Daily Trust edition of Saturday, September 25, 2021, published an interview with one Israel Audu in which he claimed that they held the first international film festival in Kaduna recently. Perhaps, they held a film festival in continuation of film and television festivals in northern Nigeria. But that may not be the first in that part of the country. What was probably the first of such festivals was the International Market for Film and Television Programmes organised by the Nigerian Television Authority on March 27 – 31, 1983 tagged NTA IMTP ’83 held at Durbar Hotel, Kaduna.
A little research into film festivals may have revealed to the organisers that the Kaduna film festival they organised was not the first time film-makers, producers, television programme producers and artistes would come together to hold a market and look at what they were doing.
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The first of such festivals may have been held about 40 years ago in the same Kaduna. The initiator of the festival was Engineer Vincent Maduka, then Director General of the NTA. Dr Victoria Ezeokoli, a one-time director of programmes at the NTA became the chairperson of the maiden festival planning committee.
Other members of the committee included late Dele Angulu of NTA Minna, late Ahmed Tafida of NTA Yola, Bello Gunda, late Aminu Baba-Ahmed, Bello Garba and Bisiriyu Akorede all of NTA Kaduna.
Other members included ace artist late Inyang Ema of NTA Calabar, Julie Coker and Larry Michael both of NTA Lagos, Ade Ayeni of NTA Abeokuta and yours sincerely as secretary of the organising committee.
In all, about 100 film and television companies from across the world participated in the festival that lasted three days.
The festival featured the Nigerian Film Corporation(NFC), the United States Information Service, Bui Garia Film of Bulgaria, Anelwa Television International, Keryx Film of Austria, Grafton Television, London and Transtel of Gerrmany among others.
The committee also held symposia on film production, film screening and exhibition at the British Council Hall in Kaduna that attracted many participants.
I hope you will publish this correction to set the festival records straight. Thank you!
Kabir Dangogo is the Executive Director, Timex School of Communication Kaduna
