Dr Ali Nuhu, Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), has reiterated the corporation’s commitment in engaging stakeholders in Zuma International Film Festival.
Nuhu who reiterated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja, said this was to ensure right connect with government, private sector and their counterparts across the globe.
Reports says that Zuma International Film Festival, facilitated by the NFC, is Nigeria’s foremost film festival held annually in Abuja in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
The festival serves as a convergence point for film professionals and enthusiasts from around the world to network, interact, and explore co-production opportunities.
The NFC boss revealed that the corporation had created a very comfortable platform for the stakeholders, to enable them interact and get integrated into the industry as well.
“The 15th edition of the festival is going to be bigger and better because from what we did last year, it was the best so far.
“We will seek for mentorship from some of the veterans, and I can see that from the 3,160 entries that we have, the film festival will be awesome.
“I think there were about 222 entries from India, 160 from China, and 150 from the U.S among others. So, this tells you that the Zuma film festival is becoming big and strong; it is becoming a force to reckon with and that is what we anticipate,” he said.
According to him, NFC is actually setting the responsibility of giving the films that reach across the globe.
“Zuma film festival is a platform where stakeholders will be able to connect with their counterpart. The filmmakers will be there to see some of the vibrant films that are going to be in the competitive category.
“I strongly believe that when they meet with their counterparts across the globe, their interaction will production agreements; and exchanges are all we needed for such a platform.
Nuhu urged the young filmmakers to be more original in their creativity, especially now that there was technological advancement with the AI.
He added that they should be good ambassadors of their country, know their culture, way of life, as well as politics in the society.
”We will also be talking to them about when to do film and the types that will have lasting positive impacts on their audience.
“The film festival recognised cinematic excellence, promotes sustained productivity, and enhances the availability of high-quality audio-visual services, as well as entrenching professionalism and profitability in cultural products and exchanges,” he added.