The National Film and Video Censors Board has finally lifted the suspension placed on the cinema exhibition of Sugar Rush, the latest feature from the stable of Jadesola Osiberu.
The development was announced by the Executive Director/CEO of the Board, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, in a statement personally signed by him.
Although eelive.ng could not immediately verify whether this approval came with any form of censorship or removal of any part of the film, the resolution makes good assurances that Adedayo gave in an interview with the newspaper last weekend.
In the statement issued Thursday night, Thomas expressed his delight that the film, which had raked in well over N150m within the first ten days of its exhibition had eventually secured the approval of his agency and that it can now return to the cinema.
The NFVCB said in the statement: “The past week has been eventful for us as an organization with diverse speculations in the media on the perceived ban of Sugar Rush movie at the cinemas while we were still doing our due diligence on the movie for final approval.
“We are most delighted to inform the general public that the movie has been classified and granted final approval for public screening and movie enthusiasts can enjoy to their delight.”
With this step, Sugar Rush, which parades a galaxy of Nollywood stars seem ready to continue its lucky run at the cinemas. There are expectations that loads of movie stars who came down heavily on the government agency for the suspension will troop out to sill the film
See full statement below:
STATEMENT BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NFVCB ON THE FINAL APPROVAL GRANTED SUGAR RUSH MOVIE
The past week has been eventful for us as an organization with diverse speculations in the media on the perceived ban of Sugar Rush movie at the cinemas while we were still doing our due diligence on the movie for final approval.
We are most delighted to inform the general public that the movie has been classified and granted final approval for public screening and movie enthusiasts can enjoy to their delight.
However, it is expedient to use this opportunity to reiterate our position that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has been most supportive of the Nigerian film industry.
As a result of Mr President’s interaction with industry practitioners, the Creative Industry Financing Initiative (CIFI), launched by the administration, has offered accessible funds to filmmakers, and the domestication of the Ease of Doing Business policy has been a major boost.
Within 7days, filmmakers, cinema promoters and distributors can get their movies approved and acquire necessary licensing certificates. We have also introduced licensing certificates and labels with digital security features to curb counterfeiting and piracy of films and video works.
The recent unprecedented successes of the industry and its huge potentials led to the nation’s award as the Emerging Film Market at the Official Convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), CinemaCon which held at Ceasar’s Palace, Las Vegas, U.S.A.
Additionally, the improved capacity of staff led to the confiscation and destruction of over 500million naira worth of bootlegged and pirated video works.
We urge filmmakers, music and video producers, and other industry practitioners to join us as we embark on this reform journey together in order to improve the current success benchmark of the industry.
It is our call that you take advantage of the 7days window for approval by getting your licenses and submitting all your creative works for classification in ample time to avoid the clumsiness of peak periods.
Conclusively, we also covet the support of the general public in restoring sanity into our society as creative works, as much as they entertain and brighten our mood, also portend great danger to the society in terms of contents that they portray.
We implore you to ensure you and your wards, and encourage those within your circle of influence as well, to consume only music and video works with NFVCB classification symbols.
It is our unwavering duty to protect and preserve the moral values, peace, and security of the nation while encouraging growth through support for creative ingenuity.
We thank you all for your cooperation and support so far and wish you a prospectus year 2020!
Adedayo Thomas
Executive Director/CEO
National Film and Video Censors Board.
