Veteran Nollywood actor, Francis Duru, has urged theatre arts students of Kaduna State University (KASU) to take characterization seriously as they prepare for careers in the film industry.
Duru made the call on Wednesday during the 9th Kaduna International Film Festival held at KASU, with the theme, “Cultural Renaissance.”
He described characterization as the foundation of acting, stressing that every actor must understand and master it to build a successful career in the industry.
“If you don’t master it, you won’t do well. But worse, some people still succeed by mistake; they get roles or prosper even though they are doing things wrong.
“The danger of that is you won’t notice your mistakes, so you won’t improve,” he said.
The veteran actor urged aspiring performers to be intentional about developing their craft, acquire proper training, and avoid relying on luck or accidental success.
Duru also advised young actors to be patient and prepared for the challenges associated with building a career in the entertainment industry.
Similarly, the Director-General of the Kaduna International Film Festival, Israel Audu, said the festival was established to celebrate art, culture, creativity and film while promoting Kaduna’s rich and diverse cultural heritage.
“The Kaduna International Film Festival gives filmmakers a space to show their films, meet the right people, and turn their talent into real distribution deals,” he said.
Audu explained that hosting this year’s festival at KASU was intended to help theatre arts students connect classroom knowledge with practical experience in the film industry.
“Students know theory but struggle in the field. So this year, professionals like Francis Duru are brought in to teach practical skills and help students transition from school to real acting sets,” he said.
He urged aspiring actors and filmmakers to complement classroom learning with practical experience, networking and effective use of social media to showcase their work to global audiences.
Audu said the 2026 edition marked a significant step in bringing the festival into an academic environment, describing it as the first film festival in Northern Nigeria.
He said the festival was established in 2018 to bridge gaps and create opportunities for creatives in the region, adding that the organizers were looking forward to its 10th anniversary in Kaduna.
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