By Our Entertainment Correspondent
Bonny Island, Rivers State— The Dean of Communication and Media Studies at Hensard University, Toru Orua, Bayelsa State, Professor Femi Shaka, has been honoured with a Creative Industry Leadership Award at the RIFF Awards Night, bringing the curtain down on the 2026 Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) in Bonny Island, Rivers State.
The glittering ceremony, held at the Ibanise Hall, marked the grand finale of the fourth edition of the annual cinema event, which ran from 29 October to 1 November 2026 under the theme Film Tourism: A Pathway to Economic Development.
Professor Shaka’s recognition celebrates his enduring contribution to media scholarship, creative-industry mentorship and the cultivation of the next generation of Nigerian storytellers — a fitting tribute at a festival that has firmly established itself as one of the country’s most ambitious cinematic showcases.
RIFF 2026 proved nothing short of remarkable in its reach, drawing a staggering 3,021 film submissions from 182 countries, with entrants competing across 33 distinct award categories.
The festival opened in spectacular fashion, with a colourful Bonny cultural carnival and a traditional boat regatta setting the tone for four days of celebration, craftsmanship and cultural pride in the historic Grand Bonny Kingdom.
Beyond the screenings, the event placed a strong emphasis on capacity building, with veteran Nollywood figures and acclaimed storytellers — among them Hilda Dokubo — serving as resource persons for masterclasses, acting workshops and creative mentorship programmes.
The RIFF Awards Night, the most eagerly anticipated fixture on the festival calendar, honoured excellence in feature films, animation, acting and technical craftsmanship, capping a week of screenings and industry conversation with a night of glamour and acclaim.
The festival’s influence is set to extend beyond Bonny Island, with the Rivers Film Investment Summit scheduled for 3–4 November 2026 at the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt, designed to cement long-term creative investment in Rivers State.
