observant, Helpful, Reliable and Precise as these are truly the characters of this epitome of true womanhood. Read through the Virgo Sign and u will be reading about Mrs. Ada Eze but if you are not satisfied with the Virgo Signs then read Proverbs Chapter 31 verses 10 to 31 and you would have captured Mrs Ada Eze in her true nature.


Let us consider just few of the verses of Proverbs 31 that was authored by the Holy Spirit that captures the kind of woman Mrs. Ada Eze is. Proverbs 31:10 says, “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her prize is far above rubies.11. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.12. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.13. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.14. She is like the merchant’s ships; she bringeth her food afar.15. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household and a portion to her maidens.16. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.17. she girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.18. she perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.19. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20. She stretchet out her hand to the poor, yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.21. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.22. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her cloth is silk and purple.23. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land, 24. She maketh fine linen and selleth it; and delievereth girdles unto the merchant.25. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.26. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.27. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.28. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also and he praiseth her.29. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.30, favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.31. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates”.


Frankly speaking all these verses have one thing or the other to express about this woman that I have prayed God to allow me marry her and marry again, if there is anything like reincarnation. I wonder what will be my fate in this world if not for the part this special gift to me played in my life.


In line with Proverbs Chapter 31 verse 24. “She maketh fine linen and selleth it; and delievereth girdles unto the merchant”, I left our family business to her to run while I pursue my political career outside Adamawa State and she did improved so much on it that people wondered what exactly I was doing when I was in-charge.


In line with Proverbs Chapter 31 verse 20. “She strectcheth out her hand to the poor, yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy”, she founded the Compassionate Ministry through which she shares to the needy the goods that comes her way. A devout Christian who love God and committed to live out the tenets of laws of God and work hard to inculcate her beliefs in her children and the rest of her family and the Public Relations Officer of the Women Fellowship of Redeemed Peoples Mission, Yola District. Drama Producer/Director of the same church from 2009 to 2011 and currently an Evangelist based in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.


According to Chapter 31 verse 26. “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness”, she stands as my most outstanding critic as she takes time to criticise any of my works or conducts that did not meet with her obvious high standard as she believes in excellence.


In line with Proverbs 31 verse 31. “Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates”; and according to Nnenna Eze one of her fruits and her third daughter, “My Mum is a Princess in the court of d most high. I’ve always known my mum to be a woman of honour, prayer, virtue, wisdom, anointing, inspiration, godliness, righteousness, endurance, an instrument of Joy, dignity to mention a few. She’s just the best mum any child can ask for and I am so proud to have her as a mother. As a child, her contributions and influence on me is infinite. She he instilled wisdom in me” if you look at my mum, you will think that she is 40 but my mum is 50 to the glory of God”


To her son, Kelechi Eze, “my mother is an outspoken and fearless woman who only fear God and stand by the truth always, she loves and supports me in my career”. While to Monica Eze her first child, “My mum is a virtuous woman, a woman of substance, a woman that understands realities of life and gives life to the broken heart. She is my star Queen that I look up to”.


To Chinyere Celine Eze her second daughter who she calls her mother as she was named after her late mother, Madam Celine Adama Nwaorgu, “My mum and daughter is a rare gem and gift to us her child. I am proud of her and pray God to grant her long life so that I can attempt to repay her little of her love towards us her children”
When I asked the woman of the moment what she thinks about herself, she sent me a text and stated, “I am a very practical person and outspoken. I hate lying, laziness, dirtiness, unkindness, immorality. I am a natural woman that hates makeup and painting by most women. I frown on indecent dressing; bad cook and most importantly, I fear, love and have great CONFIDENCE in God. I give God all the Glory for what He has done in my life. If there’s something the devil didn’t want me to witness, it was my 50th birthday. If there’s something I would like to be remembered for, it’s my love for my fellow human beings. I want the world also to know that Mrs. Ada Eze is a woman so much loved by her husband and greatly cherished by her children and friends.
If you may recall and in line with her submission above, the devil did all within his powers to terminate the life of this godly woman after attacking her severally including a fatal accident on 22nd December, 2011 on her way back to the East from Yola with five of our kids for Christmas. We encountered a DAF Trailer with her Jeep and according to her; “I was awake during the accident, when the Jeep encountered the trailer, I saw the Jeep flying while I and the kids were in a sort of enclosure and after the accident the Angel of God remove the enclosure after ensuring that nothing happened to me or any of my kids but the trailer was so battered killing both the Trailer Driver and his two conductors! Somebody should tell me where such an incident ever happened in this world where a trailer encounters a smaller car and the people in the smaller car survived while the people in the trailer were all dead, if not demonstration God’s might and power?.”


