The Edo state government has commended Germany’s Filmakademie on its partnership to boost the state’s creative community.

The government noted that the plan by the German outfit to use Edo artefacts as a basis for harnessing potentials would not doubt impact positively on the state’s creative sector.

The state’s deputy governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa made this assertion during a courtesy call on him by the German Filmakademie, Ludwigsburg in Benin on Friday.

In a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo, the deputy governor, who commended Filmakademie for choosing to partner with the state, said that the collaboration will open a channel for the training of filmmakers in the state.

The Filmakademie team led by the Director, Entertainment and Creative Economy, Edo Creative Hub, Amb. Solomon Okosun said that the partnership aligned with the policy direction of Governor Monday Okpebholo on the creative industry.

Idahosa announced, “Senator Okpebholo is a fantastic and people-oriented Governor; a visionary leader that believes in the gifts and potentials of Edo people.

“Exposure to documentary filmmaking and observance of international filmmaking standards through the interface of Edo State trainees with counterparts/students from the German Filmakademie would boost further film production and content creation.

“This will be based on the present training of participants on the rudiments of cinematography, film production, film editing, and directing.

“The exposure will enable them to gain invaluable skills in storytelling and weaving beautiful stories which showcase the rich arts and cultural heritage of Edo State and its people,” he explained.

Idahosa commended the efforts of the two finalists who would make it through to the German Filmakademie after a rigorous three-week training/workshop, Idahosa urged

“Such participants should hone their skills, influence their peers, and push the content and quality of Edo state filmmakers to international standards,” he said.

Idahosa nonetheless appreciated the Director, Edo Creative Hub for collaborating with the foreign film academy, which has helped to expose talented youths from the three senatorial zones.

He advised the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.

According to him, “I expect and encourage participants who have benefitted from this programme to take it very seriously.

“This is because, if the opportunity is given and two of you decide to go to Germany to learn these high-profile skills in the movie industry, you will not just keep those opportunities for yourself, you will come back and affect your brothers and sisters, you left behind, thereby, giving more opportunities to our people.

“Our dream is to have a lot of people, God has given potential to, in the entertainment industry.”

He assured of government’s support to the state’s entertainment industry through the German Filmakademie, to help grow the industry in the state.

He told his visitors that the state is safe and prepared to welcome investors from any part of the world.

On his part, the director, Edo Creative Hub stated that as one of its collaborators, the German Filmakademie came into Edo state to prepare trainees for the AFFRIFF/Nollywood Film Workshop.

He said the best two people who emerge from the participants after the workshop would be sponsored to Germany for further studies.

He said, “After a three-week stay in Benin, trainees would head to Lagos State for the AFRIFF Film Festival, having learnt how to shoot documentaries, training on how to use the high-end ARRI ALEXA 35 cinematography camera.”

Project Manager, Nollywood Workshop, 2025, from the Filmakademie, Ludwigsburg, Germany, Abel Alechenu, an alumnus of the Filmakademie, said that over the past two years, indigenes of Edo State have come to the Filmakademie to study under the four-month programme and then came back home to pass on the knowledge to others.

He said, “This year, the Filmakademie chose to promote the rich cultural heritage of the Benin people.

“We have been to the National Museum, and to Igun Street, to know the process and see the artefacts and those who created them. It is really a connecting point for both of us.”