Behind the Glitz: How IMOIFF 2026 is Helping Young Dreamers Build Sustainable Careers
When we think of film festivals, what usually comes to mind? Beautiful people walking down red carpets, flashing camera lights, and the magic of watching movies on a big screen. But for the team behind the IMOIFF Creatives and Film Festival formerly known as the Imo International Film Festival there is a muchbigger picture to consider.
The festival is set to hold its third edition from November 26–28, 2026, in Owerri, Imo State. This year’s festival is partnering with Julob Entertainment to shift the focus. While there will still be plenty of great movies to watch, the main goal is to help everyday creatives learn practical skills, start businesses, and actually make a living from their God-given talents.
Life as a creative person isn’t easy. Many young people face empty pockets, a lack of support, and endless closed doors while trying to share their voices with the world. That is why this year’s festival is using a powerful local word as its guiding light: ‘Kwechịrị’, which means to stand firm or hold your ground. Their simple slogan for the year is wonderfully straightforward: “Keep Going. Keep Creating. Keep Becoming.”
Reinforcing this theme, The Founder of IMOIFF, Izu Okafor, explains that young people deal with immense pressure and hurdles just to bring a creative vision to life. By choosing this message, the festival wants everyone to know they are not alone. The goal is to move far past traditional red carpets to help people build thriving professions and show the world what Owerri has to offer.
To make that happen, the festival schedule is packed with genuine opportunities to learn, connect, and grow together. One of the most exciting parts is the Creative Training Academy, run in partnership with Imo State University’s Department of Theatre Arts and Department of Film and Multimedia Studies.
Guiding these learning sessions is an amazing group of teachers and speakers, including Ogechi Obilonu (Nwanyi Owerri), Steve Ahanonu, Frances Otuechere, and Mr. Omenyi Christopher (Ozu Nollywood). It creates a welcoming space where students, actors, writers, and content creators can meet, share ideas, and help each other move forward.
IMOIFF has always been deeply rooted in home and identity. This year, the festival is shining a bright light on powerful local narratives like ‘UDU’, ‘IKENGA’ the cultural film project ‘ONYE IJE / THE TRAVELLER’. These projects remind everyone how important it is to celebrate our own history, language, and culture instead of waiting for someone else to tell our stories for us
The three-day festival will hold at multiple venues across Owerri, with specific venues to be announced by the organisers.
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