In this candid interview with Iserhienrhien Uhunoma Esosa, Godfrey U. Cecilia and Aaron Woyengikuro Moses, Osagie Alex, a renowned coach, poet and writer, also known as Mr. Upgrade, shares the bittersweet emotions and experiences he accumulated as the chairman of the local organizing committee for Benson Idahosa University's 300-Hour Film Festival.
With unbridled passion and sincerity, Osagie shares the intricacies of the festival, from the initial conception to the final execution, highlighting the challenges, successes and lessons learned along the way. As he reminisces about the festival, Osagie's voice is filled with a mix of excitement, nostalgia and a hint of exhaustion, as he recounts the sleepless nights, the endless meetings and the unwavering dedication that went into making the festival a reality.
With his distinctive warmth and humility, Osagie opens up about the festival's impact on the participants, the audience and himself, sharing valuable insights into the world of filmmaking, personal growth and the transformative power of creative expression. EXCERPTS:
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
My name is Osagie Alex and I am a coach, poet and writer. I prefer to be called Mr. Upgrade because I say I am the shortest distance between who you are now and who you can become. I help you leave good behind. I am very particular about upgrade mastery and personal development, especially for young people, because I believe that they can be more than they currently are. If they apply themselves to investing in their personal development, they can become all that they are meant to be.
WHAT ROLE DID YOU PLAY IN THE RECENTLY COMPLETED FILM FESTIVAL?
I was privileged to be the chairman of the local organizing committee for Benson Idahosa University's 300-Hour Film Festival. It was amazing—intense, stressful, exciting and filled with bittersweet emotions. I had a great time seeing students learn from scratch and complete their movies within the 300-hour time frame. It was beautiful. I commend the President of the university, Bishop Dr. Feb Idahosa and Vice Chancellor Professor John Okhuoya, along with the management for their support. Significant resources were invested in this project because they believe in the future of the young people they are grooming at BIU.
WHAT WERE THE CRITERIA FOR SCREENING THE FILMS?
The judges had specific criteria for evaluating the movies, which included originality and redeeming qualities, as that was the theme of the festival. A redemptive quality meant that someone going through a phase was redeemed. They also looked at creativity and how well the students showcased their ideas. The judges did not know any of the participants, so there was no bias. Additionally, we created a viewer's choice award, allowing the audience to vote for a particular award during the screening.
HAVE THE WINNING GROUP BEEN AWARDED THE PRIZE MONEY?
Oh sure! It is not audio money. The award ceremony was on a Saturday and by Monday of the next week, the prize money were credited to all three winners' accounts—within less than 48 hours.
SEEING THE SCALE OF THE PROGRAMME, THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CHALLENGES. COULD YOU SHARE SOME OF THEM WITH US?
Everything in life has its challenges. If I had to identify a challenge from the programme, it would be the lack of sufficient time. If I were to do this again, I would suggest a boot camp-style workshop where participants could spend several days, not just a short period. They were having workshops from 9AM to 2PM every day and some had to return to another (Legacy) campus daily. If we really want to do this effectively the next time, it might be best to schedule it when school is not in session.
WERE THERE ANY NOTABLE PERSONALITIES THAT ATTENDED THE EVENT?
Yes, we had notable figures from the movie industry. Adela Oye, a well-known Nigerian Nollywood actress, was there to teach acting. Tolu Daniel taught scriptwriting and Darryl Magba, an amazing director currently working with Sony Nigeria, also attended. Interestingly, his short film was nominated for the African Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) this year. We had some of the best professionals involved, including Darryl, who is an alumnus of this institution.
NOW THAT THE FESTIVAL HAS ENDED, WHAT IS THE NEXT PLAN FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED?
Firstly, the film festival is a prequel to another film festival—it serves as a pilot for the main event. This one was designed to test if the concept would work and we've confirmed that it can. The next festival is likely to take place in September and will be open to everyone in Nigeria, not just BIU students. We will continue with workshops and provide a specific timeframe for shooting their movies. In March, we will also hold another film festival in 2026, continuing this cycle. For the participants, some came from both campuses and we have already shared them. They selected core values to create films on: the legacy campus chose transparency, while the heritage campus chose "people matter." Currently, they are working on their films, with a deadline of April 30 this year to screen them on our platforms for viewing before preparing for the September festival.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON OR SHED MORE LIGHT ON?
Young people should get involved in activities that align with their passions. Opportunities like this will not be handed to you on a silver platter for long. Someone during the workshop mentioned that if we opened this up to students from other schools, we would not have had enough room in the hall. However, because this is a private school, the zeal was not as high. We need to disassociate ourselves from such mindsets. The goal for me was not even the prize money; it was to see people improve in areas where they are learning. You cannot have a Mass Communication student who has not produced their own film while in school, regardless of quality. It shows that you know the area you want to specialize in. Young people should take any opportunity for learning seriously, as experiences like this go beyond classroom education and can help redirect interests. The president is focused on ensuring that students in Mass Communication keep up with global trends in their field. Therefore, my message to young people is to take advantage of learning opportunities; it will benefit you greatly.
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