By Benjamin Njoku

The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Ali Nuhu has cautioned local filmmakers against adjusting their stories to suit global audiences, warning that it could lead to losing the narrative that drew global attention to African cinema.

Nuhu gave the caution, while delivering the keynote address at the just concluded Coal City Film Festival, held in Enugu.

According to him, there is a growing pressure on the local filmmakers to adjust their stories to make them appealing to global audiences.

“This is where we must be careful because the moment we begin to tell stories that are not true to us, we risk losing that narrative that made the world notice us in the first place,” he said.

Nuhu advised filmmakers to stay original, telling their stories authentically and resisting attempts to compromise their voices. “Originality is our greatest advantage,” he emphasized.

Moving forward, Nuhu stressed the need for training resources, intellectual property protection, and investment in local stories. “We must also invest in our own stories no matter the pressure and strengthen our local distribution network to meet global standards,” he posited.