Date Published: 02/22/10

Big budget Hollywood Movie on Kabila to be shot in Nigeria

The Honorable Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, received representatives of the international film production company SASECOM in her officer in Abuja recently.  

SASECOM is a specialized contributor in the field of international film production and promotion and is actively considering allotting the majority of their film’s 25 weeks shoot schedule to take place in Nigeria.

In the spirit to the 2006 British drama film, “The Last King of Scotland” their African political-thriller theme story line, titled “The Insert” will re-visit some aspects of the Congolese President Laurent Desirée Kabila’s life. “Shooting in the Congo, is virtually impossible for security and infrastructure reasons, and as such we are actively looking at other African venue options where government, local business community and local film industry support will come into play” said SASECOM’s film producer, Serge Cassia.

Given the consolidation of an A-List Hollywood talent cast to associate with SASECOM’s multi-million dollar venture, Federal Ministry of Information and Communications will create a precedent in backing film investments and welcome U.S film experts in Nigeria. Naturally, Nigeria’s status and recognition as a place for hosting high profile film productions would be positively promoted through international media and film festival platforms, such as the Cannes Film Festival, Sundance, or Berlinale, as a result from SASECOM’s film initiative and send out a strong message to the international film community, in considering further film projects in Nigeria

Prof. Akunyili endorsed SASECOM’s objectives and acknowledged that the Hollywood film project would help Nigerian Nollywood film professionals learn and emulate similar productions, in the near future. SASECOM’s film production promises to help generate local employment directly on set and indirectly via contracting opportunities, while encourage knowledge transfer between a select U.S technical team and their Nigerian counterparts. “Ultimately, we are looking to make a critically acclaimed and commercially successful film, with a worldwide appeal, which will benefit all those involved” said Nahi Halabi, SASECOM’s co-producer.  

The Honorable Minister gave the film producers her full support and strongly encouraged business organizations in Nigeria to cooperate with SASECOM, to guarantee that “The Insert” film production takes place in Nigeria.  “We will take some proper time to look into various states and regions, to determine which of them offer the best topography to replicate scenes from the Congo and also meet with some State Governors, in order to determine how best to collaborate with their constituents, in preparation of our feature film” said film producer Serge Cassia.