human dignity/indigenous creativity
The Taraba Human Rights International Film Festival (TAHRIFF) is structured not just as a cultural event, but as a multidimensional platform for dialogue, empowerment, and solution-oriented collaboration. Its programs are designed to stimulate civic awareness, build creative capacity, and cultivate partnerships that can address the human rights and development crises facing Taraba and the Northeast region.
Core Programs at TAHRIFF
🎬 Film Screenings
TAHRIFF will host daily screenings of feature films, documentaries, animations, and short films from both Nigerian and international filmmakers. These films will cover critical human rights issues—trafficking, insurgency, disability, education, drug abuse, gender-based violence, and child protection.
Each screening will be followed by audience discussions, Q&A sessions with filmmakers, and commentary from civil society and human rights professionals. This creates a space where art meets advocacy—challenging perceptions and igniting conversations.
🤝 Networking Mixers & Stakeholder Engagement Sessions
Professionally curated networking events will bring together:
Filmmakers & artists
Policymakers & security agencies
Civil society actors
Traditional rulers & youth leaders
Media professionals
These mixers are meant to break silos, encouraging participants to form partnerships that extend beyond the festival. Special invitation-only mixers will be held for:
Embassies and UN agencies
Northern State delegations
Creative entrepreneurs and investors
🧠Workshops & Masterclasses
TAHRIFF is committed to nurturing talent and equipping advocates. Practical training workshops and masterclasses will be led by local and international experts in:
Screenwriting for social impact
Cinematography and storytelling techniques
Digital media and advocacy campaigns
Community organizing and human rights reporting
Mental health awareness in trauma storytelling
Youth and students will be given special access, alongside emerging filmmakers, activists, and journalists.
đź‘Ą Panel Discussions and Policy Forums
TAHRIFF will organize structured roundtables with a focus on:
Restorative justice
Reintegration of survivors of trafficking and conflict
Children’s rights and education reforms
Digital inclusion and gender equity
Security, arts, and trauma healing
Participants will include state commissioners, federal ministries, traditional leaders, survivors, and UN representatives.
Strategic Partnerships for Impact
🤝 Taraba State Government
TAHRIFF benefits from strong collaboration with the Taraba State Government, particularly the:
Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation
Ministry of Information and Re-orientation
Other federal institutions in consideration include:
TAHRIFF seeks long-term support from the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, with whom it aligns on the Renewed Hope Agenda and national plans for cultural diplomacy and economic growth through the arts.
Ministry of Social Justice and Reintegration
Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development
Ministry of Innovation and Digital Economy
Taraba State Tourism Development Board
Special Taskforce on Environmental Protection and Public Safety
These partnerships help integrate the festival’s advocacy into state policy, outreach, and education strategies.
🏛 Federal Ministries
National Human Rights Commission
National Film and Video Censors Board
🌍 UN Agencies and Embassies
TAHRIFF is in active engagement with:
UNICEF, UNODC, UNHCR, UN Women, and UNESCO, particularly in areas of child protection, trafficking, education, and culture.
Foreign missions including the US Embassy, the French Institute, the German Embassy, and others, to support cross-cultural exchange and film diplomacy.
Their support will be vital for grants, technical training, international film entries, and peacebuilding efforts.
đź•Š Civil Rights Organizations & Humanitarian Agencies
Partnering with civil society enhances local ownership and thematic depth. TAHRIFF is working with:
CLEEN Foundation
WACOL
Women in Media
Legal Aid Council
IDP-focused NGOs
Youth empowerment networks
They are key players in post-screening engagements, community mobilization, and grassroots storytelling.
đź“ş Media & Creative Industries
Media partners are essential to TAHRIFF’s visibility and narrative power. Proposed collaborators include:
NTA Jalingo, Taraba TV, SumTV
African Independent Television (AIT)
BBC Pidgin, Channels TV
Pulse.ng, Premium Times
Nollywood guilds and media startups
This media coalition will help amplify the stories shared at TAHRIFF and ensure national and global reach.
🏢 Private Sector & Creative Economy Players
The business community is being courted to support through:
Sponsorship of screenings, prizes, or workshops
Participation in job fairs and film-tech exhibitions
Mentorship of creative entrepreneurs and students
Firms in the telecom, banking, health, tech, and agro-business sectors are also key to developing Taraba’s human capital.
Conclusion: Beyond the Screen
TAHRIFF is not just a festival—it is a movement of collaborators, storytellers, and reformers. By combining art with strategy, and dialogue with action, the festival hopes to lay a cultural and institutional foundation for long-term change across Northeastern Nigeria.
