NATIONAL FILM INSTITUTE JOS, NIGERIA
The National Film Institute (NFI) located in Jos, Plateau State of Nigeria was established in accordance with the provision of the National Film Policy (1992) and the Decree No. 61 of (1979) setting up the Nigerian Film Corporation. The Institute is designed and equipped to provide training of specialized manpower needs of the film industry.
The National Film Institute, established by the Nigerian Film Corporation started its film training with the four weeks’ Certificate Program in 1995. The Diploma Program was introduced in 1997 at the NFI and was affiliated to the University of Ibadan from 1997-2004. In 2003 the Degree program commenced in affiliation with the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) up until 2008. Presently for its Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees NFI is affiliated to the Department of Theatre and Film Arts, University of Jos, and accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), while the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) accredited the Diploma Program.
NFI’s mission includes the training and retraining of new entrants as well as professionals into the industry and carrying out related activities like conducting research in all areas of the industry; updating the skills and professional expertise for optimal performance and in line with international standards; data bank provision for the industry; providing training for related organizations; publication of books, journals and ICT materials; organizing workshops, seminars and symposia on issues of motion picture and media arts; collaborating with national and international agencies on training, retraining and capacity building as well as use of motion picture for development; rewarding talents and instituting Awards and Honors to deserving individuals or organizations, nationally and internationally.
OBJECTIVES
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To prepare students for useful professional and academic careers, both within and outside the framework of the NFI.
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To provide social, cultural and technical leadership for the community through the institute- sponsored programs and activities; open public lectures by distinguished people and other social events of public appeal.
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To provide students with skills, attitudes, contacts and experiences which will prepare them for leadership positions in society.
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To train students in scientific research and creative endeavors, which are essential for intellectual life within and outside NFI’s environment
Currently NFI offers:
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Diploma in Motion Picture Production (Associate degree)
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Bachelor in Film Arts
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Master in Film Culture and Archival studies
All courses are taught in English. Average tuition fees are 67 Euro per semester. Number of applicants in 2024/2025: Male-74 and Female-43. Number of enrolled students in 2024/2025: Male-34 and Female-26. Students total in 2024/2025school year: Male-191 and Female-142. The students applying must write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and obtain the approved scores in the Use of English (compulsory) and three other subjects. Other criteria include at least 5 O level credits including credits in English Language, Mathematics and Literature or Physics; practical exercises include workshops, class practicals and final year projects. Graduation obligations for the Diploma are a minimum of 109 credit units. For the Bachelor’s Degree program, a minimum of 137 course credit units or 104 course units respectively. For the Master’s Degree program students are required to cover 30 units, completion of 3 months internship/industrial practical experience and dissertation.
Successful Graduates (alphabetically)
Achor Yusuf is a scriptwriter, producer, director and educator. He is the founder of Artattack studios and the Artattack Film Academy. He has won numerous awards including Guinness Gold Prize, Best First Film, 2003 Elf Gold Prize, Best Short Film, 2003 National Film Festival Awards and Best Short Film by an Established Nollywood Filmmaker, 2021 Realtime International Film Festival.
Ada Adigwe is a scriptwriter, producer, director and an editor. She has been part of prime TV shows like Big Brother Naija, Jara, 53extra, Big Friday show, Koko Mansion and Glo Battle of the year.
Ali Mustapha is an award-winning cinematographer with Al-Jazeera. His latest award is the 2024 TV film New York festival, Gold medal for the coverage of the Sudan war/refugee crisis.
Dafe Edesiri is the founder and CEO of Soul Vision Studio and Rench Media. He specializes in foley Art, Sound Design and Music Composition. He won the AVIJOZI awards and was selected for the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dafe-edesiri-9a596526b/
Gloria Ugolee-Ehiosun is a Producer, Director and Scriptwriter, and social change worker. She is the founder of Ugolee Foundation for Women and Children; the CEO of Gladew Streamline Pictures which specializes in the use of Audio-Visual materials-movies, documentaries, radio drama, television series, talk shows. In 2024, she was among the 40 Young African Digital Innovators Awardees, for her use of audio-visual materials for impact.
https://youtu.be/roGQfHUMs1E?feature=shared
Kagho Idhebor is a scriptwriter, cinematographer, editor and a producer. He is a multi award winning filmmaker. His awards include Best Cinematographer, 2018 African Movie Academy
Awards (AMAA); Best Short Film, surreal16 International Film Festival, Nigeria; Merit Award, 2019 The Indie First Awards (Australia) and the Best Short Film Award at 2019 Reel Time Film Festival, Lagos, Nigeria.
Kenneth Gyang is a multi-award-winning filmmaker, who has gained international recognition as one of a younger generation of savvy Nigerian filmmakers. He is the co-founder of the film production company, Cinema Kpatakpata. His works have appeared at the New York African Film Festival, the Pan African Film Festival, JCC Carthage Film Festival, Cascade Festival of African Films and the Africa International Film Festival.
He received a grant from the Hubert Bals Fund to produce the post modernist low-budget dark comedy, Confusion Na Wa, which won the Jury Prize at the Pan African Festival in LA and Best Film at the African Movie Academy Awards, among others. The Lost Cafe, his second feature, won the Golden Palm Award for Narrative Feature at the Mexico International Film Festival. It was also the Audience Prize winner at the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Nigeria.
Kenneth has directed some of the most successful Netflix Originals from Nigeria. Oloture, his third feature, premiered at Carthage Film Festival before becoming Nigeria`s first breakout film on Netflix followed by the series Blood Sisters and more recently Far From Home.
He has been selected for the Berlin Talent Campus, Durban Film Mart and Rotterdam Film Lab. His current project, El Dorado Road, has undergone development at Ouaga Film Lab and EAVE Producers Workshop. His latest features This is Lagos and Mojisola have been Official Selections at the 2023 Africa International Film Festival, the 2024 Pan African Film Festival and New York African Film Festival. He has worked with the BBC World Service Trust after graduating from Nigeria`s National Film Institute and is an AFS Fellow at University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. He was an Institute of International Education`s GTLF grant recipient.
His works can be found on:
https://m.imdb.com/name/nm5763427/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
https://youtube.com/@cinemakpatakpata?si=iH8uIGmrR8ebF1Tk
Mak ‘Kusare is a director and producer. He stunned the Nigerian Film Industry (Nollywood) by clinching the best film award at the Zuma International Film Festival, even as a student, with his debut feature film, Ninety Degrees. Also, he won several awards which include 2011 FESPACO: ECOWAS Prize for integration for Best West African Film and Special Jury prize for Best TV/Video/Friction; the 2010 GOLDERN MBONI Prize, Lola Kenya; the Best Film, 2010, Abuja International Film Festival; the Grand Prix, 2010 Lagos Advertising Award; LAIF 2009 Screen Producer of the Year award; the 2007 British Council Young Screen Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Nigeria.
https://www.latitude4degrees.site
Ogochukwu Umeadi is a screenwriter and a Production Designer. He has worked on British Council and African Magic sponsored projects. His film “Wolves” won the Best Screenwriter, at the NFI Students Society Awards.
Rai Danduara is a Sound Designer, Music Composer/Recording and Audio Engineer and a university lecturer in Filmmaking. He has worked on well over 70 professional Nigerian titles in film and video, and well over 20 international titles in film. He is the winner of the Advanced Achievement Award, Sound Design, and Film Business in Scholars hip and Film from Full Sail University, Orlando, Florida USA in 2017 and was nominated for 3 African Movie Academy Awards in Sound Design and Music.
https://m.imdb.com/name/nm5873860/
Link to students’ films: www.youtube.com/@nfitv9007