The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has appointed Shaibu Husseini as chairman of a six-member jury for the 2020 edition of Zuma Film Festival which takes place December 1-7 in Abuja.
The jury will adjudicate on all entries in the competitive category of the film festival which is the 11th edition since 2017.
The theme for ZUFF 2020 is “Content Connectivity – 2: Everyview, Everywhere”.
A statement by NFC spokesperson Brian Etuk said: “The jury is most critical to the selection of winning entries and composition of the jury reflects the premium and niche of ZUMA Film Festival, considered as among the fastest growing film festivals and market in the world.”
According to the statement, membership of the jury includes both Nigerian and foreign film stakeholders who have contributed immensely to the growth of film production in Nigeria.
Husseini is expected to bring his wealth of experience and those of other members to select winners for the covet prizes of the film festival.
Husseini, the statement added, is one of the most consistent documentarist of Nigeria’s vibrant movie industry Nollywood, and an astute commentator on Nigeria’s arts, theatre and film development. He has severed as chairman of the selection committee of Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and a member of the prestigious AMAA jury.
He is a teaching fellow at the Department of Mass Communication of the University of Lagos. He is also a board member of the Association of Movie Journalists of Nigeria, African Students International Film Festival, Mainframe Film Institute, In-short International Film Festival amongst others. He is a current member of the Nigeria Official Selection Committee charged with the responsibility of facilitating Nigeria’s entry for the Best International Film category of the Oscars.
Managing Director of NFC and chairman, organising committee of ZUFF Chidia Maduekwe in the statement said every effort to ensure the successful hosting of the film festival is being sustained, assuring that the narratives that Nigeria is indeed the hub of film production in Africa, will again be further demonstrated at ZUFF 2020.
Entries for Zuma Film Festival 2020 opened on September 1 and close on November 15.