It does not matter the place nor time, films have always inspired social change due to their ability to teach viewers about experiences outside their own perspective, inspire empathy and raise politically charged and socially relevant questions…
Stories, whether filmmaking, writing or documentaries, are one of the most powerful means that leaders use to influence, teach, and inspire followers.
For ordinary people, storytelling can be a way of learning, entertainment, education, and most importantly, a means of forging connection among them and other people, cultures, and a means of sharing ideas because, stories convey the culture, history and values that unite people in different places and at different epochs…
The appointment of Prince Bamidele Obaitan as the Edo State Commissioner for Tourism, Art, Culture and Diaspora Affairs by the governor of Edo State, H.E Godwin Obaseki, was greeted by the people of the State with a lot of excitement. For me, it was that feeling of knowing, because I knew his mind on the subject of storytelling and the need for a people to own their own narrative. As a matter of fact, once or twice, he voiced to me that there was no alternative to a people telling their own stories themselves and owning their own narrative.
And so it was not a surprise to me that the Edo State Government, where he is currently a member of the executive as a commissioner, in partnership with a number of private organizations both home and abroad, and with the tireless efforts of Edo Jobs MD, Ms. Ukinebo Dare in planning and execution, is putting in place the maiden edition of the Edo State International Film Festival, scheduled to hold from the 1st to 4th of September, 2022, at the Victor Uwaifo Art Centre in the ancient city of Benin.
The festival, which has the likes of Profs Mette Hjort, head of film, media and journalism at the University of Lincoln, the United Kingdom, Mrs. Iyen-Agbonifo Obaseki, Mr. Trevor Pillay, Mr. Aubrey Silinyana and a host of other resource persons as instructors, would include training on directing, cinematography, acting, screen writing and so on, all of which will be holding at different sessions in all the 4 days of the festival. There will also be in attendance a host of actors and actresses from across the world, the screening of over 1,500 films from over 90 countries around the globe and the giving away of cash prizes worth over 6,000 US dollars to winning entries.
Governor Obaseki would be the chief host, with the Honourable commissioner himself as a co-host.
It promises to be a memorable event, one that will not only set the pace for greater things to come, but will also be a window to the outside world with which to see the beauty that is Edo State.
God bless Edo State,
God Bless Nigeria.
Albert Afeso Akanbi is the editor of Akoko Edo Community newspaper.
