Meet the Guy Who’s Putting Nollywood on the Digital Map.
By: Phil Autelitano
Tags: Hollywood, Television, Bollywood, Nollywood, Filmmaking

Courtesy of www.Mediarazzi.com

By Ahmed Eze

“I’m Italian by descent, I grew up in New York — the North — and now I live in the South. One might question, what business does this white, damn yankee dude have promoting films from Africa? The answer is simple: it’s all about the art. I grew up with an appreciation of art from around the world — French painter, Italian sculptors, music and film from everywhere. Nigeria, Africa in general, it’s like anywhere else — art is everywhere, and we should foster an appreciation for all of it in generations to come.”

— Phil Autelitano

Most Americans are unfamiliar with the term, “Nollywood” — the nickname given to Nigeria’s burgeoning film industry and the third largest in the world behind Hollywood (U.S.) and Bollywood (India) — yet it’s only a matter of time before American audiences begin to discover the incredible filmmaking coming out of the West African nation. No one is quite sure where or when the term Nollywood actually originated, but one man, for sure, is on a mission to make certain that Nollywood becomes as much a household name here in the states as it has become in African and Europe.

Mediarazzi Founder/CEO Phil Autelitano

That man is Mediarazzi founder and CEO, Phil Autelitano. A leading expert in streaming television and technology, Phil began developing and producing TV channels and content for Roku and Connected TV platforms in 2009. By 2014, and fueled by demand and the dramatic growth of the Connected TV industry, Mediarazzi expanded into content distribution to major streaming platforms like Amazon, Netflix and Hulu. Today, Mediarazzi and it’s recently launched sister company, Streaming Features, distribute hundreds of films and TV shows to dozens of digital and streaming platforms to hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.

In 2015, Phil quickly became the de facto “go-to guy” for streaming platform film and TV show distribution —and the name “Autelitano” synonymous with digital distribution — when he penned the outrageously popular online article, How to Sell Your Movie (or TV Show) to Netflix, Hulu and Others. That article has since been read millions of times, resulting in thousands of inquiries from filmmakers worldwide, all looking to distribute their content to major platforms — and many of them from Nigeria.

“I first ‘discovered’ Nigerian films while in college,” Autelitano said from his home studio in Knoxville, Tennessee, “At the time, I’d never heard the term ‘Nollywood’ — I don’t think it even existed yet. Several of my dorm mates were from Nigeria, they had DVDs we used to get high and watch, and honestly, I don’t remember much of any of it being interesting or the least bit entertaining, beyond seeming funny because it was foreign to me. But that was the 90s —story lines weren’t where they’re at now and the technology still sucked.”

In 2016, and as a result of the article, Phil began receiving an increasing number of inquiries from filmmakers in Nigeria. “I took notice right off the rip,” he said, “The movies I was now being pitched were a lot more exciting, a lot more compelling, they had meaning, a lot bigger budgets, and were far more professionally-produced than what I remembered Nigerian filmmaking to be back in my college days. I immediately sensed an opportunity — only to discover that ‘Nollywood’ is actually a $15 billion dollar industry worldwide — yet, even I’d never heard of it, or at least, noticed it — third behind U.S. and India — despite barely any presence here in the U.S. or on the streaming platforms. It’s a no-brainer, actually — great filmmaking with practically zero distribution, and here I’m sitting on all the resources to grow an industry. It was almost like a calling.”

That opportunity, according to Phil, is simple: the license and distribution of Nollywood — as well as Sollywood (South African) — films and TV shows to the major streaming platforms. “I’ve taken the time to meet with some of the filmmakers out of Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and a bunch of other places I’ve never even heard of, and I’m convinced that many of the films coming out of these places will have broader, worldwide appeal to hungry viewers looking for something different, something outside the Hollywood norms. The growing number of foreign films on streaming platforms is positive proof that viewers — especially American viewers — are now to a point where they want more. They’ve binged everything on Netflix and Hulu and the platforms can’t keep up with that growing demand for more. And with the overall abundance of content freely available on those platforms, viewers are quick to experiment, to take chances, to explore beyond Hollywood into foreign films, including Nollywood. I predict a growing, and, finally, much needed, trend for American viewers watching foreign films in the years to come, …and I want Mediarazzi and Streaming Features to be at the forefront of it.”

“For the first time in television history, the playing field is now level for ALL filmmakers regardless of budget, location or brand name.”

— Phil Autelitano

Mediarazzi, through it’s sister company Streaming Features represents and distributes full-length films and TV shows to major digital and streaming television platforms. Like every other film distributor, each and every film is assessed and either accepted or rejected on it’s own merit. Unlike every other film distributor, however, Mediarazzi/Streaming Features represent filmmakers of all sizes, from everywhere.

“Bottom line, it’s all about the film, the art, and not who made it or where it came from. Whether filmed in Nigeria or Newark, it all comes down to the art — and whether viewers will enjoy it, be entertained or compelled by it,” Autelitano said, “For the first time in television history, the playing field is now level for ALL filmmakers regardless of budget, location or brand name. The barriers to entry have all but been eliminated. With the right representative and distribution partner, ANY filmmaker with a film worth it’s salt can now earn money and be successful with the digital platforms.”

In March 2017, Mediarazzi will launch NOLLYWOOD! a new channel on Roku and Connected Television platforms produced by Phil Autelitano and devoted entirely to full-length feature films and TV shows from Nigerian and other African filmmakers. NOLLYWOOD! will enable filmmakers from the region to quickly and easily reach the growing American CTV audience while earning revenue from their work. It will be the first American TV channel devoted entirely, and exclusively, to African filmmaking.