Abuja International Firm Festival Concludes Spotlights AI In Filmmaking

The 23rd Abuja International Film Festival has concluded in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, with discussions on artificial intelligence, ethical filmmaking and international collaboration taking center stage. The festival's activities were briefly disrupted by the death of senior member Francis Duru. whom the Director General described as one of the event's major allies. Duru had attended the festival for 18 consecutive years. The Director General expressed condolences to Duru's family, while organisers observed a minute of silence in his honour. I spoke to him. I saw him in church. I was looking for a church in Abuja and I met him at the end of the flight. He asked me, what are you doing here? I said, I'm looking for a church. He said, it's my church. And that was the only time I saw him. Subsequently, we spoke on the phone about our Ph.D. program and all that. I called him on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, last week. He wasn't picking. One day, I called again. The wife said he was perfectly fine. I said, oh, I'll see you before the new concert. I hope you guys like that. Because of course, we had this interview as well. So, in the end, I should thank you for this year. Beyond the tributes, the festival featured film screenings, masterclasses, panel discussions, cultural displays, and a fashion parade. The pro... The program also underscored the importance of promoting Nigerian cinema, strengthening global partnerships and creating new opportunities for filmmakers.