Abdourahamane Diallo, Head of Office and Country Representative of UNESCO in Nigeria, has expressed the organization’s willingness to offer technical support for the growth of Nollywood, Nigeria’s film industry. He made this statement during the exclusive premiere of the movie “When Wolves Cry,” which addresses the harmful impact of fake news.
The event, held at the UN House in Abuja, was attended by government officials, members of the diplomatic community, and key stakeholders in the film industry. The movie, produced and directed by award-winning Nollywood filmmaker Emmanuel Eyaba from 2ET Media Network, is an advocacy film.
Diallo noted that the premiere aligns with the goals of UNESCO’s 2005 Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. This convention aims to help member states create an environment that fosters the protection and promotion of diverse cultural expressions, including video, film, books, designs, culinary arts, crafts, fashion, motion graphics, and theatre.
He emphasized UNESCO’s readiness to support the development of Nigeria’s film and video industry and highlighted the organization’s efforts, such as the first National Dialogue on the Cultural and Creative Industries and the Sustainable Development Goals, held in October 2023, to help Nigeria develop actionable policies in this sector.
NAN also reports that ‘When Wolves Cry’ is centred around an intriguing fake news story that almost pushed the government of Cameroon and Nigeria to war after a diplomatic tit-for-tat.
The plot centres on Raymond Chukwudi (Ray C), a handsome actor looking for a big break in his career.
Ray C was involved in a series of allegations, including a rape case, and the ripples of drama that follow are what make the movie an intriguing blockbuster to watch.
The movie’s cast includes Francis Duru, Steve Eboh, Sydney Diala, Happy Julian, social media influencer MC Mbakara, Alex Nwankwo, and ace Cameroonian actress Syndy Emade, among others.
The star-studded film, which is acted in English and French and fully subtitled in English, features seasoned actors from four countries: Nigeria, Cameroon, Benin Republic, and Togo.
Earlier, Emmanuel Eyaba, Chairman of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) in the FCT chapter, explained that the project stemmed from his passion for creating advocacy films that tackle societal issues. He highlighted that When Wolves Cry is a Pan-African project, featuring actors from four different African countries.
Eyaba emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the dangers of fake news, a concern consistently echoed by governments and institutions due to its harmful effects on society. To combat the spread of fake news, he announced plans to showcase the movie at major film festivals, cinemas, and in tertiary and secondary schools across Nigeria.
