Dear Friends
Fraternal Greetings from the iREP Collective,
Like most Nigerians and indeed peoples of the world, we woke up on January 1 to the shock of about 150 per cent increment in the cost of gasoline, which has since thrown the entire country into a tailspin of instability marked by wild street protests, pockets of violence all around the country; and the threat of an indefinite National Strike that is scheduled to start January 11 – five days to the commencement of our pre-iREP DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL Conference and Workshop slated for January 17-20, 2012.
From past experiences of similar scenario, once Labour declared a National strike, the country’s social and economic activities become totally paralysed, and it could take nearly two to three weeks before order and stability are restored; even if Labour were to call off the strike few days after its declaration.
As it is, the entire national mood is gripped by tension and most businesses are closing shops. In fact, managers of our choice venue and partner on the project, the Terra Kulture Art Centre in the elite Victoria Island part of Lagos, have indicated that from this weekend, they would close shop as their workers would be joining the national strike. They also want to avoid falling victims of the vandalism and violence that usually trailed such National Strike/Protests.
Also many of the would-be participants in the Conference and the Master-class have started returning regrets. Especially students of the various Films, TV and Broadcasting schools whom we expect to be the beneficiaries of the Master-class and Workshop (slated as part of the Conference) would be proceeding on break due to the call for national strike.
From our study of the situation, there are serious and complicate issues of not just inauspiciousness of the time and logistics but also Safety and Security involved.
It is on account of these various factors that we REGRET to inform you of the POSTPONEMENT of the said CONFERENCE to March as part of the 2nd iREP International Documentary Film Festival.
We are aware of the sacrifice that you have made -- out of your busy schedule and calendar – in reserving the earlier date – January 17-20 -- to honour our invitation but in the extant circumstance that we find ourselves in Nigeria, we have no other options than to shift the Conference ahead.
Our proposal however, is to still request your esteemed person to consider being part of the main festival in March. Details will be sent to you in due course.
Again, while we appreciate your enthusiastic response to our earlier invitation, we regret the inconvenience that this change of date would cause your personal programmes. We however request that you kindly consider our new proposal.
Regards
Femi Odugbemi
Executive Director
iREP INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL,
www.irepfilmfestival.com 3 Oguntona Crescent, Gbagada Phase 1, Lagos Nigeria. P.O. Box 36 Surulere. T: +234 803 425 1963, +234 802 201 6495, +234 803 403 0646 E: info@irepfilmfestival.com
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