The Edo State government has said it received 1,551 movie entries from 94 countries for its international film festival, which is scheduled to hold between September 1 and September 4, 2022, at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub and other venues in the state.
The Managing Director of the Edo State Skills Development Agency, Dare Ukinebo, stated that a team of international jurists would watch all the films and select the best movies that would be screened during the festival.
Ukinebo, who is also the co-chairman of the festival, noted that a $2000 cash prize will be awarded to some categories such as the ‘Best Student Filmmaking’, ‘Best Use of Technology’, and ‘Best Film Shot with a Phone or Tablet’.
On his part, the Edo State film festival director, Davidson Izegaegbe, stated that the event is geared towards boosting the film industry in the state and exposing Nigerian filmmakers to the global market.
The Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Diaspora Affairs, while unveiling the logo for the event, maintained that the festival is another initiative to deliver the promises of Governor Godwin Obaseki to citizens of the state.