In conclusion, as this pillar of my life, my best friend, my mother, my wife and the power behind apart from God behind whatever I am today celebrates her golden jubilee birthday celebration, it becomes imperative that I state this fact that Jubilee in the bible is described as the period God restores lost dreams and destiny and time of relocation! Any one in bondage at Jubilee is bound to be freed! When Moses witnessed his jubilee, he moved from the backside of the desert to the centre point of history, Joseph moved from Prison to the throne, Queen Easter from slave girl to the throne, Lazarus from stench tomb to a celebrity, Obasanjo from Prison to Aso Rock and Gov Amaechi from exile in Ghana to Rivers State Govt House and as you are related to us and opportune to read this message on Evang. Mrs Ada C. H. Eze Snr Golden Jubilee birthday and based on the principles of God and His special love for her child and this family, I hereby extends this jubilee blessing to you and surely you shall be celebrated after reading this message so accept our congratulations for your great success and freedom from every disappointments in advance!


This two time visitor to Jerusalem on pilgrimage courtesy of Adamawa and Rivers State Governments love for God made her to establish the Compassionate Ministries’ which she uses to spread the gospel and bring succor to the God’s children with more attention to the poor and under privilege. Her unfulfilled desire is to wax and launch a Christian gospel musical album to enable her reach to the wider public about the love of God to mankind.


I wish I have the whole world to give to this woman, who turned my life around based on the grace of God in her life.
Once more congratulations my love and my beloved Angel!


****************************
Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, is a Media Consultant based in Port Harcourt. ezemediaconcept08@rocketmail.com or 08038199163. .


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Film Financing in Africa - Opportunities and Ideas

IREP Executive Director Femi Odugbemi with the Chair of the 2013 Uganda Film Festival Jury Dr. Dominica Dipio Professor of Literature and Film at Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.


"FILM FINANCING IN AFRICA – OPPORTUNITIES AND IDEAS"

A Keynote presentation at the Inaugural Uganda Film Festival in Kampala, Uganda by Femi Odugbemi, Executive Director of I-REPRESENT International Documentary Film Forum.

Distinguished Filmmakers, Participants
I Thank you very much for this opportunity to be here and I am excited by the possibilities that this gathering can bring for the Ugandan film industry, the economy and the issues of cultural diplomacy not only for this great country but for African peoples at large. Africa needs every tangible effort from its individual nations to take the continent to the next level – an objective to which a vibrant viable filmmaking industry can uniquely contribute.


There are quite a number of things that the African continent needs, one of them is a strong filmmaking culture. This is in part because films have a unique way of creating models for its audiences and reshaping their outlooks, but more importantly because filmmaking IS business and it can hold its own in contributing significantly to economic growth in terms of youth employment, receivable tax incomes and ancillary growth of other professions and small-scale businesses that feed off of the patronage of film projects. But much more than that, in a world where your economy is impacted by your "brand identity and projection" films are critical promotional and cultural tools in shaping perception in a globalized world.


The influence of film is well understood by many leading economies of the World; which are creating and funding structures and institutions that can help to perpetuate the film art. In Germany, since 1979 every federal state has been putting up its own funding programmes, and the spending of the German Federal Film Board is put at 96.72 million Euro as at 2005. The British film Institute has a plan of increasing its investment in film production and development annually to 24 million pounds by 2017. The French government provides roughly half the funding for the Cannes film festival, and in 2012, the country's film business was buttressed by more than €749 million. Some states in the U.S. and Canadian provinces will provide subsidies or tax credits for film production expenditures if all or parts of the film is shot in their state.

Here in our beloved continent, South Africa is perhaps the most clued-in economy in terms of how they have fashioned a multi-layered approach to film investment, financing and out-of-country marketing and promotion of their film industry.
The South African government smartly identified the film industry as a sector with excellent potential for growth, and a catalyst for both direct and indirect employment of people from different sectors of the economy. And they have reaped great rewards financially. Their film and television industry contributes around R3.5-billion a year to the country's economy, according to a 2013 study conducted by the National Film and Video Foundation, an agency of the SA Department of Arts and Culture.
The South African film and television industry contributes around R3.5-billion a year to the country's economy, according to a 2013 study conducted by the National Film and Video Foundation, an agency of the Department of Arts and Culture.

In 1995, when the country first became a viable location venue for movie and television production, the industry employed around 4,000 people. Today this has grown to around 25,000 people. The benefits of a proper investment in the film industry are clear, especially when it comes to bringing in foreign exchange. Co-productions with international companies especially result in the direct investment of millions of dollars into the economy.

But the underlying intelligence for urgent and deliberate structural investment in the film industry by government goes beyond its economic value. It is about its cultural relevance. Many Western countries are consciously (re)positioning perspectives about their identity and are creating imageries and images that attracts favourable reviews to their civility in the comity of nations. Much more than any other continent in the World, Africa has suffered greatly from the global information order that is skewed towards negative branding of the African experience.

