Kaduna: Mr Israel Audu, Executive Director of the Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF), has urged stakeholders to leverage film to preserve culture, create opportunities, and project Nigerian stories globally. Audu, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Film Festival Association, made this call during the opening of the 9th Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF 2026), themed ‘Cultural Renaissance.’
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Audu emphasized the multifaceted nature of film, describing it as a medium that transcends entertainment to encompass history, culture, education, diplomacy, and a tool for economic and social transformation. The festival has attracted filmmakers, industry professionals, students, cultural institutions, diplomats, and audiences from across Nigeria, Africa, and Europe to screen films, share ideas, build networks, and establish partnerships.
Audu highlighted the festival’s evolution into a platform for discovering talent, promoting cultural tourism, attracting investment, and positioning Northern Nigeria within the global film discourse. He noted that the success of a film festival is measured not just by the number of films screened or guests in attendance, but by the connections, opportunities, and knowledge shared.
Audu revealed that more than 2,000 films from over 20 countries had been reviewed by the festival’s jurors, while the five-day event would feature screenings, workshops, masterclasses, exhibitions, and cultural exchanges.
Prof. Dul Johnson, representing Bingham University, commended KADIFF for its sustainability and for creating a platform for meaningful engagement between academia and the creative industry. He noted that the festival offers stakeholders, particularly young people, an opportunity to explore the relationship between film, culture, education, and national development.
Hajiya Nana Tijani from the National Gallery of Art emphasized the festival’s role in providing young people and artists with opportunities to showcase their talents, acquire new skills, build networks, and access fresh opportunities. She called for collaboration among filmmakers, artists, and other creative practitioners to strengthen Nigeria’s economy and cultural bonds.
Mrs Blessing Kwashi of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) congratulated KADIFF on its nine years of consistency, expressing confidence in the festival’s potential to foster meaningful engagement, collaboration, and growth within the creative industry.
Former Sen. Shehu Sani praised the organizers for their dedication to promoting film and the arts in Kaduna, emphasizing film as a means of preserving history and projecting Nigerian culture globally. He urged government support for filmmakers and creative practitioners, highlighting the industry’s potential for generating employment, wealth, and cultural influence.
Mrs Patience Fakai, representing the Kaduna State Government, described culture and stories as economic assets capable of driving tourism, investment, employment, and enterprise development. She encouraged filmmakers to view Kaduna not only as a production location but as a destination for investment and collaboration, noting government efforts in hospitality development and vocational training.
Fakai declared the 9th Kaduna International Film Festival open, highlighting that more than 4,000 trainees are expected to graduate from the state’s Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development.