The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), joint organizers of the 2023 Zuma film festival, 2023, have announced Professor Femi Shaka as the Chairman of an (8) eight-member Jury of reputable domestic and foreign filmmakers to adjudicate on all entries in the competitive category of the festival.
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by Brian Etuk, NFC’s Director of Public Affairs, the organisers said “the jury is most critical to the selection of winning entries and composition of the jury reflects the premium and niche of ZUMA Film Festival, considered as among the fastest growing international film festivals and market in the world”. This explains why membership of the jury includes both Nigerian and foreign film stakeholders who have contributed immensely to the growth of film production in Nigeria.
Professor Femi Shaka is expected to bring his wealth of experience and those of other members to select winners for the covet prizes of the film festival. Professor Femi Shaka, the statement added is one of the most revered arts, theatre and film development scholar and specialist who has contributed immensely to the growth of Nigeria’s vibrant movie industry- Nollywood. He is an alumni of the Universities of Benin and Ibadan, respectively in Nigeria and also of the University of Warwick, Coventry, England. Prof, Shaka along with others pioneered the Film & TV Studies programme of the University of Port Harcourt which was upgraded to the status of the Department of Film and Multimedia in 2021 as part of NUC’s unbundling policy.
A Fullbright Senior African Fellowship Award holder, Prof. Shaka has taught and conducted researches at offshore higher institutions including the Africana Studies Program, New York University. To his credit are researched publications including “Modernity and the African Cinema: A Study in Colonialist Discourse, Post-Coloniality and Modern African Identities” (2004). He is also the co-editor [with M.A. Omibiyi-Obidike] (2012) “Music and Theatre Arts in Africa”. The widely read scholar whose articles have been published in reputable international and local scholarly journals, is a well-known strong advocate of the cinema as a tool for national development, through his regular campaigns for the establishment of Departments of Film & TV Studies across the geopolitical zones of the country to help professionalize the teaching and practice of both sectors of the creative industries. He has served twice as Head, Department of Theatre & Film Studies; Dean, Students Affairs; a two tenured Dean, Faculty of Humanities; as well as two tenured members, Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt.
In the statement, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, NFC’s Managing Director and Chairman, Organising Committee of ZUFF, on behalf of its partner, the FCTA, congratulated Prof. Femi Shaka for emerging as the Jury Chairman. Dr. Maduekwe said that the Jury Chairman and his team’s roles are critical to the overall success of the Zuma Film Festival brand, which no effort has been spared in its organization in terms of content, attendance and participation by the organisers, including its determination of achieving the objectives of sustaining the narratives that Nigeria is indeed the hub of film production in Africa.
Meanwhile, Etuk further said that submission of entry which opened on June 15th, and will close at midnight (WAT) of November 15th, 2023. Filmmakers, he said can still submit their entries through the film freeway platform https://filmfreeway.com/zumafilmfestival; or to ZUMA FILM FESTIVAL Secretariat, Nigerian Film Corporation Headquarters, Jos Plateau State, as well as NFC Zonal Offices in Lagos, Asaba, Umuahia, Yola, Kano and Abuja; alongside information on Genre, Producer(s), Director(s), Country, Language, Year of Production/Release and a 30 seconds trailer. All Films, he stressed must have been produced between September 2021 and September 2023.
Award categories for the 2023 Zuma Film Festival include Best Cinematography, Best Script, Best Animation, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Documentary, Best Foreign Film, Best Student Film, Best Picture, Best Indigenous Film.
Zuma Film Festival, Nigeria’s foremost national film festival will take place December 1st – 10th at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, Nigeria. The Theme for ZUFF 2023, the 13th in the series is “Cultural Convergence”.
