Organisers of the Windsor International Black Film Festival in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, have announced the participation of Nollywood actors and filmmakers in the festival’s 2026 edition.

The festival director and president of WIBFF, Queen Eghujovbo, disclosed this during a media conference held on Wednesday in Enugu.

WIBFF is an annual film festival and nonprofit founded by Ms Eghujovbo to provide a supportive platform for Black filmmakers to share their narratives without the pressures of competing against larger productions.

It is also a platform for Black voices to share their cultures and experiences with a global audience.

Represented by one of the festival’s coordinators, Alexander Nwokeabia, Ms Eghujovbo said the festival would feature the Nollywood Micro Section and The Actors Market Place (TAMP) as major components of the 2026 edition, scheduled for August 13 to August 16.

She described the initiative as a landmark collaboration between WIBFF and the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), aimed at promoting African cinema, celebrating Black excellence, and creating opportunities for Africans and people of African descent worldwide.

According to her, TAMP has been specially designed as an international platform to showcase the talents, creativity, and professional achievements of Nigerian actors before a global audience.

The audience, she said, comprised casting directors, producers, distributors, talent agents, film executives, and industry stakeholders from Africa, North America, Europe, the Caribbean, South America, and other regions.

“As one of North America’s leading festivals dedicated to Black and African storytelling, WIBFF remains committed to building bridges between Africa and the global Black community. The festival serves as a meeting point for filmmakers, actors, producers, creatives, and cultural leaders, fostering collaboration, innovation, cultural exchange, and economic opportunities,” she said.

Ms Eghujovbo noted that WIBFF recognised Nollywood as a major force in global cinema and was honoured to provide a platform for Nigerian actors and filmmakers to engage international markets, explore co-production opportunities, secure representation, and establish lasting partnerships.

“Through initiatives such as The Actors Marketplace, WIBFF continues to champion the voices, stories, and achievements of Africans and Black people around the world while promoting collaboration and professional growth,” she added.

Speaking at the event, Steve Eboh, festival director of the AGN International Festival, described the initiative as another milestone in efforts to expand the global footprint of Nigerian actors.

“This collaboration strengthens cultural exchange and reinforces the growing influence of Nollywood within the global entertainment industry,” he said.

He said the initiative would serve as a strategic marketplace for talent discovery, international casting opportunities, representation, co-productions, and long-term industry collaborations.

(NAN)