The Isoko International Film & Cinema Festival (IIFCF) has appointed Dr. Barthelomew Aguugo, veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru, Professor Elo Ibagere and Sandra Ubini to its inaugural jury panel ahead of the festival scheduled for November 19 to 21, 2026.
The festival, founded by Professor Emily Oghale God’spresence, is aimed at promoting Isoko culture, history and identity through film while providing a platform for local and international filmmakers to showcase stories connected to the region.
Key Highlights
- IIFCF has unveiled its jury panel for the inaugural film festival.
- Dr. Barthelomew Aguugo will serve as Head of Jury.
- Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru is among the appointed jurors.
- Professor Elo Ibagere and filmmaker Sandra Ubini are also members of the jury.
- The inaugural IIFCF is scheduled for November 19 to 21, 2026.
- The festival aims to promote Isoko language, culture, history and identity through cinema.
IIFCF Unveils Inaugural Jury
The Isoko International Film & Cinema Festival said the appointment of the jury members was part of efforts to ensure strong artistic and professional standards for its inaugural edition.
Dr. Barthelomew Aguugo, National Vice President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria for the South-South zone, has been appointed Head of Jury.
He will lead a panel comprising professionals from the Nigerian film industry, academia and the Isoko cultural community.
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Other members of the jury are veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru, Professor Elo Ibagere of the Department of Theatre Arts at Delta State University, and Sandra Ubini, an Isoko movie practitioner and Chief Executive Officer of Womasandy Modelling Agency, Delta State.
Festival to Promote Isoko Culture
The inaugural IIFCF is scheduled to hold from November 19 to 21, 2026.
The festival was founded by Professor Emily Oghale God’spresence, a film scholar, gender equity advocate and professor of Feminist Film Theory at the University of Port Harcourt.
The organisers said the festival was established to preserve and promote the heritage, history and identity of the Isoko people through film and other forms of cinematic expression.
Beyond celebrating filmmakers, the festival is expected to provide a platform for local and international practitioners to present stories that reflect the experiences, traditions and cultural heritage of the Isoko people.
IIFCF Calls for Film Submissions
The festival is encouraging filmmakers to submit projects that highlight the beauty, depth and richness of the Isoko language and culture.
According to the organisers, the initiative is intended to give authentic local stories a wider audience while creating opportunities for filmmakers to connect Isoko narratives with audiences in Nigeria and beyond.
The organisers said the participation of experienced industry professionals and academics on the jury would help strengthen the festival’s artistic and cultural objectives.
