66 countries to participate in 7th edition of KILAF — Organisers

No fewer than 66 countries are expected to participate in the 7th edition of the Kano Indigenous Languages of Africa Film Market and Festival, KILAF, scheduled for 30th November, 2024.

The event, which would be held under the distinguished chairmanship of Professor Emmanuel Emasealu, has released the list of nominated films for the KILAF ’24 Awards.

KILAF founder and Chief Executive Officer, Abdulkareem Mohammed made the disclosure while addressing a news conference at the NUJ Press Centre, Kano on Tuesday.

KILAF is the African continent’s indigenous languages’ annual film event that was started in 2018. It is a festival promoting such films while encouraging their cross-border sales.

He said KILAF has so far created an appropriate and conducive platform, attracting participation from across the world.

“As usual, this year’s event promises to be enriching, engaging and fulfilling. It has attracted 510 global film entries for its competition from 66 countries; out of which 35 African nations accounted for 430 film entries. 57 films from 16 countries have made it to the nomination list. They are all eligible to win any of the 17 categories of KILAF ’24 Film Competition,” he said.

According to him, the five-day long gathering will feature various activities that promote interactive engagements in a carefully curated programme that is an evolution of a united African front of and for the creative arts, economy, culture and tourism.

He said the engaging activities lined up include Welcome Dinner for all participants, to be hosted by the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf.

Other programmes are KILAF ’24 Conference with the theme, “Forging Cultural Identity in a Multilingual Africa: The Role of Indigenous Language Films” in collaboration with the Faculty of Communication, Bayero University and

Master classes that unveil capacity building opportunities from ‘Script 2 Screen,’ organised by a distinguished film maker and academic, Dr. Victor Okhai, who is the President of the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria, DGN.

Also Women in Media Business Summit is expected to be chaired by Hajiya Hannatu Musa Musawa, the Honorable Minister of Culture, Arts and Creative Economy and to be presented by a renown Ugandan moderator, media professional and Managing Director of Tassle Films, Atusasiire Barbara, in collaboration with Shafana Innovative Hub, an entrepreneur developmental NGO based in Kano.

66 countries to participate in 7th edition of KILAF — Organisers