SONTA 2026: Tosin Dara Receives Prestigious Honour, Celebrated As Creative Industry Icon

Renowned filmmaker, cinematographer and Creative Director of Ibumedia, Oluwatosin Joshua Dara, has been honoured with the Creative Industry Icon Award at the 39th International Conference and 40th Annual General Meeting of the Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA).

The prestigious recognition was presented during the conference held from August 18 to 21, 2026, at Lead City University, Ibadan, with the theme, “African Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Performance, Film and Sustainable Futures.”

According to Bush Radio Academy, the award recognises Dara’s growing influence and contributions to Nigeria’s creative industry, particularly in filmmaking, cinematography, video production, editing and multimedia storytelling.

With more than a decade of experience in the creative sector, Dara has built a reputation for combining technical expertise with compelling visual storytelling. Through Ibumedia, he has led a range of productions and creative projects across different sectors, helping to establish the company as an emerging force in Nigeria’s multimedia landscape.

His professional activities have also extended beyond commercial productions, with contributions to documentary projects and international initiatives. Among these is the United Nations Youth Climate Change Video Project. He has also served as a Multimedia Storytelling Trainer under the Nigeria Climate Change Response Programme Capacity Building Workshop for Journalists.

The SONTA honour comes at a significant stage in Dara’s career as he prepares to deepen his involvement in film production. He is currently looking to expand More Brains Film, his film-focused creative venture, with plans to develop more narrative films and other screen productions.

The planned expansion builds on the filmmaking and storytelling experience Dara has gained over the years, as well as his background as a graduate of performing arts. His new direction also aligns with the central themes of the SONTA conference, which focused on African indigenous knowledge, performance, film and sustainable creative futures.

For Dara, the next phase of his career goes beyond producing films, as he seeks to contribute to Nigeria’s evolving film culture while creating platforms for African stories, identities and experiences to reach wider audiences.

The filmmaker expressed appreciation to the organisers of the conference, particularly the Department of Performing Arts, Music & Film Studies at Lead City University, Ibadan, and the Local Organising Committee led by Dr. Adebayo Badeji, for recognising his contributions and deeming him worthy of the honour.

The Creative Industry Icon Award adds to Dara’s professional achievements in cinematography and multimedia production while highlighting his ambition to make a stronger impact in filmmaking.

With Ibumedia continuing its multimedia and production activities and More Brains Film set for greater expansion, the recognition at SONTA 2026 marks another important milestone in Dara’s creative journey and could herald a new chapter in his contribution to Nigeria’s film and entertainment industry.