Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and European Union Ambassador, Gauter Mignot, Dr. Ali Nuhu, have commended the National Film Institute (NFI) for its contribution to Nigeria’s transformative storytelling and cultural renaissance.

NFC’s Director of Public Affairs, Brian Etuk, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to the statement, Nuhu and Mignot gave the commendation at the ongoing maiden edition of the EU and NFI Students Film Festival in Jos.

The film fiesta organised by NFI, in partnership with the European Union, began on Oct. 21 to 23 with the theme, “Reel Harmony: Rebuilding Bridges Through Film and Culture”.

Nuhu said the event further underscores NFI’s mandate and commitment towards empowering present and future storytellers.

He said the institute was at the forefront of telling the Nigerian story using film as a tool for national and global cohesion through training and capacity building.

“Such storytelling will sustain the promotion, growth and development of Nigeria’s creative economy, including the protection of her national identity.

“It is therefore our collective responsibility to nurture talents, provide learning tools and platforms for upcoming filmmakers.

“I commended the EU for sustaining, as well as expanding, the frontiers of their support for intercultural dialogue through cinema.

“Their partnership underscores a shared belief that film and culture are essential tools for peace building, nation building, and sustainable development,” he said.

Nuhu noted that the festival represented one of Nigeria’s most vibrant creative incubating platforms.

Mignot, who was represented by Zissimos Vergos, Deputy Head of Mission of the EU to Nigeria, thanked NFI for staging the film fiesta.

According to him, NFI is leading other institutions in sustaining Jos as the cradle of creativity, skills and talent development in Nigeria.

”The joint hosting of the film festival is a testament to the impressive impact the Film Institute has had on Nigeria’s cultural promotion and creative ecosystem since its establishment.

“Cultural promotion activities and investment by the EU and its partners in Nigeria will continue to draw inspiration from the successes of platforms such as the Students’ Film Festival,” he said.

He said they were willing to partner with the annual Zuma International Film Festival, scheduled for Dec.1 in Abuja.

Also speaking, Cornelius Doeyok, Plateau Commissioner for Tourism and Culture, described the festival as timely, given the tremendous transformation of critical creative economy infrastructure across the State.

In her remarks,   Nnenna Mba, NFI’s Acting Rector, described the Students’ film festival “as a vibrant celebration of creativity, learning and artistic growth”.

According to her, the fiesta is an essential extension of film education that bridges classroom learning and promotes professional film industry opportunities.

She said the festival featured master classes, daily film screenings, competitive film project pitching sessions, film awards as major features and was curated by the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival (ENIFF).