Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has appointed Prof. Femi Shaka as the Chairman of an eight-member jury responsible for adjudicating all entries in the Competition Category of the upcoming Zuma Film Festival (ZUFF). This announcement was made in a statement released on Thursday by Mr. Brian Etuk, NFC’s Director of Public Affairs.
Etuk explained that Prof. Shaka and the other jury members are expected to leverage their extensive experience in the film industry to select deserving winners. The jury is composed of both Nigerian and foreign film experts who have made significant contributions to the growth of film production.
Prof. Femi Shaka is a highly respected scholar and specialist in arts, theatre, and film development. He has played a pivotal role in the advancement of Nigeria’s thriving film industry, commonly known as Nollywood. He is also renowned for advocating the use of cinema as a tool for national development and has consistently campaigned for the establishment of a dedicated department for film and television studies.
The composition of the jury reflects the significance of ZUFF, which is recognized as one of the world’s fastest-growing international film festivals. The 13th edition of ZUFF is scheduled to take place from December 1 to December 10 in Abuja, with the theme “Cultural Convergence.”
Filmmakers have been invited to submit their entries, and the submission window opened on June 15. The deadline for entries is midnight on November 15. Submissions can be made via the following link: Zuma Film Festival Submission or sent to the Zuma Film Festival Secretariat at NFC Headquarters in Jos.
The appointment of Prof. Femi Shaka as the Chairman of the jury underscores the commitment to ensuring a fair and impartial evaluation of the films competing in the festival, which is a celebration of the rich and diverse world of cinema.