The Actors Guild of Nigeria has appealed to the Federal Government, state governments, corporate organisations, development partners and non-governmental organisations to support the successful launch of the maiden African Children's Film Festival 2026, an initiative designed to nurture the next generation of African filmmakers and storytellers.
The appeal was made during the official unveiling of the festival in Abuja, where stakeholders described the initiative as a major step toward empowering African children to develop their creativity while preserving the continent's rich cultural heritage through filmmaking.
Speaking at the event, the National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Abubakar Yakubu, said the festival would provide children with opportunities to discover and refine their creative talents in a safe, educational and professionally guided environment.
Yakubu explained that the guild is actively seeking sponsorships and strategic partnerships to ensure that the maiden edition achieves its objectives and reaches children across Nigeria and other African countries.
He urged government ministries, agencies, corporate organisations and development institutions to invest in the initiative, describing support for children's creativity as an investment in Africa's future entertainment industry.
According to him, African children deserve opportunities to tell authentic stories that reflect their cultures, traditions and values rather than simply reproducing content influenced by social media trends.
Yakubu stressed that participants would receive proper mentorship from experienced professionals who would guide them through ethical filmmaking practices and professional storytelling techniques.
He noted that the immediate goal of the festival is not commercial profit but the discovery and development of young creative talents capable of shaping the future of African cinema.
Also speaking during the unveiling, the Director of the African Children's Film Festival, Beth Ogbuefi, described the initiative as a movement that places African children at the centre of storytelling and creative expression.
She announced that the maiden edition is themed "Our Stories, Our Lens, Our Voices," reflecting the organisers' vision of giving children ownership of their narratives and encouraging them to share their perspectives with global audiences.
Ogbuefi explained that the festival is open to children of African heritage between the ages of five and eighteen, regardless of the country in which they reside.
She said the organisers want African children to be recognised not merely as consumers of creative content but as talented creators capable of producing films that celebrate the continent's diverse cultures and experiences.
The festival will feature opportunities for children to write scripts, direct films, participate in animation projects and explore digital storytelling under the guidance of experienced filmmakers and industry professionals.
Participants will also benefit from workshops, mentorship sessions, masterclasses and cultural showcases designed to strengthen both their technical abilities and creative confidence.
To encourage widespread participation, the organisers announced that registration for the festival will be completely free for children and schools across Africa and the African diaspora.
The Actors Guild believes removing financial barriers will enable talented children from different backgrounds to participate regardless of their economic circumstances.
Industry observers have welcomed the initiative, noting that early exposure to filmmaking, animation and digital storytelling can equip young people with valuable creative and entrepreneurial skills for the rapidly expanding global creative economy.
The launch of the African Children's Film Festival also aligns with broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria's creative industry, which remains one of the country's largest employers and an important contributor to cultural diplomacy and economic diversification.
Stakeholders believe that sustained investment from governments, private organisations and development partners will be essential to ensuring that the festival grows into a continental platform capable of discovering and nurturing future generations of African filmmakers, storytellers and creative innovators.