The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has called on governments, corporate organisations, development partners and non-governmental organisations to support the maiden African Children’s Film Festival (ACFF) 2026, describing it as a major step towards nurturing young African filmmakers and storytellers.
Speaking at the festival’s unveiling in Abuja, AGN National President, Abubakar Yakubu, said the initiative aims to provide children with a platform to develop their creative talents while promoting African culture, values and identity. He appealed for sponsorships and partnerships to create a safe environment where children can explore filmmaking and receive proper mentorship to tell authentic African stories instead of imitating social media content.
Yakubu noted that the festival’s primary goal is to inspire creativity rather than generate profit, adding that it will help shape the future of Nigeria’s film industry through education, entertainment and social development.
Also speaking, the festival’s Director, Beth Ogbuefi, described the ACFF as a movement that places African children at the centre of storytelling. She said the festival, themed “Our Stories, Our Lens, Our Voices,” is open to children of African heritage aged 5 to 18, both on the continent and in the diaspora.
Ogbuefi explained that participants will have opportunities to write scripts, direct films, explore animation and digital storytelling, while benefiting from workshops, mentorship and masterclasses. She added that registration will be free to encourage participation from children and schools across Africa and the diaspora, while urging governments and private organisations to support the initiative through sponsorships.
The festival comes as Nigeria continues to strengthen its creative industry under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with stakeholders advocating greater investment in children’s creative education to preserve African culture and prepare young people for careers in the global creative economy.