AIFF 2016: We are breaking new grounds—Fidelis Duker

Source: vanguardngr.com

By Ayo Onikoyi
This year's Abuja International Film Festival, AIFF, which ended last Friday amid glamour, will go down in history as one of the biggest events that ever thrilled the residents of the Federal Capital Territory,FCT, in recent times.

The festival which ran from October 4 through 7, 2016, at the Silverbird cinemas, Abuja, witnessed the screening of 65 films from over 37 countries across Africa and beyond.

The organizers revealed that about 700 entries were received this year from 57 countries. While the festival lasted, it also had in attendance about 30 exhibitors who came to exhibit their products and services during the 4-day event.

Speaking on the festival which ended last Friday amid glamour, founder and CEO of AIFF, Mr Fidelis Duker, described the festival as “one that is on course”, saying “this year was very much different from previous years as it had unprecedented 3221 visitors in 4 days.”

“This is probably the largest number of visitors at any film festival in Nigeria. We also created some programmes that made the Abuja international film festival different from previous edition. You know AIFF is the longest running independent film festival in Nigeria and West Africa at large. Uninterrupted for 13 years,” Fidelis added.

This year, they added a master class in acting which was facilitated by Richard Mofe Damijo, Lancelot Imasuen, Segun Arinze and Francis Duru to its series of activities. The master class had over 150 aspiring actors who were trained in the basics of screen acting. They also collaborated with Canon UK and Middle East to train 60 young aspiring Nigerians in cinematography and Photography. *Fidelis Duker and members of FEPACI

Minister lauds organizers
The opening of the festival had three ministers in attendance, including Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Muhammed Bello, Minister of the FCT and Engr. Suleiman Adamu, Minister of Water Resources. Others were Chief Chukwuemeka Chikelu, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr, former Minister of Information , Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, former Minister of State FCT. Also about nine ambassadors from Iran, US, Argentina, Mexico, France, Ghana, China, amongst others, were in attendance. In attendance also, were Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, present and former DGs, former Ministers and several major stakeholders. There were delegation from Cameroon, Ghana, South Africa, Togo, Benin, Cote d'voire, among others, for the FEPACI meeting.

*Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister

of Information and Culture
Nollywood stars were not missing at the festival. In attendance were actors Emeka Ike, Paul Obazele, Zack Orji, Evelyn Ikunobe, Thelma Okoduwa, Segun Arinze, Judith Audu, Emeka Ossai, Fred amata, Sonny McDon, Musi Waa and Wilson Gilbert from Cameroun, Akofa Asiedu and Kwame Boadie from Ghana, Ken Njoku, Chike Chekwas, Chike Brian, Bond Emeruwa, Mahmood Ali Balogun, Sonny McDon, Tonny Anih , Ladan Salihu , and Mr. John Odey. Speaking at the opening of the festival, Lai Mohammed commended the organizers for sustaining the festival which he said has come to stay in Abuja. He said, “I must first of all commend the team of this festival which is lead by Fidelis Duker. The film festival has turned out to be a very good tourism for people outside the country to come and see what we have as a country. We are not only good at producing films but also good at making use of it. Film industry, I believe will soon become the cynosure for other countries. Nigeria film industry has been, and will always be a point of reference for other film industries in Africa.”

Speaking on the theme of the festival “Connecting Global Audiences” , Mr. Duker said the festival is a way to get closer to the people via film showing.

Highpoint of the festival
Meanwhile, the highpoint of the festival was the awards ceremony which held last Friday night. Among the big winners on the night were rising actress Judith Audu who was adjudged the Best Actress in Africa, for her role in her debut feature length film, “Just Not Married”, Prince David Osei won the Best Actor award for his role in “Last Night”, while Sadegh Dachighi won the Best Director award. Lancleot Imasuen's comedy film, ATM, won the Audience Choice award among others.