The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), on Friday announced that the 2023 edition of the Zuma Film Festival (ZUFF) would hold in December.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Affairs of the corporation, Mr Brian Etuk, in Abuja.
The Managing Director of NFC, Dr Chidia Maduekwe, said the festival, which had continued to witness massive domestic, continental and global participation since inception in 2017, would hold from Dec. 1 to Dec. 10, in Abuja.
He said the event would present the best of Nigeria’s creative, film and entertainment industry to the world.
“ZUFF 2023 will be the second in the series of a 10-year collaborative partnership for a joint hosting of the annual event by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), and the NFC.
“The 2023 theme for the festival is ‘Cultural Convergence’.
“The festival will focus on harnessing potentials and opportunities inherent in the convergence of diverse cultures of the world through audio-visual medium,’’ he said.
Maduekwe said that activities lined up for the event included; daily film screening, film master classes, symposia, film and television market, content creation and exhibition fora.
Others are, film project pitching sessions, co-production engagements, annual film lecture, states and foreign nations special days.
“We will also feature special lifetime tributes, Zuma awards and the second leg of the Nigeria–South Africa Film Festival.
“The first leg, known as South Africa-Nigeria Film Festival, will take place during the 44th edition of Durban Film Festival/Film Mart Institute from July 20 to July 30,” he said.
Maduekwe said the December film fiesta would be a robust continental and global film stakeholder and film commission participation and attendance.
The NFC boss said that efforts in holding a successful ZUFF 2023 were on top gear, given the successful outing of the 2022 edition, and the global importance of the festival.
He also maintained that both the FCTA and NFC were committed to hosting an impactful ZUFF 2023, adding that this edition would witness more sponsors and partners.
Maduekwe also assured that various sub-committees had been constituted to effectively drive the 2023 ZUFF.
According to him, the ZUFF 2023, the 13th in the series will among others, provide a platform for the recognition of Nigerian film makers that had added value to the development of the industry.
He said the vast growth and great potentials within the film sector of Nigeria had made it imperative for a continuous robust domestic, continental and global engagement.
“Those that develop and produce content for film and television accessed opportunities of funding, marketing, distribution and exhibition.
“We must continue to create opportunities through platforms such as ZUFF to deploy our energy and resources to harness the rich diverse continental, yet beautiful cultures.
“This will also give us the opportunity to promote people-to-people interaction, peace, economic prosperity and development,” he added.
He said the call for and mode of submission of film entries would soon be made public, having already constituted the jury for the film festival.
