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Filmmaker and chairman of Fedmas Studios, Sam Idiagbonya, has called for improved infrastructure, greater access to funding, technical training and stronger collaboration among practitioners to unlock the potential of Abuja’s film industry.
Addressing journalists over the weekend, Idiagbonya said that although the Federal Capital Territory offered a serene working environment, relative accessibility and facilities that could support film production, the creative industry continued to face challenges, including limited exposure, inadequate technical expertise and weak distribution networks.
Challenges confronting filmmakers
Speaking on the challenges confronting filmmakers in Abuja, he stressed the need to establish platforms that would enable creative talents to showcase their works, attract investment and connect with wider local and international markets.
“Abuja offers a good environment for filmmaking, but we need the infrastructure, the training and the freedom to create,” he said.
The filmmaker noted that Lagos remained Nigeria’s commercial centre for filmmaking because of its established distribution networks, marketers and access to industry opportunities.
However, he maintained that filmmakers in Abuja could compete beyond their immediate environment by producing compelling stories capable of attracting audiences across different geographical boundaries.
“My market is the world. Earth is my market,” Idiagbonya said, emphasising the importance of developing films with universal themes and wider audience appeal.
He argued that filmmakers should not restrict their ambitions to their immediate locations but should explore opportunities to distribute their productions nationally and internationally.
Funding issues
On funding, Idiagbonya expressed concern over government initiatives that, according to him, sometimes generated expectations among creative practitioners without providing sufficient information about implementation, eligibility requirements and access procedures.
“If you tell creatives that there is a fund, they need to know the mechanism, the criteria, the timeline and who has benefited,” he said.
He explained that filmmaking required substantial financial investment in equipment, personnel, locations, logistics and post-production, adding that unclear funding procedures could make it difficult for practitioners to plan and execute their projects.
According to him, transparent funding mechanisms would enable filmmakers to understand how to access available support, prepare viable proposals and determine whether such initiatives could help their productions.
Manpower development
Idiagbonya also highlighted the need to strengthen manpower development, particularly in specialised areas such as cinematography, lighting, sound engineering and production design.
He observed that the technical demands of modern filmmaking required more than familiarity with cameras and other production equipment, stressing the importance of professional training, practical experience and continuous skills development.
He argued that operating a camera did not automatically qualify an individual as a cinematographer, noting that effective filmmaking depended on a combination of technical competence, artistic understanding and professional experience.
The Fedmas Studios chairman further urged filmmakers to embrace collaboration and constructive criticism, warning that unnecessary competition and disagreements over ownership could undermine promising creative projects.
“The future of creativity is collaboration. You cannot do this alone,” he said.
He encouraged practitioners to share ideas, submit scripts for professional review and combine their resources and expertise to improve the quality of their productions.
Collaboration critical
According to him, collaboration would also create opportunities for emerging filmmakers to learn from experienced professionals while helping established practitioners discover new talent and develop innovative approaches to storytelling.
Idiagbonya identified distribution and cinema profitability as other major concerns affecting the industry, citing high production and marketing costs, delayed payments and the distance between some cinema locations and residential communities.
He said such challenges could limit the ability of filmmakers to recover their investments, particularly when the costs of producing and promoting films were high.
He added that filmmakers needed to develop more effective distribution and marketing strategies to ensure their works reached their intended audiences and generated sustainable revenue.
On digital distribution, Idiagbonya acknowledged that platforms such as YouTube had created opportunities for filmmakers to reach audiences beyond Nigeria’s borders.
Online visibility, infrastructure issues
However, he cautioned that online visibility alone was not enough, noting that practitioners needed to understand digital monetisation, audience engagement and the commercial realities of distributing films online.
“Today, you may be on YouTube. Tomorrow, you may be in the cinema. The next day, you may be on Netflix or working with an international platform,” he said.
He urged filmmakers to remain flexible and explore different distribution channels, explaining that productions could find audiences through cinemas, digital platforms and international partnerships, depending on their content and commercial potential.
The filmmaker also called on the government to support creative practitioners across the country, arguing that talent discovery, professional development and investment in the film industry should not be concentrated in established creative centres.
He said Abuja had creative talents capable of contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s entertainment industry but required a more supportive ecosystem to develop and commercialise their works.
Idiagbonya further advocated the establishment of a stronger national film festival that would bring together Nigerian and international filmmakers for screenings, training, competitions and professional networking.
He said such a platform could provide emerging practitioners with opportunities to showcase their productions, exchange ideas, learn industry best practices and establish relationships with potential investors, distributors and collaborators.
According to him, a well-supported national film festival would also help promote Nigerian stories, encourage healthy competition and strengthen the country’s creative economy.
He urged aspiring filmmakers not to be discouraged by the challenges confronting the industry but to remain committed to improving their craft, building professional relationships and exploring new opportunities.
Idiagbonya maintained that sustained investment in infrastructure, technical education, transparent funding, collaboration and distribution would help create an environment in which Abuja’s filmmakers could thrive.
He said developing the industry required coordinated efforts by government agencies, private investors, industry associations and individual practitioners to ensure that creative talent was translated into quality productions, wider market access and sustainable economic opportunities.
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