Welcome to the Zuma Film Festival, Nigeria’s premier film festival held annually in the nation’s capital, Abuja. Facilitated by the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Zuma Film Festival stands as a beacon of cinematic excellence, cultural exchange, and industry innovation.

Our Story

The Nigerian Film Corporation was established in 1979 and tasked with laying the foundation for a vibrant and sustainable film industry in Nigeria. With a vision to project Africa’s rich cultural heritage and contemporary narratives to the world, The NFC’s mandate includes the development of the Nigerian film industry, now recognized as a global film brand.

Our Vision

“To be the leading film industry that projects Africa’s culture and tradition to the world.”

Our Mission

“To develop a Nigerian Film Industry that is globally competitive.”

The NFC established Zuma Film Festival to serve as a convergence point for film professionals and enthusiasts from across the globe. Our mission is to foster an environment where creativity thrives, industry standards are elevated, and economic opportunities are created.

What We Do

At the heart of the Zuma Film Festival is a commitment to:

• Celebrating Cinematic Excellence: Recognizing and rewarding outstanding achievements in film and fostering a culture of excellence within the industry.
• Promoting Professionalism and Sustainability: Enhancing the growth, development, and sustainability of the film industry as a means of job creation and wealth generation.
• Fostering Global Recognition: Serving as a platform for the global recognition of Nigerian arts, culture, and tourism through films.
• Encouraging Collaboration and Innovation: Providing opportunities for networking, interaction, and co-production among film professionals and enthusiasts from around the world.
• Creating Market Opportunities: Offering a marketplace for production companies, marketers, distributors, and content creators to showcase their products for funding, exhibition, distribution, and marketing.

Our Festival

The Zuma Film Festival is more than just a celebration of films; it’s a dynamic platform that bridges the gap between local talents and global opportunities. Each year, the festival features a diverse lineup of events, including film screenings, workshops, masterclasses, panel discussions, and a vibrant film and television market. This multi-faceted approach ensures that participants gain valuable insights, forge meaningful connections, and explore the vast potential within the film industry.

Our Objectives

• Networking: Provide a platform for Nigerian film practitioners to network with their counterparts from other film cultures.
• Co-Production: Explore co-production opportunities to foster international collaborations.
• Cinematic Excellence: Recognize and reward outstanding achievements in film.
• Productivity and Quality: Promote the availability of high-quality audio-visual services.
• Professionalism and Profitability: Entrench professionalism and ensure the profitability of cultural products.
• Export Potential: Drive the export potential of Nigerian films for global acceptance.
• Tourism Promotion: Highlight Nigeria’s tourism potential as a film destination hub.

Past Themes

• 2006: Ingenuity: The Harvest of our Creative Spirit
• 2008: Films Without Borders
• 2010: Global Images, Global Voices
• 2012: The Human Story: Connecting People
• 2014: Nationalism and Patriotism
• 2017: Feast on Films
• 2018: Archiving for Creativity
• 2019: Content Connectivity: Every View, Everywhere!
• 2020: Content Connectivity II: Every View, Everywhere!
• 2021: Show the Money
• 2022: Show the Money II
• 2023: Cultural Convergence

Our Impact

Over the years, the Nigerian film industry has grown significantly, maintaining its status as the second-largest producer of films worldwide while continually improving the quality of its productions. This growth has stimulated development across the African film industry, benefiting the entire creative and entertainment sectors. The Zuma Film Festival plays a crucial role in this ecosystem, offering a one-stop shop for financiers, technical experts, professionals, government bodies, and leaders in the creative, content, broadcast, technology, and digital industries from around the globe.

Target  Audience /Beneficiaries for Zuma 2024

Our primary beneficiaries are film industry practitioners in Nigeria, including young and upcoming filmmakers. We also cater to film industry practitioners across Africa and around the world as well as stakeholders in the film and creative sector, production companies, financiers/entrepreneurs, development partners, content creators, academia, and the general public.

Join us at the Zuma Film Festival as we continue to celebrate and elevate the Nigerian film industry, creating a vibrant future for cinema in Africa and beyond.