The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) is back with its 13th edition and runs from November 3, 2024, through November 9, 2024. This year’s theme, “Indigenous to Global: Cultural Wealth to Global Prosperity,” underlines the festival’s continued dedication to championing African stories that resonate across the globe and celebrating African narratives.
Held annually in Lagos, the festival showcases features, shorts, documentaries, and animations, fostering growth and global opportunities for African filmmakers. Chioma Ude, the founder of AFRIFF shared that this year’s edition is dedicated to “emphasising African talent and heritage, with a focus on the unique Nigerian flair.”
Here’s a breakdown of what has happened and what to expect for the remainder of the festival.
The opening event
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The festival kicked off with an opening night, a star-studded event that saw stakeholders in the film industry gathered to celebrate the beginning of the week-long festival. It also featured the first screening of the highly anticipated crime thriller, Headless by Michael W. Ndiomu, starring Gideon Okeke, Uzoamaka Aniunoh, Baaj Adebule, Gbubemi Ejeye, and Ruby Okezie.
Film screenings
This year’s festival will feature 150 films from Africa and the Diaspora with screening scheduled released each day. The festival will close out with the screening of Out of Breath, directed by filmmaker Obi Emelonye and stars Kanayo O. Kanayo, Echelon Mbadiwe, Ebele Okaro and Chidi Mokeme.
The Jury
This year’s jury features filmmakers from across Africa and the diaspora, who have displayed excellence in their craft. They will be responsible for screening the films that were submitted and selecting outstanding films in various categories.
The jury this year includes Stephen ‘Dr’ Love (producer on They Cloned Tyrone), Ego Boyo (veteran Nigerian filmmaker and actress), Dennis Ruh (former director of the European Film Market), Wafa’a Celine Halawi (Dubai-based actress), Lanre Olupona (Nigerian filmmaker and cinematographer on Gidi Blues), Victor Okhai (president of the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria), Cynthia Okoye (UK-based talent agent), and Yolanda Mogatusi (South African filmmaker).
Panel discussions and Workshops
AFRIFF will also feature speakers, and guests who are seasoned film experts and practitioners to share their knowledge of a diverse range of topics, share challenges, discuss opportunities, and also nurture prospective filmmakers.
John Boyega wins the Herbert Wigwe Trailblazer award
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This year’s festival features Herbert Wigwe Day celebrating the memory and legacy of late Wigwe who was a supporter of art and sponsor of AFRIFF. The festival also introduces the Herbert Wigwe Trailblazer Award, honouring Nigerians in the diaspora who excel in their respective fields. John Boyega was awarded as its inaugural recipient.
The closing event
As usual, this year’s festival will close with the Globes Awards Night on the final day, November 9, 2024. The award event serves the sole aim of announcing winners of various categories in films that were submitted for screening.
