By Samuel Olusegun Precious
The historic Bonny Island came alive on Thursday as the 4th edition of the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) 2026 commenced with funfair, colour and culture.The festival, which will run from October 29 to November 1, 2026 at the Ibanise Hall, Bonny Island, is with the theme: “Film Tourism: A Pathway to Economic Development” – a vision to use cinema to market tourism, preserve heritage and drive local economy.
RIFF 2026 has attracted huge international attention with 3,021 film submissions from 182 countries, competing in 33 award categories covering features, documentaries, animation, acting, technical craftsmanship and film tourism.
The opening day featured a Bonny cultural carnival, boat regatta, film screenings, red carpet and networking, showcasing Bonny as a historic coastal destination.
Speaking, Festival Director Dr Osunwa Kenneth Chigozie said the choice of Bonny aligns with RIFF’s goal of connecting cinema with tourism. Also, PRO Blessing Ezeigbo said the four-day fiesta will include masterclasses, panel sessions, Pitch-Your-Project, TourRivers Initiative, RiffEmpowers and the grand Awards Night.
The Rivers State Government, through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism led by Permanent Secretary Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, had officially endorsed the festival. The Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hanatu Musawa, also commended RIFF for empowering youths.
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was lauded for projecting Bonny through the “Discover Bonny 2026” initiative as a tourist destination.Filmmakers, producers, actors and cultural enthusiasts from Nigeria and abroad are already in Bonny for what promises to be the biggest film tourism fiesta in the Niger Delta.