If we consider the quantum of positive influence that the Nigerian film industry (Nollywood) has brought to the African evaluation of our own self-worth on the one hand and the global perception of the African continent on the other, you will agree  that the art of  film IS the catalyst to kickstart the perception change that the continent so desires. With the democratization of filmmaking through digital technology, Africa is continuously being  confronted with enormous opportunities as never before to define its own identity and civilization; to state who we are and how we want to be perceived by the rest of the World in our own words and imageries. It is my strong view that every government in Africa has a duty to set about creating enabling regulatory frameworks to encourage the production of local content as a way of projecting its people's heritage through its stories.

Recently, after more than 20years of concerted efforts, the Nigerian government has begun providing multi-level support for our film industry through different funding and tax incentives to be executed by different government parastatals. In 2010, the federal government of Nigeria announced an investment of $200 million into the development of the entertainment industry, and later an intervention fund of N3 Billion christened Project Act Nollywood. These are very positive steps in the mass of what is needed to be done. Similarly, I believe every African country should have a National Funding structure that can subsidize the cost of film production, incentivize established film makers, encourage emerging filmmakers, and create a buoyant platform for culture and tourism development.

The economic reality of many African countries clearly makes it difficult, if not impossible, for many filmmakers on the continent to fund their own films. Many of our financial institutions do not also key into the business of filmmaking, and the few that provides some opportunities for the film industry do so with terms and conditions that may not be practical within the creative industry. A low budget Hollywood film will cost about $20,000 to make, for some African filmmakers, that is still a huge amount of money to raise as an individual.

So, What non-governmental funding opportunities are therefore available to African filmmakers?

NGO GRANTS
Currently, there are several non-governmental organizations across the World offering funding/grant specifically targeted at African filmmakers. These funding support all genres of filmmaking with objectives ranging from culture propagation, to democratic values, creative contribution, human rights defense, social activism, education, local film development, and a lot more. For example:
- The IDFA Bertha Fund supports filmmakers and festivals in developing countries, with the aim of stimulating local film cultures and to turn the creative documentary into a truly global film art.
- The Alter-Ciné Foundation offers a yearly grant to young film and video makers from Africa, Asia and Latin America to produce films on the theme of human rights and freedoms, including social and economic rights, women’s rights, the right to culture and artistic creation.
- Movies That Matters offers modest financial assistance (up to € 5,000) to human rights film events in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
- Sundance Institute's Fund and Awards provides grants  between $1 and $2 million per year to support U.S. and international contemporary independent films.
-And of course there is the African Development Bank funding available under its SME framework.

The list is long and the scope of funding is wide and interesting. You can simply go on the internet and access information about a lot of these existing funding structures.

I must be quick to point out however that quite a lot of these grants or funding pursue some interests of some sort which the filmmaker must align with before they can benefit from the fund. This raises a question of finding a midpoint between the creative quest of the filmmaker and the interests that the funding organization stands for - sometimes, there is no such midpoint, in which case the filmmaker must source his/her own fund.

Beyond this, what I find utterly disturbing is that many African filmmakers do not take advantage of some of these funding, simply because they consider the process cumbersome. In the case of Nigeria, perhaps only two or three major producers are known to have actually accessed the fund from the Nigerian Government's $200 million investment in the entertainment industry. There is a general withdrawal by the community of filmmakers in the country from applying for the fund based on what they consider the 'undue rigour' of the process.

CROWDFUNDING
In the alternative, filmmakers can look to crowdfunding to finance their films. This is a largely internet based network of individuals who pool their money together to fund the production of a film. There are well over a hundred internet sites that provide crowdfunding services; Kickstarter and Indiegogo tops the list. Expectedly, some of these sites do not cater for African fundraising concern - some do not even allow fundraisers outside their region. There are staggering efforts  from some organizations in Africa to create crowdfunding sites but not so much has been achieved in terms of popularity and functionality.

Currently, Africa has a big gap in SME financing (both by government and financial institutions). Moreso because the terms and conditions that come with some of the SME financing are always beyond the reach of the beneficiaries. Crowdfunding provides a viable alternative that can be trusted, and I think that creative entrepreneurs and computer software programmers and developers can collaborate to create platforms that are specific to the peculiar needs of African small business terrain.

Going into the future, African filmmakers must put some pressure on their governments to create National film funds - filmmaking is too serious a venture for government not to invest in it. It is economically viable and serves as a store of cultural identity and a gauge of national aspiration. This must be a multi-level process where even local authorities can create enabling grounds to foster filmmaking.

TAX RELIEFS & WAIVERS
There is also the option of providing tax relief or waivers for film production projects to encourage filmmakers. This has been done in several parts of the World and it is remarkably successful. South Africa has a tax relief structure for filmmaking that many African countries can adopt or build on. The Nigerian government is also directly investing in the country's film industry through grants and loans to filmmakers and the impact of this investment is visible in the quality of films that is being produced now in the country.

