The Founder, Human Right Journalists Network (HRJN), and Convener, Africa International Human Rights Film Festivals (AIHRFF), Mr. Kehinde Adegboyega, have disclosed that the inaugural edition of the film festival will feature various panel discussions on using films to drive human rights advocacy in Nigeria.
Adegboyega also noted that the high points of the 3-day event, scheduled to hold between December 10–12, 2022, are a masterclass titled “Pitching Your Story for Funding” by Eran B.Y., an Israeli Script Editor, Executive Producer, and TV Host.
He disclosed that “Eran, reputed for raising millions of dollars for his film projects, will be sharing winning pitch ideas with film producers and aspiring filmmakers at the festival.”
Giving an analysis of entries received for the festivals, where selections would be made for screening, Adegboyega explained that the analysis of the entries shows that civic and political rights received a total of 523 entries, representing 26.6% of the total; gender rights received a total of 443 entries, representing 22.5% of the total; migration received 270 submissions, representing 13.7% of the total; climate change and justice had 268 total entries, representing 13.6% of the total; disability rights had 190 films submitted, indicating a 9.7% share of the total; urban development and forced eviction received a total of Digital Rights received 95 firm submissions, indicating 4.8% of the total submissions.
According to Mr. Adegboyega, a multi-award-winning Ugandan filmmaker who majors in Film Production, Script Writing, and Directing, Kizito Samuel Saviour will be leading the jury team for the festival.
Other jurors include Isreal M. Scott, an adjunct professor from Marymount Manhattan College in the United States; Oluwatoyin Ganiyu, an ace entertainment journalist and radio and TV host; and representatives of Spaces for Change and ActionAid, two of the headline sponsors, among others.
Oluwatoyin is one of the six Nigerian entertainment journalists selected by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) as part of its new roster of 103 non-member voters for the 80th Golden Globe Awards.
The Human Rights Journalists Network is collaborating with the Goethe Institute, Spaces for Change, ActionAids, BONews Service, and many other organizations to host the film festival.