By Deborah Enwerem
Fidelis Duker, Founder of Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF), says Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help filmmakers to enhance creative processes and protect their intellectual property.
He stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday at the ongoing 23rd AIFF.
The 2026 edition of the annual fiesta is holding from Oct. 20 to 25 with the theme “Frames without Boarders: AI, Ethics, and the Future of Filmmaking”.
Duker said AI could help curb copyright infringement and the unauthorised distribution of creative works on digital platforms through specific legal standards, digital tracking tools, and ownership requirements.
According to him, filmmakers can use AI tools to identify where their films were being distributed or screened online.
“AI also gives you the opportunity of identifying where your work is being shown. Unlike before, when you didn’t know where your work was being shown,” he said.
Duker said filmmakers could also use digital tools provided by streaming and video-sharing platforms to report unauthorised use of their works and enforce their rights.
He, however, identified enforcement as a major challenge, noting that digital piracy often transcended national boundaries and required adequate funding and institutional capacity.
He said the Copyright Act provided for the protection of creative works on digital platforms, unlike the earlier legal framework, which largely reflected the era of physical media such as compact discs and DVDs.
According to him, Nigeria needs to strengthen its enforcement mechanisms, adding that the Nigerian Copyright Commission needs adequate funding to effectively fulfill its statutory mandate in line with realities of the digital age.
Duker also addressed concerns that AI could displace workers, urging professionals to acquire new skills and use emerging technologies to improve their productivity.
He said technological advancement did not necessarily eliminate employment opportunities, citing traffic lights and robotic cleaning machines as examples of how automation could change existing roles and create demand for specialised skills.
“For those who feel that they will lose jobs, I think people should go and improve their skills and see how they can use AI to enhance their work.
“That way, they won’t lose their jobs,” he said.
On concerns about AI’s inaccurate representation of African names, languages and cultural expressions, Duker said the technology was still evolving and would improve as developers gained access to more diverse voices and linguistic data.
“Most of these things, over time, will be perfected,” he said, adding that the technology was expanding beyond its initial Western focus.
He said the growing adoption of AI tools across Africa could contribute to better representation of African languages and cultural expressions.
The AIFF founder urged African filmmakers to embrace AI while recognising its limitations and adapting it to local contexts.
“AI has its own drawbacks and also has its own potential. I think AI has come to help,” Duker added.
The 23rd edition of the Abuja International Film Festival brings filmmakers, film enthusiasts, regulators, investors and other industry stakeholders together, featuring film screenings, masterclasses, workshops and panel discussions on developments in the Nigerian and global film industries. (NAN)
Edited by Joshua Olomu
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