Creative Industry
Abuja International Theatre Festival, ABITFA Awards To Hold October 31st to Nov. 5th
Joel Ajayi
In his determination to further promote theater art in the country Arojah Royal Theatre has announced date for the maiden edition of Abuja International Theatre Festival ABITFA which will hold from October 31 – November 5, 2023 this year in the federal capital city on Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Founder/Festival Director of ABITFAOm’Oba Jerry Adesewo said the first edition of the festival ABITFA would feature some of the best Nigerian performances carefully selected for this festival under the ‘Nigerian Showcase’
The theme for the maiden edition of the festival is “Performing Arts, Peace Building, and the Society.”
According to the statement, the Arojah Royal Theatre is pleased to herald the birth of the Abuja International Theatre Festival and Awards (ABITFA) which is scheduled to hold from October 31 – November 5, 2023 in Nigeria’s beautiful Federal Capital City of Abuja.
“ABITFA will reach out to the rest of the world to bring to Abuja/Nigeria the best of innovative theatrical expressions: full-length plays, short feature plays, poetry theatre, musicals, storytelling, puppetry, solo performances, dance/physical theatre, and other relevant dramatic presentations.
“For the international audience, festival programmers, festival producers, and others joining us, ABITFA would feature some of the best Nigerian performances carefully selected for this festival under the ‘Nigerian Showcase’
“ABITFA has something for everybody. It would feature performances for every age – children, tenagers, youth ad adult, panel discussions, workshops, masterclasses, meet and greet sessions, city tours,s and other exciting activities for Nigerian participants and international guests.
“With the world currently in crisis, going by the unrest between Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, Sudan and South Sudan; as well as internal crisis in Belarus, Mali, Ethiopia, and Sudan among others like the ever-increasing challenges of climate change, poverty, migration and human right issues. The performing arts can be used to promote peacebuilding and community engagement. By breaking down the barriers that divide us, the arts can help us connect and become more understanding of one another. In turn, leading to more peaceful and cooperative societies.
“The Performing Arts is a field of activities that help develop communication, teamwork, and collaboration skills. And theatre is one of its most veritable tools.
ABITFA 2023 thereby invites applications from interested theatre outfits and individuals from across the world that speak to the above theme. https://tinyurl.com/ABITFAproductions.
“International delegates, festival programmers, festival producers/directors, journalists, theatre critics, cultural administrators, and others, use this link to read more and apply to be part of our festival: https://tinyurl.com/ABITFAdelegates.
Also, the deadline for application is JUNE 30, 2023.
“We are pleased also to announce the following appointments, in relation to the Abuja International Theatre Festival and Awards (ABITFA 2023)
“Ola Ifatimehin, PhD – Artistic DirectorDr. Ola Ifamehin teaches Theatre and Performance Studies at the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts, Bayero University Kano. He’s an academic scion of the Ahmadu Bello University School of Drama,Zaria, where he obtained all his degrees. He is passionate about playwriting, play production and criticism. His research interests include play/film/production analysis and criticism, acting and directing, Theatre for Development and Adaptation/Cultural Studies. He is also very muchinterested in topics around Research Methodology in inter-mediality and intercultural encounters.He is a budding scholar, theatre director, actor and cultural administrator, with a considerable number of publications in both local and international journals, books and critical anthologies. He’ s currently the editor of SARARI: Bayero Journal of Theatre and Performing Arts, which just made its debut in 2020. He has presented papers in various conferences both in Nigeria and abroad.
“Esther Onwuka, fta- Co-Artistic Director
Esther Ojogbane Onwuka holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Abuja and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Theatre Arts with a specialization in dance and choreography.
She started her early career with Ebony Theatre Troupe in Makurdi, Benue State and as a result of her outstanding and excellent performance was given admission by the Department of Theatre Arts, Benue State University where she obtained a Diploma in Theatre Arts, in 1996. Her professional career started in earnest in 1996 when she joined the Abuja Council for Arts and Culture as a dance artist. In that capacity, she represented Nigeria nationally and internationally and won laurels which brought glory to her fatherland. This she did until 2013 when she joined the University of Abuja as a lecturer. Esther is currently the Deputy National President of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP.
