Benue Kids Can Act is a BENIFFEST initiative created to discover and develop young performers and connect them with opportunities in film and screen production. Implemented in August 2023, the programme combined free acting instruction with practical filmmaking and continued support for participants pursuing professional opportunities.
The idea grew from an experience during BENIFFEST’s early festival activities. At the 2022 Benue Short Films Gala, some parents who attended screenings with their children encountered age restrictions that prevented the children from entering certain screenings. The submitted films did not adequately serve younger audiences, prompting reflection on the limited availability of locally produced screen content for children and the need to develop young performers.
BENIFFEST responded with a tuition-free, two-week acting programme held from 7 to 19 August 2023 at Templegate Academy, IDS Close, Old GRA, Makurdi. The programme was advertised for children aged 7–15 and used an audition process to select participants. Training activities included acting, monologues, scriptwriting and practical film and theatre exercises, led by professional actors, directors and instructors from Benue and beyond.
The initiative also included children from orphanages and internally displaced persons’ camps. This reflected the programme’s commitment to widening access to creative learning for children from different circumstances. Contemporary programme coverage reported participation by more than 70 children; BENIFFEST’s own estimate is approximately 85 children.
The programme was supported through collaboration. Triple A Studios provided technical support, while Templegate Academy provided the training venue and hospitality. The training culminated in a showcase of the children’s talents and opened the way for practical filmmaking.
The initiative proceeded to produce Against the Tides, a film involving the participating children alongside additional actors required for the story. Production records document filming beginning on 23 August 2023, with Sunny Okwori credited as director on the production slate. The film remains in post-production.
For BENIFFEST, the work did not end when the training concluded. The organisation continued to connect suitable participants with professional casting opportunities. When producers sought child actors for particular roles, BENIFFEST helped identify potential candidates and facilitated auditions. Some participants were cast in professional productions and have gained practical experience on film sets; some are now active actors. BENIFFEST also provided a degree of career coordination and support as participants began navigating the industry.
Benue Kids Can Act therefore extended beyond a short training programme. It linked access to learning with practical production and pathways towards professional participation. It also revealed how talent development and the availability of stories suitable for children are related but distinct needs within the film ecosystem.
The initiative remains an important milestone in BENIFFEST’s evolution. Alongside the 2022 pilot festival and the production of Against the Tides, it demonstrates an approach to industry development that goes beyond exhibition: identifying a need, developing talent, creating practical opportunities and building connections between emerging performers and the wider film industry.