By Esther Onyegbula

The French Embassy in Nigeria, in partnership with the Surreal 16 (S16) Collective, has announced a major initiative aimed at strengthening the global visibility of Nigerian short filmmakers, with four creatives selected to participate in the prestigious Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in France.

Under the initiative, the Nigerian filmmakers will attend the festival’s renowned Short Film Market, widely regarded as the world’s leading industry platform for short films, where they will pitch their projects to international producers, broadcasters, platforms and festival programmers.

Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival is the largest event in the world dedicated exclusively to short films, attracting thousands of professionals and audiences annually with its bold and innovative programming. The festival serves as a key talent-scouting hub and a reference point in international cinema.

The Short Film Market, which combines both physical and digital components, addresses the full spectrum of industry needs, from production and promotion to distribution, in an open and inclusive environment. It provides opportunities for sales and licensing across French, European and international markets, while fostering co-production, creativity and the circulation of works.

During the four-day programme, the Nigerian delegates will present and promote their films and projects to more than 100 company representatives from across the world, operating from about 40 exhibition stands at the market. They will also participate in a tailor-made schedule featuring over 100 professional meetings focused on the challenges facing the short film sector and strategies for navigating the global industry.

In addition, the filmmakers will engage with television buyers to better understand editorial priorities, emerging broadcast trends and new distribution opportunities.

Networking sessions, including B2B meetings and informal industry gatherings, will further enable exchanges with international professionals throughout the week.
Speaking on the initiative, Christophe Pecot, Audiovisual Attaché of the French Embassy in Nigeria, said the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival offers significant opportunities for African creators through structured mentorship and industry programmes.

“Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival offers several opportunities for African creators, notably through mentorship programmes such as Talent Connexion and Road to Clermont. This initiative of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs showcases African talent and facilitates meetings with industry professionals. For the first time ever, there will be a Nigerian booth at Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival,” Pecot said.
Also commenting, Abba Makama, co-founder of the S16 Collective, described the partnership as a milestone in the collective’s mission to elevate Nigerian filmmakers globally.

“It is an honour and a pleasure to bring some of the bright young minds nurtured and supported by the S16 Collective to experience such a prestigious event. Our goal has always been to position filmmakers on the international stage and to actively participate in the global conversation around cinema,” Makama said.

He added that the initiative also promotes a new cinematic vision from Nigeria. “We are spreading the gospel of a new type of cinema from Nigeria, one that places the filmmaker and their vision at the centre before anything else. Short films are a vital format for aspiring filmmakers, often laying the blueprint for the work they will go on to make when they transition to feature films.”
Makama further expressed appreciation to the French Embassy for its continued support of Nigerian creatives, noting that the collaboration represents a significant step in amplifying Nigerian stories on the global stage.