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Obinna Okerekeocha, the founder of the Naija AI Film Festival, recently spoke with TechPolyp, sharing his extensive background in media, which includes work as an artist, filmmaker, producer, and in advertising, philanthropy, and content development over the past three decades. The discussion aimed to explore how filmmakers can utilise modern generative AI technology to transform film production. Undoubtedly, these specialised tools are guaranteed to improve creativity, save cost and completely transform filmmaking.
The Birth of Naija AI Film Festival
Okerekeocha began experimenting with RunwayML and Midjourney in 2022, initially focusing on video and image generation. This was the period when the use of generative AI tools began gaining momentum.
However, as destiny would have it, in line with the saying that “You become in the process of becoming,” Obinna Okerekeocha embodied this belief with the realisation that artificial intelligence could be a new canvas to inspire more creative work. Notably, such is the conviction that gave birth to the Naija AI Film Festival.
Importantly, it’s noteworthy that Obinna Okerekeocha has come to close specific gaps by establishing the Naija AI Film Festival. Over the years, the costs of film production, ranging from costumes and crews to production sets, have been a hindrance for several talented stakeholders in the African film industry. The birth of NAIF was to address the cost of production barrier, thereby closing the gaps while forging ahead with the innovative contribution of the film festival to the industry.
Generative AI Development Challenges
The discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities of developing African-focused generative AI models. Moving forward, when it comes to generative AI models, they are often trained with datasets that are more biased towards Western perspectives. Unfortunately, this development threatens the actual representation and, in consequence, fueling oversimplification of African cultures, traditions, experiences and realities.
Furthermore, Obinna Okerekeocha explained that while Western datasets dominate current AI training, there is a need for African developers to build indigenous systems. Those that better reflect local cultures and languages. He highlighted the difficulty of sourcing and organising large amounts of data. He also emphasised the high costs associated with setting up data centres and GPUs for training.
Despite these challenges, Obinna mentioned examples of Nigerian developers creating their own LLMs and models. They include EIS Studio NG and Speech, which use APIs from indigenous models and support local languages. On his own side, Okerekeocha plans to utilise his Film Festival in overcoming this challenge by providing backups to African-built tools and models trained on regional languages, voices, and cultures, rather than aligning entirely with those of Western-trained tools.
AI Development and Filmmaking Challenges
Obinna highlighted the need for data centres in Nigeria to support AI development and model training. He stated that although plans exist for such infrastructure, the country is not yet at that stage. TechPolyp shifted the focus to the features and benefits of generative AI for filmmakers. We asked about its capabilities in special effects and character generation.
9 Osborne Road, Lagos, LA, 106104 Nigeria.
Generative AI in Filmmaking
Obinna highlighted the use of generative AI in filmmaking, highlighting its potential to empower creators by reducing costs and simplifying processes such as creating storyboards and visual effects. He emphasised the democratisation of filmmaking through affordable tools and the ability to produce high-quality content without expensive equipment. Obinna also addressed ethical concerns around copyright and deepfakes, advocating for creators to develop their unique styles to ensure responsible AI use.
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AI Film Festival and Festivities
Obinna shared details about the first edition of their AI festival held on September 13th 2025, which included AI film showcases, panel discussions on ethical AI use, live demos, and an awards night. He used the platform of the event to advise startups to develop their own unique style and train their models to focus on that, thereby avoiding infringement on others’ styles or copyrighted content. He explained that this approach helps navigate legal issues, such as the ongoing Disney vs. Midjourney case.
9 Osborne Road, Lagos, LA, 106104,.Nigeria
Obinna announced that an annual event will be held in September of next year, with a focus on making early announcements and attracting more partners. Techpolyp raised a question about the impact of generative AI on job displacement in the film industry, to which Obinna responded by emphasising the need to focus on the new job opportunities AI creates rather than solely on job losses. He encouraged creatives to learn AI skills to stay competitive in the evolving job market.
Obinna hopes to continue projecting the film festival as a platform to connect filmmakers, policymakers, engineers, and visual artists. He believes the combination of these individuals is fit to explore how to dream and build the future of filmmaking.
AI and Job Creation Opportunities
Obinna discussed the impact of AI on jobs, emphasising that while some roles may be automated, AI enhances human efficiency. Also, it creates new opportunities for those who upskill in AI technologies. He highlighted the importance of adapting to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and leveraging AI to improve productivity across various sectors.
Ethical Concerns Around AI Use in Content Creation
The discussion also touched on the ethical use of AI, particularly regarding the Naija AI Film Festival’s commitment to original content and the avoidance of the misuse of images or voices without consent. Obinna emphasises NAIFF’s strict adherence to regulatory guidelines for community members. He also stressed the importance of creating original content and respecting intellectual property rights.
The future of Naija AI Film Festival include the development of a streaming platform to distribute AI-created films globally. TechPolyp sees this as a beautiful development if only the startup could maintain the authenticity of African cultural heritage.