LOTTERY
Lottery is also an effective way of creating funding for filmmakers. If organized bodies or government sets up lottery programmes that is aimed at directly providing funding for film project, it would go a long way in increasing the quality and quantity of films being made in Africa and it can also allow filmmakers to work on subjects that they choose, expressing their creativity as they so desire as opposed to when they are being funded by NGOs that are pursuing specific interests.


There is also need to touch upon the importance of the role of professional collectives such as filmmaking Guilds and associations in making the right economic arguments to governing authorities on the need to invest in the film industry as a priority development sector capable of contributing significantly to growing the GDP.
Guilds must articulate and train filmmakers in their ability to construct sensible business plans for their film projects that demonstrates a clear understanding of distribution realities and the marketing channels that will estimate the capacities of the project to perform creditably at the box office, in dvd distribution, in online sales and various mobile device points of sales now available to consumers.
Guilds must be proactive in engaging government through intelligent position papers and public debates to adequately inform national policy.
Guilds have a duty to focus on improving quality of product through training and re-training of practitioners as technology evolves and the tools and techniques of filmmaking itself invite constant reorientation.


Speaking about technology, there is are important challenges to the future success of African cinema that we must focus to address.
Africa today is largely a consumer of technology and is yet to join the league of countries that are primary producers. So while African cinema is constantly evolving and trying to catch up with Western cinema, in terms of technology we continue to face important challenges. Creating certain genres of stories especially ones that explicate the mysteries of African mythologies, for instance, require existing technology to be customized for the filmmaker to successfully tell his story. In our environment today that would be financially crippling to say the least.


Successfully broadening genres in African Cinema is inhibited by this. African filmmakers would find it challenging to create films in the science fiction and other genres that require heavy technological influence for a while.


Secondly, we need to urgently broaden the artistic appeal of our films and be able to offer more works that compete strongly in major festivals and can be acquired for international distribution. Funding for films that win enough business to create the kind of model sustainability we all yearn for, does not come easy. It is more than just about the content of the film, it is also about the context and craftsmanship of the product.
To achieve that, we have to better emphasize and encourage professional training. We need to focus on training with emphasis not only on equipment technology but as much on the artistic use of technology. It is not necessarily about spending more money as being more efficient with money spent.


We need institutional interventions in curriculum that is well researched and standardized so that emerging filmmakers are skilled in the creative thought-processes. Guilds should engage tertiary institutions so that film schools are created as intervention tools in empowering emergent filmmakers.


Thirdly, there is need for more collaboration among African Filmmakers on individual levels and at governmental levels. There has been some form of progress in that area, but we need to work together better. We have not yet quite grasped the full power of collaboration.  It provides a solution for instance to the primary challenge of funding, and also a sharing of skills and knowledge. Of the many aspects of developed film industries, one I would love our young filmmakers to take away and appreciate better would be the idea and the concept of collaboration.


Co-Production treaties amongst African countries is an urgent goal. It is strange that South Africa for instance has signed many co-production treaties with several countries in Europe and with Canada and the US but hardly any within Sub-Saharan Africa.


South Africa has signed co-production treaties with Canada, Italy, Germany, the UK, France, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. This means that any official co-production is regarded as a national production of each co-producing country, making it eligible for any benefits or programmes of assistance available in either country. South Africa also has a memorandum of understanding relating to film with India.
The benefits beyond the financial spreads to development of human capital critical to sustaining growth.


Finally, we must underline the reality that ALL creative industries are in the midst of a pivotal shift, driven by emerging technologies. The extraordinary growth in Africa of iphones, ipads, android tablets, blackberry and iphones and the emergence of the social media platforms - Facebook, twitter and Google+ has created amazing ways for people to connect with each other and with new ideas and concepts and to share data and content in user-friendly ways. This appetite for content is creating new opportunities for digitally-driven content that provides an important distribution opportunity for African filmmakers.


The opportunity for African Cinema’s future is how to leverage these technologies to deliver generation-next content that creates compelling consumer experiences and connects audiences across devices, networks, time zones and geography. We need to start distilling the trends that will fundamentally transform how content is created, distributed and consumed in the next 5-10years.


Let me reiterate that telling the African story is the obligation of Africans and every nation on the continent must deliberately choose how the rest of the World perceives its people, its identity and its civilization. Filmmaking is our most important cultural diplomatic tool providing us a unique and viable platform for us to define who we are for the rest of the World, BUT it wont happen unless we make a conscious and deliberate financing intervention to empower the filmmakers with a systemic structure to realize their stories.

Thank you.



Femi Odugbemi, 
August 2013.
Filmmaker/CEO
DVWorx Studios & Zuri24 Media Lagos.
Director, I-Rep Documentary Forum.
+234.8034251963
www.dvworxstudios.com
www.irepfilmfestival.com .


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