The initiative was created at the end of 2020 to support emerging filmmakers from across the UK and to nurture the most innovative and creative minds of the future.
Out of thousands of applications Netflix selected 10 documentary ideas and fully funded the films to be made with the focus of addressing imbalance in the industry
After a rigorous application process and an exciting production period, the films are now ready to launch. The filmmakers received funding and industry support as part of the inaugural Netflix UK Documentary Talent Fund.
Introducing the markets of London and the entrepreneurial women that operate within them; trading, chattering, flattering and most importantly earning. These are the Women of the Market by Tavie Tiffany Agama:
ALT:
Congratulations what does it feel like to have your film selected?
Tavie:
It feels amazing. More so, I feel extremely happy that the stories of the women get to be told, and the story of the market gets to be told. That female traders get to view themselves and be included. I grew up visiting the markets and the markets hold a special place in my heart, they mean a lot to me. It means that other people that are like me, that also grew up visiting the market, they get to see that on the screen.
I am Nigerian, so I grew up getting ingredients for Nigerian dishes, and visiting Nigerian shops there. So, there’s a big connection to home for me. I hope that other people, when they see the film, that they also feel that connection to home. That’s what it means, it gives the opportunity to tell those stories.
ALT:
How far do you think schemes like the Netflix fund go to address the problem or imbalance in terms of diversity?
Tavie:
I think it addresses it in a big way because these kinds of things are needed, especially in an industry like the entertainment industry, where it’s easy to work with who you know, which is understandable because you want to work with people that you know do a good job, that you’ve worked with before, maybe you have good chemistry. So, it makes sense, but it does mean that if you don’t know anyone and you’re just starting out, it can be a very hard industry to break into.
ALT:
What made you want to tell this specific story?
Tavie:
The markets, they mean a lot to me, and I grew up visiting the market when my mum used to go, every week we would go and get ingredients for Nigerian cooking, or we would go and get fabric for traditional Nigerian clothing, or literally go there and have the clothing made. So, for me, the markets have always felt like a place that connected me to Nigeria, and then the women themselves, the experience that
you get in their store or in their shop connects you to your home country as well because you hear them, you walk in, they’re speaking in their language to other customers, the customers are replying in their language. Maybe there’s Nigerian music playing, it’s like you’ve stepped into Nigeria.
That’s why it’s special to me. I know that the women at the market also provide that for other people as well, so that’s the reason I wanted to celebrate the market, celebrate the women, put a spotlight on them. Also, it’s rare, female traders are rare, a lot of the traders in the market are men. But a lot of my experience with markets and with traders is with female traders. So, I just felt like they, they should be celebrated.
ALT:
Do you think that gentrification will eventually erase some of these women in the market?
Tavie:
Yes, it is a problem. But, interestingly enough, when you do go down there and you ask the people about it, they have quite positive outlooks. They do not think they’ll be moved. So, I am going to adopt those views as well and be as positive as they are.
ALT:
So, why do you make film?
Tavie:
I’m just passionate about storytelling. I love to tell stories. Even before filmmaking, I was just passionate about telling stories in any kind of form, any medium. I used to write, there was a time that I did music as well. Any way that I can get stories out there, especially stories that are about people that I feel are less seen on camera, on screen, then yeah, that’s important to me.
ALT:
In terms of your career as a filmmaker, how important is this opportunity and where do you think it can take you?
Tavie:
It’s so important. It’s meant so much just in terms of the opportunity to tell a story, but then also the opportunity to learn and grow. Being a new filmmaker, doing something like this, you’re thrown in at the deep end in the best way and it just means that you can learn so much and then obviously after you’ve done it, there’s the opportunity for way more people to see it than there ever would have been if you’d done it by yourself.
ALT:
Last question, where do you call home?
Tavie:
I call home anywhere that my mum is, but she would say Nigeria. So, I’m going to say Nigeria,
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