About 52 films From Over Ten Countries will screen at the Kaduna Film Festival (KADIFF) scheduled for August 22 to 26 at Alliance Francais, In Kaduna.
The selected films feature entries from over ten countries such as Uganda, India, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, France, USA, Nepal, Morrocco, Trinidad and Tobago among others. They will be competing for nominations and prizes within 13 categories – Feature Films, Short Films, Documentaries, Experimental Films, Animation, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Animation, Best Cinematography, Best Director (Male), Best Director (Female), Best Feature Film, Best International Film (Foreign), Best International Actor (Foreign), Best Short Film, Outstanding Documentary, Best Experimental Film, Best Screenplay, and Best Indigenous Film.
Reflecting on his journey so far with KADIFF, founder and executive director, Israel Kashim Audu thanked God who granted him and his team the strength to remain consistent, year after year, even in the face of financial challenges.
“I can proudly say that we have reached over 68 countries since the festival began. While we prepare to host the 6th edition of the KADIFF, I again urge government at all levels, philanthropists and privileged Nigerians to please come together and support the Nigerian film industry so that we can continue to do more, project and promote our rich cultures to the world.”
For him films served various purposes – entertainment, escapism and but most importantly, promotion of peoples and cultures.
The latter purpose he said, was aided by globalisation which began in the global film industry when the British Pop Rock group, the Beatles (aka the Fab Four) performed in America in 1964, appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show where an estimated 73 million American viewers watched, and American businesses profited off the Beatlemania hysteria by selling Beatles licensed products of grossly $50 million.
With a more versatile country like Nigeria, with rich cultural diversity, from food, dressing, languages etc., together with the peoples’ entrepreneurial spirit, the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood, has contributed to the nation’s development – producing thousands of films per year. That’s the impact of globalization.
“The concept of globalization does not entirely pose a bad effect on Nollywood rather challenged it to promote the Nigerian cultures by making them appreciated in the global sphere. Hence the reason we chose this year’s festival theme – The Globalization of Film and Its Impact on the world.
“I think film is vital to society because it gives us a chance to reflect on our own lives and the lives of others who are different and can offer us a new perspective on life,” concluded Audu.
