Film festivals in Nigeria: behind the scenes of a grandeur celebration

Abstract

Film festivals in Nigeria have not just grown from merely providing a rendezvous for filmmakers, critics and movie buffs, but more importantly an avenue for film professionals to become established in the chain of global film cultures since the 2000s. Nigeria boasts of a number of film festivals among the vast number of festivals ongoing in different parts of the world. Beyond the grandeur celebration, however, the role the festivals play in promoting and enhancing the local industry and impacting on the socio-economic life of the host cities has not been well established. Using the notable Zuma International Film Festival, Abuja International Film Festival, and the African International Film Festival as case studies, this article examines the role of film festivals in the socio-economic development of the film industry and the host cities. Methodologically, the paper relies on in-depth interviews of festival managers, selected festival goers and Nollywood professionals to look into the benefits of film festivals. This elicits the contribution of Nigeria film festivals to the development of Nollywood filmmakers by providing them the opportunity to showcase their works, network, and update their knowledge and trends in the film industry, besides employment opportunities and revenue generation brought to host communities. We recommended that for film festivals to continue to play their roles in the local industry, they should be recognised and supported for their intrinsic socio-economic value to the host cities and the industry, but not used just as field-configuring events.