Abuja may be emerging as Nollywood’s next major filmmaking destination as veteran actor, filmmaker and producer Jerry Amilo has launched an ambitious talent hunt in the nation’s capital, seeking fresh faces for an upcoming movie reportedly targeted at Netflix.
The audition, organised by New Movies Entertainment Studios, attracted established and aspiring actors who gathered at Nippon Grand Hotel, Abuja, on Tuesday, hoping to secure roles in the highly anticipated production.
Amilo, who is the Chief Executive Officer of New Movies Entertainment Studios, said the initiative was designed not only to discover new talents but also to demonstrate that Abuja possesses the human and creative resources required to compete for a bigger share of Nigeria’s film industry.
“My reason for coming to Abuja is to prove a point that we have people here and to show filmmakers that Abuja has talents,” he said.
According to him, Abuja has remained relatively underutilised by Nollywood despite its diverse population, rich cultural mix and abundance of locations suitable for film production.
He argued that the Federal Capital Territory offers a unique advantage because people from virtually every part of Nigeria live in the city.
“Abuja has almost all the languages that we have in Nigeria, and I don’t see why they cannot produce the set of people that I’m looking for,” Amilo said.
Beyond its diversity, the filmmaker said Abuja’s relatively spacious landscape and less congested environment make it attractive for filmmakers seeking locations different from those commonly associated with Lagos.
“Lagos is so choked up. We film in Lagos, but you can’t find the kind of landscape and atmosphere that you have in Abuja,” he said.
Amilo disclosed that at least 47 actors would be selected through the audition, with Abuja-based talents expected to constitute about 85 per cent of the cast.
The remaining cast, he said, would comprise established actors and other known faces drawn from different parts of Nigeria and beyond.
Although the official title of the movie has not been released, Amilo said its working title is “Not My Destiny.”
The filmmaker said he was impressed by the quality of talents that turned up for the Abuja audition, although he had expected a larger turnout.
“From what I’m seeing here today, I am happy and impressed. More people are still coming, and they are doing well,” he said.
Amilo said he had anticipated that at least 500 people would attend the Abuja audition, recalling that more than 3,000 aspiring actors had turned out for a similar exercise in Warri.
Despite the smaller turnout, he said the talents he encountered in Abuja had demonstrated that the city was capable of producing actors who could hold their own in the Nigerian film industry.
The actor, who has earned a reputation for portraying tough and villainous characters in Nollywood, urged filmmakers and other industry stakeholders to look beyond the traditional filmmaking centres and explore Abuja’s largely untapped pool of creative talent.
“If Abuja is well harnessed and their actors given the opportunity, I believe that they will make the industry proud,” he said.
For actors in the capital, the audition represented more than an opportunity to land a role. It offered a chance to challenge the perception that major Nollywood opportunities are concentrated in Lagos and other established filmmaking centres.
Salma Aminu, Mayor of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Abuja chapter, said Amilo’s decision to stage the audition in Abuja demonstrated confidence in the creative potential of actors in the territory.
“He knows that Abuja has prospects and he wants also to farm in a green land,” she said.
Aminu described the audition as a significant opportunity for actors seeking to establish themselves in the industry, urging them to approach every opportunity with seriousness and professionalism.
“Every opportunity counts. There is no such thing as little opportunities, and this opportunity should be embraced by every actor,” she said.
She encouraged aspiring actors to use auditions not only to seek roles but also to demonstrate their abilities and build professional relationships that could shape their careers.
“Nothing is more important than building your career. When you get an opportunity of this magnitude, make sure that you make an impression that will last,” she added.
Among those hoping to seize the opportunity was 10-year-old Queen Elizabeth Abdullahi, who said acting had been her passion since childhood.
The young actress said she began acting at the age of seven and had already featured in several films.
“I have acted before in many films. I started acting at seven, and now I’m 10. If I’m picked, I’ll feel happy and excited,” she said.
For Chioma Nwigbo, the audition was an opportunity to turn her growing interest in acting into a professional career.
“I decided to come for the audition because I found interest in becoming an actress,” she said, promising to give her best if selected.
Another participant, Dansey Mbah, said Abuja possessed both the talents and locations needed to support a thriving film industry.
“Abuja has a lot of potential based on location and unique actors,” he said.
Mbah called on filmmakers to organise more auditions in the capital and make opportunities accessible to both established actors and newcomers.
“They should give everybody a chance to express themselves, because sometimes it is not everybody that has such opportunities,” he said.
Amilo’s talent hunt comes at a time when Nigeria’s film industry continues to expand beyond its traditional centres, with streaming platforms creating new opportunities for Nigerian stories, actors and filmmakers to reach audiences around the world.
For Abuja, the significance of the audition may therefore extend beyond the casting of a single movie. It could signal a broader push to position the Federal Capital Territory as a serious player in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving screen industry.
And for the hundreds of actors dreaming of their breakthrough, the message from the audition hall was simple: the next Nollywood star may not have to travel to Lagos to be discovered.