“Mazen El Gharabawy – Lead, International Jury for ABITFA 2023Mazen Mossad Ibrahim Desouky, a professional Egyptian actor and director – he began his artistic life when he was fifteen years old, and he is considered the first founder of the acting team of the Faculty of Arts at Ain Shams University and the maker of a new generation in theatrical artistic life since 2000, and he is also the founder of the Sharm El-Sheikh International Festival The Youth Theater is the first international festival dedicated to youth in Egypt, specifically Sinai.
“Mazen will lead a 5-man international jury, drawn from Europe, Asia and Africa to the maiden Abuja International Theatre Festival.”
Creative Industry
Stephanie Linus, Juliet Ibrahim 8 others Appointed Jury Members For Zuma International Film Festival
Joel Ajayi
Ten-member 10 jury of reputable Nigerian and foreign filmmakers to adjudicate on all entries in the competitive category of the Zuma international film festival, 2024, scheduled to hold in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital from December 1st to 5th, which is jointly being organized by the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has been announced.
Announcing the constitution of the ten-member jury through a statement issued in Abuja (on Monday, November, 11, 2024); Brian Etuk, NFC’s Director of Public Affairs, said “the jury is most critical to the selection of winning entries and composition of the jury reflects the premium and niche of ZUMA International Film Festival, as one of the continents fastest growing international film festivals and market events”.
He said, this explains why membership of the jury includes both Nigerian and foreign film stakeholders who have in the recent past promoted authentic Nigerian and African resonate stories, and continue to contribute immensely to the growth of inclusive global film production.
Stephanie Okereke Linus, an A-list Nigerian actress, filmmaker, activist with lead appearances in over 100 movies, including an Afro-Hollywood, USA Filmmakers Award for Excellence, Reel Awards for Best Actress, and recently, the AMVCA Award for Best Overall Movie in Africa as well as recipient of the AMAA Award for Best Nigerian Film for her impactful work DRY was named as the Chairperson of the Jury.
Other members are Kenneth Gyang- director of This Is Lagos, Mojisola as well as Oloture Netflix’s Original from Nigeria; Aisha Halilu Abdullahi – a docu-drama and documentary specialist; Ishaq Sidi Ishaq – an actor, writer and producer of “Kamilu”,‘‘Wasila’’; Charles Novia – an avant-garde Nollywood filmmaker, scriptwriter, producer, director and creative entrepreneur; Hakeem Kae Kazim – a supremely talented actor, producer, director of great cinematic portrayal of George Rutugunda in the Oscar-nominated Hotel Rwanda, as well as playing leading roles in The Librarian.
The Triangle, and knack for creating feisty and deeply thrilling characters; Sihle Hlophe – director with multiple awards and over 15 years of experience; Ronya Man – an acting coach and creative arts specialist with handles on Lahira, SIN.
The Johnsons, as well as Juliet Ibrahim – a bilingual (French and English) speaking multiple award-wining producer, director, entrepreneur with over 100 movie appearances. Zaiyanu Tanko Waziri, a veteran filmmaker and broadcaster with over two decades of professional experience was also named as member of the jury.
In the statement, Dr. Ali Nuhu, NFC’s Managing Director & Chairman, Festival Organising Committee, on behalf of its partner, the FCTA, congratulated Stephanie Okereke – Linus for emerging as Chairperson of the Jury. Dr. Nuhu said that the Jury Chairperson and her team’s roles are critical to the overall success of the Film Festival brand, which no effort has been spared in its organization in terms of content, attendance and participation. NFC; Nuhu averred, remains committed to achieving the objectives of sustaining the positive narratives that Nigeria with a huge creative economy, is indeed the hub of film production in Africa.
Zuma International Film Festival 2024, the 14th in the series and themed: Digital Renaissance: Embracing The Future takes place December 1st – 5th at Chida Event Centre, Abuja Nigeria. Meanwhile, Etuk added that the online registration portal of the film festival has opened, and intending participants can register through the link :- https://zumafilmfest.com/zuff-2024-registration.
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