The oil rich city of Port Harcourt the Rivers State capital has recorded another milestone in her efforts towards the development of the Entertainment industry in Nigeria as she hosts the third Edition of the ION International Film festival which is coming to Africa for the first time.

Addressing the large crowed of movie practitioners, international show biz promoters and the entertainment world that gathered at the premises of Polo Club Port Harcourt on Thursday for the opening ceremony, the State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Marcus Nle Ejii said the state is proud to be the first in Africa to host the international festival.

He said the event has given the state the opportunity to not only show case her potentials, but to prove to the world that Rivers State is the home of Entertainment, a peaceful State of hospitable and accommodating people. He commended the organisers of the festival for choosing the state as their first port of call in Africa.

The commissioner assured the guests of their security and protection through out their stay in Rivers State, stressing that the era of militancy in the Niger Delta is over and the State is one of the most peaceful and investor friendly states in the country.

In an interview with The Weekend Tide Entertainment, creative Director of MCOMM, Organisers  of the ION International Film Festival said,” The experience has been wonderful and amazing, I have been wanting the world to come to Port Harcourt to witness the talents in the Nigerian movie industry, we want the world to see for themselves the energy of the Niger Delta.”

She noted that Nollywood has an ample opportunity to network with the film makers all over the world from Hollywood, Bollywood, the Europen film industry and everyone in the theatre all over the world, she stressed that the International film festival is a wonderful opportunity for the film industry in Nigeria to move forward.

Mrs Borlolussi stated that Nollywood is already moving forward and urged the practitioners to believe in themselves because they have an amazing talent and they are a force to reckon with no matter the blunders made at the beginning. According to her, “ION festival will make Nollywood add value to what is already on the ground and we must continue to patronise our own, with that, sky will not be our limit but our beginning.”

According to one of the organisers of the event Mr. Akonte Ekine, Chief Executive officer (CEO) and lead strategist of Absolute PR, “The idea of the Ion festival is to interact with global partners, exchange ideas and Technology, brainstorm, know the things we have not done well and borrow from those who have done well because it is an intellectual thing.”

He commended the Nigerian Film Industry for their achievements so far, stressing that everything in life is in stages and one of the stages is learning how people ahead of you are doing. He stressed that the Rivers State government has tried to bring the festival to us to improve on our standards, it is left for people participating in the industry to take advantage of the opportunity.

Mr. Ekine disclosed that over 84 films have been chosen for the event out of which 32 are Nigerian Films which shows that we have got talent and content in Nollywood, therefore the practitioners should be given a pat on the back as to aspire to greater glory.