NFC grows international partnerships for film restoration, preservation

The Nigerian Film Corporation will digitise the 1992 Hausa classic, ‘Kulba Na Barna’, with the help of foreign partners.

THE Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the full digitisation of ‘Kulba Na Barna’, a classic Nigerian film originally shot on 35mm. This partnership advances Nigeria’s commitment to preserving national cinema heritage.

After restoring ‘Shaihu Umar’ in 2019, both films are now kept safe by the National Film Video and Sound Archive (NFVSA) at the NFC.

During the MoU signing in Lausanne on February 19, 2026, NFC’s Managing Director, Dr Ali Nuhu, described the partnership as both strategic and a major achievement. He said it helps the Corporation strengthen the NFVSA’s role as Nigeria’s main archive for audiovisual materials.

He pointed out that the digitised version of ‘Shaihu Umar’ has been widely praised and is now shared with Nigerian universities. Its success highlights the importance of preserving films.

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Dr Nuhu explained that restoring and digitising “Kulba Na Barna” through this new partnership will help protect important audiovisual materials and make them easier to access for education and research.

The project also encourages more teamwork in restoration, digitisation, archiving, and training, including “train-the-trainer” programs. The agreement brings together the NFC, Cinémathèque suisse, and Arsenal – Institute for Film and Video Art.

Produced in 1992 by Brendan Shehu and directed by the late Adamu Halilu, Kulba Na Barna is a celebrated cultural feature rooted in Northern Nigeria. Its Hausa-language title reflects the depth and uniqueness of Nigeria’s indigenous storytelling tradition. The film explores themes of consequence, moral responsibility, and the lasting impact of human actions, and remains an important work within Nigeria’s audiovisual heritage, documenting the socio-cultural realities of Northern Nigeria.

On a separate visit to the Nigerian Embassy in Germany, Dr Nuhu thanked the Ambassador for helping to build stronger Nigeria–Germany ties and for supporting Nigerian cinema in Europe.

He also appreciated the Embassy’s help to German partner institutions through consular support.

Dr Nuhu emphasised that sustaining the NFC’s collaborations with institutions such as Goethe University Frankfurt, Arsenal – Institute for Film and Video Art, and Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum depends on continuous technical exchange, joint restoration and digitisation projects, and regular training programs for NFVSA staff—efforts that require frequent cross-border engagement.

This visit was part of the NFC’s planned activities at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), which took place in Berlin, Germany, from February 12 to 22, 2026.

Dr Nuhu was joined by Mr. Alo Paistik from Goethe University Frankfurt and Mr. Markus Ruff from Arsenal – Institute for Film and Video Art. Senior diplomats, led by Chargé d’Affaires Mohammed Bashir Basha, welcomed the group and confirmed the Embassy’s support for international partnerships.