Nigerian Film Industries Call For Government’s Financial Intervention

Nigerian Film Industries have called for government financial intervention and other support to develop the industry.

The Director Nigerian 2024 Film Festival, and also Film Maker, Mrs. Temi Tope Duker, made call in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital, during the 21st Abuja International Film Festival Opening Ceremony.

The Director said, lack of funding from government and other stakeholders is the major issue hindering the progress of Film Industries in Nigeria.

“One of the biggest challenges we face in Film Festival aspect is lack of funding, lack of support from government, when you look at Film Festival is actually money involved, like social platforms that has a lot of visitors, Cinema owners, bringing foreigners into the country, food vendors, Taxi Drivers and hotels would be fully booked, you can imagine how the city of Abuja would be, if the government support the Festival and create conducive environment for it, so the government needs to understand that”. Mrs. Duker

Highlighting the Film Festival the Director said” What we are doing this year we trying to give back through the Master Classes , this year we are telling anybody that want to come to entertainment space, industry if you want to come to Cenimatograpy, Amazons, please come we professionals that would put you through, in forms of mentorship, we also know that this year there are a lot producers especially film Makers who want  to come  performing in the industry and you talk to producers you will hear that their major challenge is funding and so this year we have master class for producers to basically teach them how to carry out their projects”.

In terms of selection and awards, the Director explained
“This year we have Seventy Two Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty Two films plus, the entry came from over sixty countries , then we cut it down through the selection process, which eventually we have Sixty Five in nomination across all the areas of film production”.
In his take, a Film Maker, Mr. Zack Orji, expressed the importance of the festival to the entertainment industry

“Abuja Festival is one of the annual events that sustains the film Industries over the years and it has been in existence for about Twenty One years, for those of us who are in the industry these are the thing that we proud of, when we go out the country and see festival like this, we say yes we also have Abuja Film Festival in Nigeria, film Industries is one of the pillars in the society, providing employment, providing entertainment, providing a course of study for a lot of people contributing to the National Economy”. Mr. Zack Orji said

Also speaking at the event, Artistic Director at Trojah Royal Theatre, in Abuja, Mr. Jerry Adesewa, acknowledged that

“This Festival is important where issues are raised and discussed, if there are gray areas in the way we represent or misrepresent our culture like the issue of rituals these are some of the issues discussed at the festival, where industry players, policy makers point out some areas that they have issues with and stakeholders discussed it and take something out of it, and because of the conversation were able to tell way forward and how better we represent our culture”.

Mr. Jerry stated
The 21st Edition holds from 28th October – 1st November, 2024. The festival offers a contemporary and liberal platform for the filmmakers across the world to exhibit excellence through the art form of film.
The aim is to contribute to the understanding and appreciation of cultures of different nations through Cinema.
The theme of the Festival is “Bridging Cultures through Cinemas”
The Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF) activities will include: Screenings, Workshop Campus, a Panel discussion, a Producers’Master Class, an Exhibition Fashion Show and Party Award.

Victoria Ibanga