The Igala Film Festival 2026 is set to take place in November in Anyigba, Kogi State, positioning itself as Africa’s first village square film festival and a cultural initiative centered on indigenous-language cinema.
For Paul Ugbede, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the festival, the vision is rooted in cultural preservation through film. Speaking with The Nollywood Reporter, Ugbede describes the festival as both an exhibition platform and a cultural movement aimed at safeguarding African languages.
“The Igala Film Festival is more than a film event,” he says. “It is a cultural movement dedicated to celebrating indigenous languages, preserving heritage, and inspiring filmmakers to tell authentic African stories in the languages of their people.”
While many festivals across Nigeria and the continent predominantly programme English-language films, the Igala Film Festival takes a different direction by focusing exclusively on indigenous-language productions. Organisers say the aim is to spotlight the depth and relevance of African linguistic traditions through cinema.
Held in Anyigba, the festival will bring together filmmakers, scholars, cultural enthusiasts and audiences for screenings, workshops, keynote sessions, networking programmes and cultural activities designed to deepen engagement with African heritage.
A defining feature of the festival is its setting. Rather than a conventional auditorium or cinema complex, organisers are constructing a traditional village square specifically for the event. The space is intended to create an immersive cultural experience rooted in community storytelling.
“When people arrive, we want to transport them back to where they come from,” Ugbede explains. “The village square symbolizes our history, our identity, and our indigenousness. It reminds us that before modern cities and technology, there were communities built around stories, traditions, and shared cultural experiences.”
Beyond the festival itself, the initiative is positioned as part of a wider cultural preservation agenda. Organisers hope it will encourage filmmakers to create more content in indigenous languages, strengthening cultural continuity for future generations.
“We are celebrating the beauty of African languages in their spoken rawness,” Ugbede says. “Language is a bridge between a people’s past, present, and future. Through film, we can preserve that connection.”
Ugbede’s work in cultural promotion extends beyond Nigeria. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, he is also behind the Indy Africa Book and Film Festival scheduled for October 3, 2026, which aims to connect African diaspora creatives with American counterparts.
He is also producing Onoja Oboni: The Musical, described as the first Igala historical musical production in Nigeria, set for October 31, 2026. The stage production will dramatize a celebrated Igala historical narrative through music and performance.
Together, these projects reflect a broader push to preserve African storytelling traditions while expanding their global reach. Within this slate of initiatives, the Igala Film Festival stands out for its symbolic return to communal storytelling spaces.