Nollywood director and producer, Kunle Afolayan, has addressed the controversy surrounding his recent comments on film promotion and cinema releases, saying his comments were misunderstood and never directed at his colleague, Funke Akindele.
Speaking on Arise TV earlier today, Afolayan explained that the viral video was taken from a film business forum where industry stakeholders were discussing cinema economics and sustainability.
“I am a product of travelling theatre and travelling cinema,” Afolayan said. “Our parents would go into the streets to tell people to come and watch films. I don’t see anything bad in going to the cinema or promoting films. For me, it is just draining.”
The filmmaker said his comments were made in response to a direct question from cinema operators who wanted to know when he would return to theatrical releases. According to him, the conversation focused on whether cinema releases still make financial sense for filmmakers after deductions.
“At that forum, I told them you have to promise me that I will make substantial money,” he said. “If a film makes ₦2 billion, after sharing, taxes and other deductions, what may come back to you is about ₦500 million. If you have more than two or three investors, what is left at the end of the day?”
