Musawa, Gani Adams, other film icons honoured at Germany-Nigeria Film Week 2026
By Benjamin Njoku
The maiden edition of Germany-Nigeria Film Week has ended on a high note after 10 days of screenings, industry sessions, cultural exchanges and awards across Berlin, Hannover, Bremen and Hamburg, Germany.
Held from October 1 to 10, 2026, the festival convened filmmakers, government officials, cultural institutions and industry stakeholders from Nigeria and Germany to promote film collaboration and strengthen cultural relations.
The festival opened at the Arsenal Film Institut in Berlin with the screening of “The Chronicles of Afrobeats”, directed by Nigerian filmmaker and music executive Oluseun John Abisagboola, popularly known as Bankuli. The opening also featured a fireside chat between the Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Ali Nuhu, and the Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr. Shaibu Husseini, on the growth of Nollywood, international partnerships and opportunities for Nigeria-Germany collaboration.
In attendance were Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, Senator Ita Enang, and the Director of Arsenal Film Institut, Stefanie Schulte Strathaus, alongside filmmakers, producers and creative industry stakeholders from both countries.
A major highlight in Berlin was the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to acclaimed German filmmaker Volker Schlöndorff for his outstanding contributions to global cinema. Schlöndorff, whose career spans decades, has filmed documentaries across Africa, including Nigeria. A Special Recognition Award was also presented to the Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, for her role in advancing Nigeria’s creative economy. The award was received on her behalf by Dr. Husseini.
From Berlin, the festival moved to Hannover, where SONNENKINDFILM e.V., led by its co-founder and Germany-Nigeria Film Week co-founder Michael Davies, hosted a press conference for delegates and industry representatives. At the conference, a Special Recognition Award was presented to Chief Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, for his contributions to the promotion and preservation of African culture and heritage.
The Hannover programme featured screenings of “Amanyanabo: The Eagle King”, produced by Ibinabo Fiberesima and directed by Fred Amata and Ibinabo Fiberesima, and “Evi”, directed by Uyoyou Adia. Adia was honoured for outstanding creativity and artistic achievement for “Evi”, while Fiberesima was recognized for her contributions to the Nigerian film industry.
In Bremen and Hamburg, “Love and New Notes”, directed by Kayode Kasum, was screened in both cities, while “On Different Grounds”, directed by Mildred Okwo, was screened in Bremen.
Germany-Nigeria Film Week was founded by Mykel Parish Ajaere of the Pan-African Film Development and Advancement Foundation,PAFDAF, Nigeria, and Michael Davies of SONNENKINDFILM e.V., Germany, as a platform to drive co-productions, cultural exchange, international distribution and business opportunities between both film industries, while exposing Nigerian cinema to wider European audiences.
The inaugural edition was supported by the Office of the Mayor of Hannover, Arsenal Film Institut Berlin, KoKi Cinema Hannover, City 46 Cinema Bremen and Metropolis Kino Hamburg, as well as the Nigerian Film Corporation and the NFVCB.
The post Musawa, Gani Adams, other film icons honoured at Germany-Nigeria Film Week 2026 appeared first on Vanguard News.
This post was originally published on this site
