4: INSTITUTIONALISING FILM PRODUCTION SPACES: AN APPRAISAL OF FILM VILLAGES IN NIGERIA

The evolution of film villages in Nigeria represents a significant yet underexplored dimension of the country’s cinematic infrastructure and creative economy. This study offers a critical appraisal of the emergence, development, and contemporary relevance of film villages within the Nigerian film industry (Nollywood). Tracing their evolution from informal, location-based production hubs to purpose-built film villages such as Tinapa Film Studios, Kunle Afolayan Film Village, and KAP Hub, the paper examines how these spaces have responded to Nollywood’s changing production needs, aesthetic ambitions, and global aspirations. The study examines the roles of state intervention, private investment, tourism policy, and technological advancement in shaping the sustainability of film villages. It further analyses the challenges confronting these infrastructures, including inadequate funding, policy inconsistency, limited maintenance culture, and uneven integration into the broader film value chain. This paper argues that, while film villages hold immense potential to enhance production efficiency, preserve cultural heritage, stimulate film-induced tourism, and professionalise Nollywood’s production culture, their impact remains constrained by structural and institutional limitations. The study concludes that a coherent national film infrastructure policy, strengthened public-private partnerships, and strategic integration of film villages into Nollywood’s global distribution networks are essential for maximising their developmental potential.