13th AIFF ends in Abuja

The 13th Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF) tagged ‘Connecting Global Audience’ ended yesterday. The weeklong event which began with a workshop/training in collaboration with Canon, attracted guests from far and near to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and served as a platform for filmmakers as well as multimedia organisations to network, promote their services as […]

The 13th Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF) tagged ‘Connecting Global Audience’ ended yesterday.
The weeklong event which began with a workshop/training in collaboration with Canon, attracted guests from far and near to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and served as a platform for filmmakers as well as multimedia organisations to network, promote their services as well as support Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Highlights of the event which took place at the Silverbird Cinemas, Abuja and began on the 4th was opened by the Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed included screening, awards,  exhibitions, talent campus, workshop and seminars.
Prominent and famous movie stars at the event include Segun Arinze ,who was the compare, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, Jessie  Newah from Cameroon, Alao Leonardo and  Cameroonian, Agbor Golber. This year’s event came with lots of activities which spiced up the festival as the program was sponsored by Canon central and North Africa, and other multimedia organizations.
AIFF President, Fidelis Duker who  is also currently the  regional secretary of the Federation of Pan African Cineaste in an interview with Daily Trust on Saturday said: “this year’s  festival witnessed a partnership that will involve a documentary masterclass curated with the support of the Public Affairs Section of the United States Embassy in Nigeria and American films. He said the  masterclass will help facilitate a dialogue between authors, producers, distributors, cinema owners, television companies, internet actors, as well as  financiers with the film makers of four American films screening at the festival this year.”
Duker said: “For us as a pioneer filmmakers, we are out to create a platform where the Nigerian film industry must foster an open climate in which the diversity of stories and Talent is the greatest asset of films of every type, it is only when we connect as film makers with global audience that this can be achieved.”
Also, Wa Nkeng Musi, a delegate from Cameroon who won the best category for feature in 2006, said that he endeavoured to attend the event because the festival was worth it all.
He said: “The essence of this year’s event is bringing global audience together, encouraging coproduction with other African countries to see how works could be done perfectly.”
Musi also said that the program was beneficial because the film industry in Africa is becoming one, with many other pan African structures like African Film Consulting and Mokolo Initiative, adding that, these structures will help to bring together the film industry across Africa.