Compiled by Shaibu Husseini

Kaduna Film Festival To Close August 30
The ninth edition of the Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF) which opened on October 25 in Kaduna, will close on August 30 with an award night. The festival is holding under the theme: ‘Cultural Renaissance’. At the well-attended opening ceremony, founder and Executive Director of KADIFF, Israel Audu, urged stakeholders to leverage film to preserve culture, create opportunities and project Nigerian stories globally. Audu noted that film was more than entertainment, describing it as history, culture, education, diplomacy and an instrument of economic and social transformation.

Audu who described KADIFF as a platform that had grown into an avenue for discovering talent, promoting cultural tourism, attracting investment and positioning Northern Nigeria within the global film conversation disclosed that the festival had from inception brought together filmmakers, industry professionals, students, cultural institutions, diplomats and audiences from Nigeria, Africa and Europe to screen films, share ideas, build networks and establish partnerships. Guest at the opening included Prof. Dul Johnson, Dean, Faculty of Arts, Bingham University, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Haruna Ayuba, Hajiya Nana Tijani, representing the National Gallery of Art, Blessing Kwashi, who represented the leadership of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), and Former Sen. Shehu Sani who commended the organisers for their resilience in promoting film and the arts in Kaduna. Earlier, Patience Fakai, Kaduna State Commissioner for Business and Innovation, who represented Gov. Uba Sani, described culture and stories as economic assets capable of driving tourism, investment, employment and enterprise development. She noted that Kaduna’s heritage, festivals, cuisine, music, landscapes and creative talents provided a strong foundation for a thriving creative and tourism economy. The Commissioner urged filmmakers to see the state as a destination for investment and collaboration, highlighting government efforts in hospitality development and vocational training.

Toronto International Film Fest Announces 2026 Primetime Programme
THE Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, has announced its 2026 Primetime programme, spotlighting groundbreaking episodic storytelling and auteur-driven television from some of the world’s most exciting creators. This year’s Official Selections showcase the creative power and influence of the medium, featuring major World Premieres and new seasons of compelling dramas, thrillers, and docuseries starring François Arnaud, Bérénice Bejo, Linda Cardellini, Jon Hamm, Carrie-Anne Moss, Gary Oldman, Hudson Williams, and more. Primetime spotlights the best in international and North American series, bringing new shows to the big screen. Featuring one or two episodes and conversations with cast and creators, this programme treats TIFF audiences to a first look at upcoming series before they hit TV, alongside the people who made them. This year’s lineup has a heavy focus on series based on established IP, including American Hostage, Carrie, and Crystal Lake (Friday the 13th). The programme’s opening title is Jesse McKeown’s Below, a six-episode series starring Mackenzie Davis, Charlie Heaton, and Josh Hartnett, about a small town in Newfoundland that comes under siege by a mysterious sea creature. Premiering his new series Carrie, Mike Flanagan makes his return to TIFF after his 2024 People’s Choice Award winner The Life of Chuck. TIFF will hold from September 10 through to 20, 2026. Being Heumann directed by Siân Heder has been announced as the opening film while the closing film is Villeneuve: The
Rise of a Legend directed by Yan Lanouette Turgeon.

Durban FilmMart 2026 To Host Conversations Around Industry Guilds
AS a platform that remains a significant gateway to the African and global film industry for film professionals, the organisers of Durban FilmMart has announced a focus on South Afican cinema through iits “SA in Focus” programming stream. This focus brings together the nation’s most influential industry bodies, guilds and creative professionals to address the current state and future of the local audiovisual sector. The programme will hold alongside panel discussions, masterclasses, pitch forums and networking opportunities. Taking place under the theme “Shifting Worlds: Turning Towards Ourselves,” the 17th Durban FilmMart, scheduled from 9 to 12 October 2026, once again anchors conversations about the health and future of the local industry within the wider market. For Director of the Durban Film Institute Magdalene Reddy, the 2026 Durban Filmart has been programmed with a view that answers begin at home. ‘’it begins with the strength of our guilds, the ability of our practitioners to pivot, and our willingness to have honest conversations about what needs to change.

By bringing together the organisations that represent South Africa film professionals, DFM 2026 reaffirms that a thriving local industry is the foundation for everything else we build internationally’’ she said. Opening the SA stream, Animation SA will unpack how the sector is adapting to consolidation, shifting streaming algorithms and the rise of generative AI in the session “Africa-Centred Collaboration in a Shifting Landscape — New Strategies and Practices in Marketing, Distribution and Community Development for Animation and Gaming.” The panel features Isabelle Rorke, Mocke Jansen van Veuren, Rashid Juma, Xolile Vundla and Nick Cloete. The Writers Guild of South Africa presents “Writers vs the Machine,” tackling AI’s growing role in writing and what it means for authorship, craft and copyright. Ensuring women’s perspectives remain central to industry change, Sisters Working In Film and Television (SWIFT), will present “Women’s Voices on Industry Dialogues: Why Your Voice Matters.” The 17th Durban FilmMart will hold from 9 to 12 October 2026. Details on the festival can be sourced at www.durbanfilmmart.co.za