Stakeholders in Nigeria's northern film industry have identified limited participation in festivals and collaborative events as major barriers to the region's cinematic growth and development. The concerns were raised during the third Northern Film Summit, organized by the Kannywood and Arewa Filmmakers Association (KADIFF) in partnership with the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria (KCCN).
Israel Audu Kashim, founder of KADIFF, highlighted several critical challenges preventing northern Nigerian filmmakers from fully engaging with industry opportunities. He pointed to limited engagement levels, communication barriers, and the underutilization of free opportunities as significant factors hindering the region's film industry progress. These issues have resulted in reduced participation in festivals and summits that could otherwise foster valuable collaboration and drive industry growth.
Kashim emphasized the importance of sustained engagement through established industry associations as a pathway to improving participation rates among northern filmmakers. He noted that these organizations play a crucial role in bridging gaps and creating platforms for meaningful collaboration within the film community. The KADIFF founder stressed that overcoming these participation barriers is essential for the region's film industry to reach its full potential.
The partnership between KADIFF and the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria has been particularly noteworthy, according to Kashim, who praised the collaboration's potential impact. He specifically highlighted South Korea's advanced film technology capabilities as an inspiring example that could benefit Nigerian filmmakers. Kashim expressed optimism about the possibility of future virtual film exchanges and knowledge-sharing initiatives that could leverage Korea's technological expertise to enhance the northern Nigerian film industry's capabilities and reach.
