KADIFF SHOWCASES AND HONOURS INDUSTRY ICONS

Kaduna International Film Festival Showcases Global Talent, Honours Industry Icons.
By Nollywood Center Kaduna | August 30, 2025

The Executive Director of KADIFF and Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Film Festivals Association, Audu Israel, who spoke on Saturday, August 30, 2025, during the closing ceremony of the 8th Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF), said the creative sector has the potential to generate billions of naira in revenue and create millions of jobs for Nigerians.

Represented by the State Commissioner of Youth, Art and Culture, Gloria Ibrahim, the Deputy Governor urged investors to tap into Kaduna’s fertile creative landscape.

“Film is not just a medium of entertainment but speaks to the conscience of people, shaping values, inspiring, and educating society. Our film and music industry contributes over ₦1.3 trillion to Nigeria’s GDP and employs more than 4.2 million Nigerians. These are not just numbers; they represent lives being touched, jobs being created, and communities lifted,” she said.

She stressed that the Uba Sani administration is committed to supporting the creative sector as part of its wider strategy to empower youth, stimulate tourism, and open doors for entrepreneurship.

Earlier, Audu Israel, revealed that more than 2,000 films were submitted from 50 countries including the United States, France, India, and Uganda. Out of these, 168 films were shortlisted by a nine-member jury for screening.

Israel noted that the volume of entries underscores the global acceptance of Nigeria’s creative industry. He added that this year’s edition also featured a skill acquisition programme that trained 200 youths in areas such as:
●Pizza,
●Yoghurt,
●Custard,
●Paint making, and
●Palm oil processing, with starter packs provided to participants.

As part of the festival highlights, merit awards were presented to former givernor of Kaduna State Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and to outstanding contributors to the film industry. Honorees included: 

☆Amb. Hoom Suk Alex Jibrin (DGN) from Jos, ☆Princess Farida Ndausi from Uganda, ☆kannywood's Hamza Talle-Maifata,

 ☆Amb. Stepnora Okere from Abuja, and

☆ film director Toka Mcbaror, alongside other notable awardees from across the African continent whose works were showcased during the screenings. 

In addition, Ugandan filmmaker Ayeny T. Steve continued to raise the flag high with his Nigerian-directed project Offshoot, which scooped two major wins:

Best Director – Steve Ayeny (Offshoot, Nigeria)

Viewers’ Choice Best Film – Offshoot (Nigeria) by Steve Ayeny

The five-day festival, which ran from August 26th to 30th 2025 ended with renewed calls for more investment in the Nigerian creative industry to boost its international competitiveness.