Abuja Int’l Film Festival 2016 Recorded Highest Number of Visitors – Fidelis Duker
MICHAEL AKINOLA
Richard Mofe Damijo during the Masterclass on Acting
The 13th edition of the Abuja International Film Festival held from 4 to 7 October at the Silverbird Cinemas Abuja will go down in history as the most attended film festival in Nigeria, says Mr. Fidelis Duker, the CEO of the Festival.
In statement made available to P.M.EXPRESS, Duker said the four-day event had unprecedented 3221 visitors.
“With this figure of visitors during the four-day festival, this is probably the largest number of visitors at any film festival in Nigeria. We created some programmes that made the Abuja International Film Festival different from previous edition,” said Duker, also a prolific filmmaker.
“The festival witnessed the screening of 65 films from 37 countries out of the over 700 entries received from 57 countries. The Film market witnessed the attendance of 30 exhibitors who came to exhibit their product and services during the four day event,” he added.
He noted that during this year’s edition of the festival, there was a masterclass in acting facilitated by seasoned actors Richard Mofe-Damijo, Lancelot Imasuen, Segun Arinze and Francis Duru where over 150 actors were trained in the basics of screen acting.
“We also collaborated with Canon UK and Middle East to train 60 young aspiring Nigerians in Cinematography and Photography. During the training, skills and knowledge were transferred to fresh talents which I know the results will manifest in the coming years as most of them will be very successful entrepreneurs in the creative sector,” Duker assured.
Duker said the AIFF is the premier and longest running independent film festival in Nigeria and West Africa having had an uninterrupted 13 years run. He said this has accorded the festival a more recognition with three different ministers of the federation attending the festival at different time. Ministers who had attended in the past are Chief Chukwuemeka Chikelu; Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr (both former Minister of Information) and Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, Former Minister of State, FCT.
But the ministerial presence during the 2016 edition increased with three serving ministers in attendance. They are Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture; Alhaji Muhammed Bello, Minister of the FCT and Engr. Suleiman Adamu, the Minister of Water Resources.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s Information and Culture Minister at the Festival
Given a breakdown of the activities during the festival, Duker added, “We also had nine ambassadors from Iran, United States, Argentina, Mexico, France, Ghana, China among others. Also in attendance was Senator Ben Murray Bruce. We also had a large delegation from Cameroon, Ghana, South Africa, Togo, Benin, Cote D’voire in attendance for the FEPACI meeting. It had more exhibitors as they had a lot to offer the sector.
Reiterating the steps that help achieved success during the festival, Duker said, “It was basically a function of careful planning and creating the right programming for the festival. An example is the “Women In Film” panel that X-rayed the dominant influence of women in Nigerian cinema lately and of course, the FEPACI co-production and distribution workshop where countries within the West African sub region and neighboring countries discussed areas of synergy and partnership in production, distribution and the fight against piracy.
“We are very optimistic of a bigger 2017 film festival. For me it can only be better and we hope to do an appraisal of what happened this year and begin to plan for 2017. I have always said festivals are planned for a year so we will return to the drawing board and begin the plan. What I can assure you is that we will do better and continue to raise the standard.”
The festival CEO revealed that in the pipeline was plans to add more interesting categories next year.
He said “some of these additions will be in tune with the best global standard as per award categories for festivals without eroding the essence of the festival. However we will want to get most of the categories endowed and this is obviously possible.”
The 13th Abuja International Film Festival also had many industry luminaries attended the four day event. Notably are Emeka Ike, Paul Obaazele, Zack Orji, Evelyn Ikunobe, Thelma Okoduwa, Judith Audu, Emeka Osai, Fred Amata and Sonny McDon. Others are Musiwaa and Wilson Gilbert from Cameroun; Akofa Asiedu and Kwame Boadie from Ghana; Ken Njoku, Chike Chekwas, Chike Brian, Bond Emeruwa, Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Tony Anih, Ladan Salihu former DG FRCN; Mr. John Odey, Former Minister of Information amongst several others.
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