Kaduna Film Festival Director Calls for Government Support

Audu Israel, the Director of the Kaduna International Film Festival, stated that poor funding, restrictions, inadequate access to modern equipment, and limited government support are significant challenges hindering the growth of Northern Nigeria's film industry. During a media engagement in Kaduna, he emphasized that these challenges restrict filmmakers' creativity and competitiveness compared to their Southern counterparts.

Israel urged the Federal Government to establish a support structure for the creative industry, noting that Nigeria's film sector is primarily driven by the private sector, unlike in countries such as India, where government support is more prevalent. He criticized the government's limited engagement with creative practitioners and called for the Minister of Art and Culture to meet with stakeholders to address their concerns.

Israel also highlighted socio-religious limitations affecting the subjects Northern filmmakers can explore, which impacts their ability to reach wider audiences and compete internationally, particularly on platforms like Netflix.