First-of-its-kind event to spotlight human rights, culture, and storytelling

TARABA STATE, Nigeria (BG) — The inaugural Taraba Human Rights Film Festival (TAHRIFF) is set to debut in Jalingo, Taraba State, North Eastern Nigeria, from September 23 to 28, 2025.

The festival aims to be the most significant human rights-focused film event ever hosted in Northern Nigeria, offering a platform for Indigenous voices and showcasing creative storytelling while addressing critical social issues.

TAHRIFF’s mission is to amplify unheard narratives and foster dialogue on topics affecting marginalized communities in the region and beyond. “This festival is a space for young Indigenous storytellers to share their art while fostering meaningful conversations between citizens, government, and other stakeholders to promote unity, inclusion, and equity,” said Moses V. Samuel, TAHRIFF’s festival director.

Festival Highlights

The event will feature film screenings, cultural performances, networking sessions, workshops, awards ceremonies, and local tours. TAHRIFF aims to provide a platform for addressing issues such as women’s rights, children’s welfare, and the challenges faced by minority groups.

Key objectives include:

• Empowering indigenous creatives to produce narratives promoting peace and development.
• Facilitating discussions between government agencies, security regulators, and citizens to foster collaboration for a just society.
• Advocating for human rights while exploring the intersection of technology and humanity in the age of artificial intelligence and virtual reality.

TAHRIFF also promises to attract international attention, with support from Movies that Matter, a Netherlands-based organization renowned for promoting human rights through film in developing nations.

Sub-Projects

Several initiatives will precede the main festival, including:

• Cultural Dance and Drama Competition: My Culture is Progressive/My Heritage, My Right (May 2025).
• Point & Shoot Training: A videography and photography workshop for human rights content creators (February 2025).
• Rights and Heritage School Tours: Educational outreach to schools (March-April 2025).
• Visionary Village: A community-focused engagement program (June 2025).
• Essay Competition: The African Child in the Digital Age: Rights and Privileges (June-July 2025).

Call for Support

Organizers seek sponsorship and partnerships from governments, NGOs, corporations, and individuals to help realize the event’s vision.

“TAHRIFF is more than a film festival; it’s a movement to educate, empower, and elevate humanity through storytelling,” Samuel said.

For more information or partnership inquiries, contact +2348164499372.