Nigerian poet, playwright, scriptwriter and filmmaker, Jude Idada, has been confirmed as President of the jury of the 2024 edition of the Coal City Film Festival (CCFF).
The confirmation came through founder and Executive Director of CCFF, Uche Agbo, who also announced the official selection of 41 films that were selected from over one hundred movies submitted from across 33 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, South and Northern America as well as the Middle East.
Idada is expected to lead a five-man jury to decide winners of the various categories of the festival.
Other members of the five-man jury include; Chichi Nwaorah, Producer/Executive Producer and famous with her fivemovie ‘Shanty Town’, Theo Ukpaa, filmmaker/director and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Nigerian domiciled Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF). Dr.Charles Okwuowulu, a senior lecturer and immediate past Head of Department, Theatre Arts, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State and Prof. Atul Marewad, a filmmaker and scholar from India. Idada who has written several screen plays (Tatu, Simi, The River, The Road, Driving Mr. Akin, The Tenant, etc), stage plays (Sankara, MKO, The Calling, Coma, 3some, Vendetta, etc), novels, poetry and songs is a recipient of the Nigeria Prize of Literature (Boom Boom) and the Association of Nigerian Authors award for Best Drama (Oduduwa, King of the Edos).
‘’I am honoured to have been given the privilege of heading the esteemed jury of the Coal City Film Festival for its 2024 iteration. Film is art, art as a reflection of life, and art contributes in no small measure in positively shaping society in seen and unseen ways.
“Coal City Film Festival has been on the front line of discovering and supporting innovative, enlightening, and entertaining filmmakers and filmmaking and I am excited to be able to contribute my fair share towards their laudable efforts.
“It is my belief that the jury and I will select the most deserving amongst the films in contention for the awards towards rewarding, encouraging, and celebrating truly gifted local and international filmmakers,” said Idada whose debut movie as a director received the 2023 Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) crest for best film by an African living abroad.
The 2024 edition of the Coal City Film Festival is scheduled for between March 21 and 23, 2024.
