Award-winning actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has voiced her frustration over the rampant piracy plaguing Nigeria’s film industry.
With her latest movie, Everybody Loves Jenifa, set to premiere on December 13, Akindele made a passionate appeal to her fans to avoid engaging in piracy.
Taking to her social media handles on Wednesday, she stressed that recording videos in cinemas constitutes piracy and significantly harms the industry.
She highlighted the hard work and financial investment that went into the production and warned that anyone caught recording during screenings would be arrested.
“Say no to piracy! Recording short videos at the cinemas is piracy! Please stop it! Piracy is killing us!” Akindele pleaded.
“I worked so hard on this project. Please I’m pleading do not be caught promoting piracy!!! A lot of resources were and are still being invested in the movie #Everybodylovesjenifa. Please, do not be caught promoting piracy. Thank you.”
In a video accompanying her message, Akindele elaborated, “If you go to see my new movie, ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa,’ and you bring out your phone or any device you have to film, then I won’t be fine.
“I know you got mad love for me as my fan, I know you respect me so much, I know you want to support me, I know you want to promote ‘Everybody loves Jenifa’ but you filming it is not you supporting me.
“Do not upload on your Social media account, don’t bring out your phones. If you want to support me, get to the cinemas, take pictures by the standees, post my trailers and teasers, and I will be fine.”
She emphasized that strict security measures would be in place to apprehend anyone caught filming during screenings, urging her fans to support the film ethically.
“Because the act of you filming it on the screen is piracy. We must not encourage piracy. We are taking serious security measures to arrest anyone who does that. I love my fans so much, please don’t be caught doing it.
