RTF2016 REVIEW
REVIEW: REAL TIME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL INAUGURAL LAGOS EDITION
The use of SKYPE for remote participation at RTF 2016
Awards were presented in various categories at a glamorous red carpet-event. Fast-rising Nollywood actor Kelechi Udegbe won what I believe is the first award of his career.
Prominent animator and filmmaker Mike-Steve Adeleye also won his first award for his movie titled "Love, Hate and Ketchup". It was one of the most loved short films at the festival.
Young director; David Ohikhuare also won the award for the best film directed by a child. His movie is titled "Dear John". David is just nine years old.
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The inaugural edition of the Real Time International Film Festival (RTF) themed Emotions took place in Lagos, Nigeria between September 29 and October 3, 2016. Its uniqueness is hinged on the fact that it was founded by and for independent filmmakers seeking to express themselves through their craft, from story-telling to technical expertise hence, the festival’s slogan “...for filmmakers, by filmmakers”. The organizers say they are curating a platform where there is no discrimination, and where everybody feels equal.
Realtime Festival is a technology-driven festival that encourages filmmakers to participate worldwide, without being physically present, using a simple software called Skype. Skype is software that enables global conversations. Millions of forward-thing businesses and individuals use Skype to make video and voice one-to-one and group calls. With Skype, users can also send instant messages and share files with other people irrespective of where they reside – either on a mobile, computer, or tablet. The vision of remote participation is the origin of the festival’s name "REALTIME", and it lived up to the perceived expectations in every single way. The organizers of the festival believe that in time, more festivals and indeed, the rest of the world will embrace remote participation in major events. The festival aims at identifying new talents and celebrating the veterans of the industry while fostering cooperation and co-production between filmmakers (from across the globe). The festival was attended by film enthusiasts, international filmmakers, film critics, as well as visual and performing artists. Notables present were Femi Odugbemi a foremost documentary filmmaker, and a member of the international jury for the festival, and Shaibu Husseni, a seasoned film journalist who has served as a juror and programmer at international film festivals and award schemes. There were over 800 submissions in different categories including animation, documentaries, short films, and feature-length films from 60 countries. A total selection of 60 films were screened with a third of these from Nigeria. The festival recorded another first by being the first festival to have a competitive category for movies made by kids. Organized by filmmakers, the 4-day event also included panel discussions and master classes on film and other related areas like still photography. Visual artist and creative photographer, Barett Akpokabayen facilitated the panel on photography. It is yet unclear who the founder of the festival is, but some of the people who worked behind the scenes in this edition include Bayo Awala, who served as the head of the festival's jury, Stanlee Ohikhuare, whose controversial film titled “Behind the Wheels” premiered at the festival with the screening taking place at the Afrika Shrine (another first for the festival). Also spotted were Tope Oshin, Tolu Ajayi, Barrett Akpokabayen, Francis Nwaobodo, and Ahaoma Kanu who is the recipient of the 2012 CNN African Journalism Awards. We can’t wait to see what RTF becomes in the coming years, but in the words of many participants including Judith Audu, Omowunmi Dada, Eric Aghimien, Kelechi Udegbe, Gregory Ojefua, Ani Iyoho, Stan Nze, and more, “this Realtime Festival feels like family”. 
The use of SKYPE for remote participation at RTF 2016
The crowning gesture by the Realtime Film Festival was the recognition of industry veterans who paved the way for the industry we now call Nollywood. I personally felt very emotional when these pathfinders were honoured by the organizers of the festival.
RTF 2016 PHOTO SLIDESHOW
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The author, Adebimpe Adebambo is the Business Development Officer at Revilo, an art and culture publishing company. She studied Painting at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos. Adebimpe Adebambo is currently an author at Omenka Online.
