Ambassador (Dr.) Lancelot Imasuen’s latest multimillion-naira production, Issakaba ‘The Return’, is set to support the 2024 edition of the International Students Films Festival (ISFF), which will be held at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, from September 16 to 20, 2024. This highly anticipated movie, regarded as a landmark in Nigerian cinema, brings together a star-studded cast and has become one of the major highlights in the lead-up to the festival.
Produced and directed by Africa’s most consistent filmmaker, Dr. Lancelot Imasuen, Issakaba ‘The Return’ has attracted notable support from individuals such as Emmanuel Winner Utomi of LIAM Ltd, Prince Paul Agbonlahor of Lahor Group Worldwide, and Diran Adeyinka of WithinDlens Limited. The film features evergreen actors like Sam Dede, Iyabo Ojo, Chidi Mokeme, Regina Daniels, Sani Danja, and Phyna Otabor, alongside other prominent Nollywood stars.
The 2024 ISFF, hosted by the University of Port Harcourt, will also serve as a platform to honor veteran Nigerian film and television icons, both living and departed, who have left lasting impacts on the Nollywood industry. The festival aims to celebrate these pioneers by naming awards after them, encouraging the next generation of filmmakers to follow in their footsteps.
Edo-born filmmaker, Ambassador Lancelot Imasuen, also known as “D’Guvernor,” will use the second edition of ISFF as a campus-based traveling film festival to pay tribute to the legends of Nigerian cinema. Following the success of the first edition held at Igbinedion University, Okada, in 2023, this year’s festival will see awards named after Nollywood icons like Emem Isong, Iyen Agbonifo, Cleopatra Starrett, and Sir Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion.
Additionally, four fallen heroes of the industry will be honored with memorial awards: Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi for his pioneering role in television, Chico Ejiro for his prodigious filmmaking, Sadiq Daba and Enebeli Elebuwa for their contributions as actors, and Capt. Hosa Okunbo for his support of the entertainment industry.
Several student films have been nominated for the festival’s nine award categories, including Le Kadji, Dazed, and Adaeze for Best Screenplay, while Obiora, Budge, and Solitude are up for the Enebeli Elebuwa Memorial Award for Best Actor (Male).
Ambassador Imasuen, speaking on his motivation for setting up the student-based festival, stated that it aligns with his passion for empowering young people through the film industry. He emphasized that he wants empowerment to go beyond being just a slogan, and instead be something tangible in the lives of young filmmakers, offering them skills and opportunities to thrive in the competitive industry. He also highlighted the significance of the festival’s award component, which serves as a celebration of both living legends and fallen heroes, and as inspiration for aspiring filmmakers to surpass the achievements of their predecessors.
The 2024 ISFF promises to be a vibrant celebration of Nigerian cinema, with Issakaba ‘The Return’ standing as a proud supporter of the event.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
