The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his government will partner with the private sector to set up a trust to ensure the sustainability of the Edo State International Film Festival (ESIFF).

Obaseki said this during a meeting with the Edo State Commissioner for Art Culture Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Uyi Malaka and German student-filmmakers, at the Government House in Benin City.

He said: “We have decided to create an ESIFF Trust and all the activities of the event will be transferred to that trust. It will be driven purely by the private sector. We did it with Alaghodaro where we have a trust; they raise their money and have full government support and help the government promote and attract business to Edo State.

“I have mandated that we create a trust manned by those in the creative industry to give direction to this body, which will be responsible for promoting the film festival. We will still give support until the trust can stand on its own and carry out its activities.

“We are ready to work with you in the film academy as this is a natural progression from the film festival. All the facilities will be transferred to the trust; you have the responsibility to raise additional money and make investment.”

He hailed the German Government for the support for his administration, leading to the successes recorded over the past seven years, including in the fight against illegal migration and human trafficking.

“Our efforts have yielded fruits in the last seven years, especially in the creative industry. We have attracted support and we will soon be exporting people with skills to Europe and other parts of the world.

“We have moved from desperation, created hope and now actualizing the hope with our creative industry, using it as a platform for our youths to showcase their talent and export the same to the world.

“The state has significantly made progress in the creative industry and the German government has supported us in the area of job creation from manufacturing, technology and other areas to encourage our youths to remain here to develop the state and nation,” he added.

He further stated the Edo International Film Festival started last year , even though there was no incline it would bring people from all parts of the world in such a short time.

“This second edition has made me know that we have created a marketplace for films where producers and stakeholders in the industry meet.

“We have created a place and a platform where exchange takes place, where people who are selling and distributing products meet young stars, give them products and direction on how to succeed in the Industry,” he stressed.

According to him, the Edo International Film Festival has become the premier festival and a marketplace for the exchange of film products in West Africa, producing real content.

“I hope we can have a mechanism where those trained in these exchange programmes have the responsibility to form a faculty to train other youths in the State and Nigeria to enable us continually have knowledge transfer,” Obaseki charged.

On her part, Malaka said the partnership between the state and Germany had given birth to cultural exchange, adding that the journey has been one of cultural exchange and learning.

Also, Mr. Mark Szilagyi of the Filmakademie Baden-Worttemberg and leader of the delegation, commended the governor for his sustained investment in the creative sector and for supporting young people to realise their full potential.