GOFESTIVAL 2009 PREPARATION HOTS UP!-

Gofestival Organisers,Folake Olawepo, Alayande Stephen T,Mike Yomi DADA, Olaitan Faranpojo,Caroline Moore& Ayoola Jolayemi

AS ORGANISERS RECCE VENUE!
MOBILISE TWO GOVERNORS FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY!
HOLD PRODUCTION MEETING!

Preparations and build up activities for the widely publicized Gospel Film Festival 2009 (GOFESTIVAL) gathers high level momentum, as all seems set for the maiden edition of the event come Wed June 3rd to June Sat. 6th, 2009 at the Jogor Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State by 10am daily. This year's theme is CHALLENGES OF THE 21st CENTURY NIGERIAN CHRISTIAN FILMMAKER.

To conduct the event managers round the Jogor Centre were the crew of the Calibrators led by the festival convener, Mr. Olaitan Faranpojo, Folakemi Olawepo and Olorunpomi Rebecca . Different organisations and personalities were in attendance, they are Zmirage Marketing & Communications (ZMC) represented by Alayande Stephen T., while Mr. Tunde Obalana and Ayoola Jolayemi stood in for Zmirage Multi-media Ltd and Swift Think Ltd respectively. Mr. Ifeanyi Achibi was there for Journey 2 Sound, Folarin Abimbola was in for Allied Film Company amidst many others.

The venues were recce as Felicia Hall will be hosting the opening ceremony, interactive sessions, general worship, exhibition; meeting room will be for itching of films with the jury, special sessions; seminar room will be for workshops and trainings, Banquet hall is set aside for screening of films, while the Hall of Grace is meant for the Awards/Dinner and Closing Ceremony. The festival is expected to pull together the best of technical facilities as Zmirage Multi-media Ltd is set to bring in a customised stage, best of light and effect. Sound will be provided by Journey to Sound Ltd, video documentation which includes Red Carpet coverage, Celebrity Papparazi corner etc will be facilitated by Allied Film Company.

Mr. Olaitan Faranpojo, the Convener said “I am happy for the attendance and stakeholder's attitude, we are all striving to make the event a worthwhile venture and a masterpiece, we shall get there”.

A production meeting was held immediately after the venue recce exercise and important issues ranging from technical details, protocol, registration, plenary sessions, security, accommodation, ambience/branding, welfare etc were thoroughly debated and reviewed to ensure the best of event.

Mr. Tunde Obalana asserted that “ we are on top of the situation all things being equally and we are going to pull the necessary strings to make the festival a memorable one, this is the maiden edition, but that is going to propel us to set a world-class standard for the festival, nothing short of this”.

The crew equally combed the Ibadan environ to put in finishing touches to logistics for hotel accommodation for participants and guests for the event.

Ayoola Jolayemi of Swift Think Ltd on his path said “ the festival is massive and big, hence, we are looking out all the little details, we are leaving no stone unturned, am sure we will surprise and surpass your expectations come June 3rd, 2009 by His grace”, he averred.

Two governors amidst other important dignitaries have been pencilled down to grace the opening ceremony comes 4th of June, 2009. Mr. Alayande Stephen T. of ZMC spoke about the dignitaries expected for the event, “we are expecting the crème-de-la-crème of the society, players in the Nollywood industry and its Christian fold counterpart, Otunba Christopher Alao-Akala, the Oyo State Governor is expected to be the host Governor, while Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel is also expected as the special guest of honour, as other important dignitaries are expected to add value to the festival as a whole, let's just wait and see, for this is a big step in the right direction for gospel film industry in Nigeria and Africa as a whole”.

All things being equal, Gofestival is expected to pull over 3,000 participants cutting across different walks of life, Media, Television Production, Investors, Directors, Screenwriters, Producers, Actors and Actresses.

Gofestival is an initiative of the Calibrators, while ZMC and Swift Think Ltd are providing their professional expertise in the area of sponsorship drive, event management, PR/media coordination.

Other partners for the event includes Zmirage Multi-media Ltd, Mount Zion Faith Ministry, Journey 2 Sound, Allied Films Ltd, Dove Media, Inspiration FM, 700 Club, CFC, Movietainment Magazine, 24-7 Magazine, Box Office, Butterfield, All Nigerian Conference of Evangelical Drama Ministers (ANCEDRAM), Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Nigerian Film and Video Censorship Board (NFCVB), The Pencil Film and Television Institute,, Adventist Health International, Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria (ITPAN), National Film Institute (NFI), Communicating for Change etc.

Alayande Stephen T.
Media Manager

Gofestival Organisers,Folake Olawepo, Alayande Stephen T,Mike Yomi DADA, Olaitan Faranpojo,Caroline Moore& Ayoola Jolayemi