Korede Akintunde in Abuja, June 3, 2026 —
Founder of the Mount Zion Film Ministry, Evangelist Mike Bamiloye, has urged Christian filmmakers across Africa to prioritize storytelling that reflects God’s kingdom values, warning against allowing trends and “wrong mindsets” to shape faith-based productions.
Bamiloye made the call on Tuesday at the maiden Africa International Christian Film Festival (AICFF), which opened today at Silverbird Cinemas, Abuja.
Delivering the keynote address titled “Identity and Kingdom Story Telling,” he told the participants—drawn from Christian film and movie-making circles—that creative work must be rooted in spiritual identity, stressing that filmmakers should first understand who they are in Christ before attempting to communicate Christian messages through film.
According to him, personal identity in Christ should become the source of a filmmaker’s creativity, adding that the spiritual life and “the soul” of the creator are more important than any content being produced.
Bamiloye also warned against any clash between kingdom principles and worldly systems in storytelling, urging Christian creatives not to compromise under societal or industry pressure.
He referenced the biblical principle that “light shines in darkness and the darkness has not comprehended it,” applying it to the task of influencing cities and the wider film industry through values-driven content. He said kingdom storytellers should “claim space” in the creative ecosystem and help audiences identify with Christ.
During the session, Bamiloye highlighted several themes for Christian filmmakers to consider, including:
– Christian films, he said, should showcase Christian values and messages and reflect God’s perspective.
– Creatives should uphold kingdom principles even when confronted with pressure to align with prevailing cultural or trend norms.
– A “kingdom ambassador,” he noted, should be able to identify and “disinfect” worldly ideas that conflict with Christian convictions.
– He stressed that the Holy Spirit should lead creativity, and that identity must not be lost in demanding industries.
– He encouraged filmmakers to pursue specific assignments and callings, rather than self-serving creative pursuits.
– Content, he added, should reveal the mind and purpose of God, with spiritual gifts deployed to advance that purpose.
– He emphasized the importance of recognizing one’s inner gift and calling, warning against leaving it “undetected.”
– He said the purpose of production should include showing the process of glorifying God, not only the final output.
In his conclusion, Bamiloye urged Christian filmmakers to confront what he described as the increasing push of immorality, ungodliness and witchcraft in the mainstream content across platforms, calling on faith-based creatives to expose and resist such influences through principled storytelling.
Africa International Christian Film Festival (AICFF) is organized for the celebration of faith, storytelling, creativity, and kingdom impact as filmmakers, actors, producers, creatives, and Christian storytellers from across Africa.
The Africa International Christian Film Festival (AICFF) is organized by Gospel Cinema International and spearheaded by its Festival Convener, Mr. Bright Wonder Obasi featuring Film Screenings, Workshops & Masterclasses, Panel Sessions, Christian Film Market, Awards and Networking among others.
