The Nigerian film producer and Guinness World Record holder Nora Awolowo has been appointed a Canon Ambassador, adding another feather to her African film cap.
The 27-year-old director is entering into an international collaboration with the global imaging brand to advance visual storytelling, to help nurture emerging talents and to support the next generation of African filmmakers.
The announcement comes days after Awolowo made history, when his Nollywood crime thriller, “Black Market,” pulled in over 51,000 qualifying viewers to one venue in Lagos.
Nora Awolowo’s Canon collaboration.
Awolowo has been tasked with using her expertise in filmmaking and cinematography to aid visual creators in Africa, as part of her new role as a Canon Ambassador.
The partnership will also include mentoring young filmmakers and supporting young creatives to think outside of the box.
The deal between Awolowo and Canon isn’t entirely fresh for Awolowo. Previously, the filmmaker has worked with Canon, having used the Canon EOS C400 for Black Market. The creative collaboration was announced by Canon Central and North Africa, ahead of the film’s record-breaking premiere in Lagos.
The filmmaker has also recently posted a message of thanks to Canon on her social media, saying, “Thank you Canon.”
Black Market to a Guinness World Record
That is just the latest accolade for Awolowo, who had an extraordinary week as a filmmaker.
On 26th September, Black Market was released in Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, to a huge crowd as part of an effort to set a Guinness World Record for the largest audience of a film at one location.
There were 51,000 screens to qualify, and Guinness World Records said they confirmed the screening. This figure was calculated from those who were present throughout the movie.
This is higher than the 43,624 participants in 2015 for a screening of Filipino film Felix Manalo at the Philippine Arena.
Nora Awolowo was one of the producers of the record-breaking production. She wrote, directed, and acted in Black Market.
The Nigerian government too applauded the feat, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulating Awolowo and other filmmaker Damilola Osikoya for the achievement of the Guinness World Record.
The film was a whole new chapter for a young filmmaker.
In the present times, when Nigerian filmmakers are slowly making waves in the international film industry, the Canon partnership puts Nora Awolowo at the nexus of filmmaking, cinematography, and technology.
Her association with Black Market has also shown an emerging trend amongst young Nigerian filmmakers who are creating content but have a different approach to telling those stories and reaching audiences as a result.
Now, having secured the Guinness World Record, and with a new job at Canon, Awolowo is moving onto another significant phase in her career, one which is not just about making films but also about supporting other African creatives to share their stories.
She is another example of how Nigerian filmmakers are forming ties with the world’s leading creative and technology brands for Nollywood’s new generation.
