Group organizes film festival to showcase Plateau’s potential, empower youth with creative ideas

A non-governmental organisation is organising a film festival to showcase and popularize the abundant socio-economic potentials in Plateau.

The Festival Director Prof. Edward Ossai, in a press statement issued in Jos said that the festival would specifically focus on women and youth development.

Ossai said that the festival was designed to discover and empower young men and women with ideas, and creative potentials.

The festival director said that Jos Community Film Festival (JOCOFFEST), a roaming and non-governmental community-based film festival would be held November 8-10, 2023 and run simultaneously with a two-day golf kitty

He stated that Plateau is endowed with beautiful sceneries, temperate weather, happy and accommodating people and an immeasurable number of young and talented youths.

He said however, that the state was bedevilled with endless animosities, and ethno-religious and political conflicts leading to lack of trust, disruption of loyalties, rivalries, unimaginable poverty, unemployment and corruption.

Ossai pointed out that youths have become vulnerable tools at the beck and call of politicians and criminal-minded individuals because of a lack of what to do.

“The dreams of an average Plateau youth and the aged have been truncated. It is imperative therefore to emphasize that peace is a prerequisite for stability, development and security.

“There is a need to partner with the government and other state holders to confront and intervene using the community film festival to promote peaceful and harmonious co-existence among the various communities.

“Engage the restive youths positively in a convivial atmosphere; discover and empower young men and women with ideas, creative potentials and enthusiasm that address core socio-economic developmental issues

“Open up windows of opportunities in hotel, catering, fashion, transportation telecommunications and other services;

“Redefine and confirm Jos as the Hollywood of Nigeria, thereby strengthening film outlets through the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Plateau Radio and Television Corporation (PRTVC), and other television and radio stations in the state,’’ he added.

The director said that the festival would also serve as a forum to reflect the wide spectrum of impulses generated by filmmakers, film scholars and other stakeholders.

According to him, the motivation was to rebrand Plateau as Nigeria’s foremost home of peace and tourism as well as popularize its traditions and culture.

He further stated that JOCOFFEST was designed to benefit the government and the people of the state socio-politically and economically.

Ossai stressed that socially, it would bring women and youth together in a collaborative effort while politically, it would partner with other stakeholders to create a stable and enabling environment for good governance.

The director pointed out that economically, it would enhance business opportunities and place Plateau on the list of filmmakers and tourism destinations.

“The festival is structured to accommodate screenings which is usually a platform for meetings with representatives of the various sectors in the film industry.

“The best films and golf players are awarded and do receive honorary statues as well as financial rewards.

“JOCOFFEST concentrate on themes that articulate women and youth development, peacebuilding, equity, diversity, restoration and basic universal human values. Entries are open to accommodate action, drama and documentary films.

“The entries should be able to give a unique opportunity to compare cultures and diversities.

“The Jos Community Film Festival is run and managed by a festival director and a collection of seasoned administrators, film scholars, business magnets and gurus, opinion leaders and elder statesmen,” he said.