Nigerian director Kenneth Gyang has concluded plans to launch a residency for filmmakers in his home country Nigeria. Named the Jos Kucharung Film Residency, the programme will take place under the umbrella of Cinema Kpatakpata, a production company co-founded by Gyang.
The programme is a two-week long session on project development. To be eligible, participants will have to be aspiring filmmakers aged between 18 and 35.
Speaking to Film Efiko, Gyang said plans for the residency came together quickly “over a few weeks” but that he has been “thinking about it for years”.
Asked why he has chosen to set the residency far away from Lagos, his country’s film and other entertainment capital, he said it never occurred to him to set up the residency anywhere else but the city of his childhood.
Why Jos?
“Let me put it this way,” he said. “The Jos Kucharung Film Residency is a way for me to give back to the city that gave me the gift of storytelling.”
That gift of storytelling led to Gyang making his debut feature film in 2013. Titled Confusion Na Wa, the film was a success at the Africa Academy Movie Awards, winning Best Film and Best Nigerian Film. It has since become of the pioneering projects of New Nollywood.
Since then, Gyang has become a sought-after director, making movies and TV series. Some of these projects have been popular Netflix Originals, including Oloture (film and series), Far From Home, and Blood Sisters. His last two projects, Mojisola and This Is Lagos, were produced by Cinema Kpatakpata. Both films were nominated at the 2024 AMAA.
The Jos Kucharung programme, according to a text on its official website, is a “unique opportunity for aspiring filmmakers to develop their projects under the guidance of experienced mentors and industry professionals in the heart of Jos, Nigeria”.
A date will be announced for the residency’s inaugural edition. But, already, the residency has secured partnership support from the Nigerian Film Corporation.
