Filmmaker and Chairman of Fedmas Studios, Sam Idiagbonya, has identified inadequate infrastructure, limited access to funding, a shortage of skilled technical personnel and weak distribution networks as major obstacles to the growth of Abuja’s film industry.
Idiagbonya said the Federal Capital Territory had the environment and creative talent to support a thriving film industry but needed deliberate investment, professional training and stronger collaboration among practitioners to compete effectively with established filmmaking centres.
Speaking on the challenges confronting filmmakers in Abuja, he said the industry’s growth was being constrained by limited exposure and inadequate platforms for showcasing productions to wider audiences.
“Abuja offers a good environment for filmmaking, but we need the infrastructure, the training and the freedom to create,” he said.
He identified Lagos as Nigeria’s dominant commercial filmmaking centre, citing its established distribution networks, marketers and access to industry opportunities.
However, he argued that Abuja filmmakers could reach audiences beyond Nigeria if they developed compelling stories and adopted distribution strategies that extended beyond their immediate markets.
“My market is the world. Earth is my market,” he said, urging filmmakers to produce content capable of attracting audiences across geographical boundaries.
The Fedmas Studios chairman also questioned the transparency of government-backed funding initiatives for the creative industry, saying practitioners needed clear information about eligibility requirements, disbursement procedures and the beneficiaries of such programmes.
“If you tell creatives that there is a fund, they need to know the mechanism, the criteria, the timeline and who has benefited,” he said.
He explained that filmmaking required substantial financial commitments covering equipment, personnel and post-production, warning that announcements of funding without clear implementation frameworks could leave filmmakers unable to plan their projects effectively.
Idiagbonya further stressed the need to develop technical expertise across the industry, particularly in cinematography, lighting, sound and production design.
According to him, operating a camera should not be confused with possessing the specialised knowledge required for professional cinematography, adding that quality filmmaking depended on technical competence, practical experience and continuous training.
He also called for a shift towards collaboration among filmmakers, arguing that professional disagreements and disputes over ownership should not be allowed to undermine creative partnerships.
“The future of creativity is collaboration. You cannot do this alone,” he said.
He urged filmmakers to subject their scripts and ideas to constructive criticism and pool their resources and expertise to improve production standards.
On distribution, Idiagbonya identified high production and marketing costs, delayed payments and the distance between some cinema locations and residential communities as challenges affecting profitability.
He said digital platforms, including YouTube, had expanded opportunities for filmmakers to reach international audiences but stressed the need for effective marketing and a better understanding of online monetisation.
“Today, you may be on YouTube. Tomorrow, you may be in the cinema. The next day, you may be on Netflix or working with an international platform,” he said.
The filmmaker urged governments to extend support to creative practitioners across the country rather than concentrate opportunities in established filmmaking centres.
He also advocated a stronger national film festival that would bring Nigerian and international filmmakers together for screenings, training, competitions and professional networking.
Such a platform, he said, would help emerging filmmakers showcase their work, exchange ideas and build relationships capable of opening up new opportunities within and beyond Nigeria.
Idiagbonya urged aspiring filmmakers to remain committed to developing their skills, building professional networks and exploring multiple distribution channels, despite the financial and structural challenges facing the industry.
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