The Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN) outlined the technical requirements that must be met before a cinema in Nigeria can screen a film.
Patrick Lee, CEAN’s National Chairman, revealed the above mentioned in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Mr Lee explained that the technical standards concerned sound quality, picture production, subtitling, content, movie storylines, and more.
According to him, Bollywood and Hollywood films often meet technical demands with high-quality images and sound, and more Nollywood films are now also able to meet those requirements.
“We distribute a list of technical specifications for Nollywood, Bollywood, and Hollywood films to the general public and film producers.”
Mr Lee pointed out that the content of a film shown in cinemas must also adhere to the National Film and Video Censors Board’s (NFVCB) laws and regulations.
According to Lee, movies that contain homosexual content, smoking, or narcotics, all of which are against the country’s laws, are unacceptable.
“We reject horror films because they do not sell, whereas romantic comedies and action films do, therefore the genre of film matters as well.”
“Not every film is meant for the cinemas. Some are intended for broadcast television, while others are designed for streaming services. We keep the censors’ board’s regulations in mind when making decisions. We do not approve any film that goes against the board’s directives, “he said.
Mr Lee went on to say that, due to the limited number of screens available, cinemas across the country had to be very selective with the films they screened.
He explained that Nigeria should not be compared to the United Kingdom, which has over 4,000 screens compared to Nigeria’s 300.
