“AFS KADIFF Film Collaboration Is Impact-Focused”

Founder of the Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF), Audu Israel Kashim, stated that the festival’s collaborative project with the US Embassy’s American Film Showcase is aimed at promoting impactful filmmaking.

And what medium better addresses specific local issues and peculiarities, while also conveying a direct message about a problem or a society, than the documentary – be it short or feature-length?

The four-day workshop set to be held from March 2 to 5, 2026, will train young intending and practising filmmakers who are willing and ready to make a change in their society through documentary films.

“With what is happening in our society today, and the current collaboration between the US and Nigeria, in the area of security, we are looking for filmmakers who can make a robust change through culture with documentaries. While other aspects of filmmaking will be addressed at the workshop, the key focus is on impactful productions. Impactful films. And with documentaries, you can pass impactful messages.”

Audu noted that other factors that played a huge role in the project include the peculiarity of films produced in Nigeria, in addition to the general problem of filmmaking – the absence of funds.

“We have different filmmakers who do different kinds of movies. In the north, the most common are Hausa films, which they shoot and post on YouTube. Also, not everyone has the resources to do Netflix or cinema productions. Hence, the more common kind of film you see in Nigeria is the YouTube or local TV type of production, like Africa Magic. These are all the things we considered for the workshop confirmation. The need to provide skills for those who don’t have the resources to do big-budget movies.”

The workshop, to be facilitated by award-winning American filmmaker Patrick Shen, will see all selected participants join the masterclass on the first day. The second day will see them split into groups for practicals, and on the third day, split further into groups for training.

While there are no specific details of what happens post the workshop, Audu said “during the workshop, Mr Shen will make his recommendations to the US Embassy, on candidates they feel would be more resourceful; and after they’ve been reviewed, look at what is possible and those to support. For the moment, the main focus is on conducting the workshop and identifying young talent. Something positive will come about from it”.

AFS KADIFF is an offshoot of the AFS KADIFF masterclass on Funding Documentaries, which was held at the 2025 KADIFF. AFS has partnered with other festivals worldwide, including AFRIFF and the Zuma International Film Festival, to empower filmmakers and change societies through cultural collaboration.

On what the US gains from such collaborations, Audu said, is the strengthening of relations between Nigeria and the United States, establishing a robust relationship between US and Nigerian filmmakers and actors, which could lead to co-productions, and engender opportunities for networking, work, and study for Nigerian filmmakers and actors in the US.

“Programmes such as this workshop, festivals, etc., are the only areas they can connect with Nigerian filmmakers in one room. I think culture is an area through which the US is looking to strengthen relations with Nigeria,” concluded Audu.