Award-winning actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has condemned the growing menace of piracy in Nigeria’s film industry, urging fans to support the creative sector by rejecting illegal practices.
Her latest movie, Everybody Loves Jenifa, set to premiere today, December 13, and the actress has called for collective action to safeguard the industry.
In a heartfelt appeal shared on her social media platforms on Wednesday, Akindele emphasized that recording videos in cinemas constitutes piracy and significantly harms the livelihoods of filmmakers and other industry players.
“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.”
The actress, who is known for her dedication to high-quality productions, stressed that combating piracy requires cooperation from fans.
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.
The actress has a long history of box office successes, including Omo Ghetto: The Saga, which set records as Nigeria’s highest-grossing film.
