767 entries to be screened in Abuja

According to Mr. Fidelis Duker, director, Abuja International Film Festival, the organisers have received entries from 54 countries for this years edition of the annual event.

At the festival opening held the Silverbird Galleria, Abuja, Duke said that 767 films would be screened during the festival which is scheduled to end on Friday, October 7, 2016.

This year's festival is the 13th edition of the annual event and it is celebrated with the theme 'Connecting global Audiences'.

Speaking of the event in relation to its theme, Duke said "Our global partnership has allowed us see films from countries like Iran, Argentina, India, Germany, Cameroon and the U. S. The participating countries expressed satisfaction at the 2016 edition of the fiesta which also involved a documentary master class of America Film exhibition."

"This master-class will facilitate a dialogue between authors, producers, distributors, cinema owners, television companies, internet actors and financiers, with filmmakers of four American films screening at this year's festival."

The event, which spans four days features activities such as seminars, panel discussions and awards for films, actors as well other stakeholders nominated for the Abuja International Film Festival awards.

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who declared the event open, thanked the organisers for continuing the festival over the years. He also assured them of the support of the federal government.

Mohammed said, "The organisers of this great festival kept at it for so many years, and we must commend them. The current government is putting diversification on its front burner, and the creative industry is a very significant area. The goal is to transform Nigeria's creative industry into the creative economy."

The festival was attended by actors, directors and movie producers from Nigeria and abroad.

The Abuja International Film Festival started since 2004 and has been organised annually since. It is organised by NAFIFO Ventures Ltd.