….. reveal plans to strengthen African film to global market.
…. Richard Mofe Damijo, Femi Adebayo, Funke Akindele, others to receive Honouree Award
…Prime Video to close festival with inspirational movie Breath of Life
…Female Nigerian stories take centre stage with Funmilayo Ransome Kuti and Queen of
Adire- Mama Nike Art Gallery’s biopic
Organisers of the Africa International Film Festival have unveiled plans for its 12th edition,
geared at expanding indigenous movies to the global market. This was revealed during a
media parley heralding the festival at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos. Scheduled to take place from November 5th to 11th 2023, AFRIFF promises a captivating opening night with the exclusive premiere of ORAH, directed by Lonzo Nzekwe. The closing night will be equally enchanting as it features the highly anticipated premiere of the inspirational movie “Breath of Life” directed by BB Shashore and produced by Eku Edewor.
Present at the parley were AFRIFF Founder and Festival Director, Chioma Ude;
MarCom & Sponsorship Director, Ebuka Ude; Program & Artistic Director, Ikenna
Ezenyirioha; Head Media and PR, Latasha Ngwube. Others were AFRIFF Jury President,
Stephen Dr. Love; Folake Steaze Johnson representing Chief Creative Officer of NEFTI Paul
Robinson, and Middle Eastern filmmaker Samir Abdel Nasir.
Giving the opening remarks, Latasha Ngwube, Head of Media and Public Relations stated
that the 12th edition of the African International Film Festival will uncover new talents,
create insider opportunities and screen hundreds of films for free. “The world is coming to
Nigeria as AFRIFF looks internally to strengthen and grow in preparation to take African
stories made by Africans to the world”.
The AFRIFF jury boasts of local and international members headed by Stephen Dr. Love.
Others are Abby Ajayi, Nicholas Weinstock, Geneva Wasserman, Wafa’a Celine Halawi, Greg
Odutayo, Ranada Shepard, Tsitsi Dangaremgba and Nollywood greats, Kate Henshaw,
Desmond Elliot, as well as Multichoice Nigeria’s Bisola Tejumola.
Founder and Director of AFRIFF, Chioma Ude reaffirmed the organiser’s readiness to
improve the festival’s capacity towards global expectations.
“We are inspired by the passion and dedication of filmmakers and film enthusiasts in Africa,
and we are committed to providing a platform for their voices to be heard. This year, the
theme is Indigenous to global 2.0, which is in continuation of last year’s theme, but I learnt a
lot about how unready we are. In order to be very prepared, we expanded our panel, our
judges, masterclasses to prepare us more for the global market. We are focused on
improving capacity building, with industry partners and position the industry further for more
opportunities. Next year will be Indigenous to Global 3.0 until we get it right”.
In addition to these remarkable cinematic experiences, the festival will present a selection of noteworthy films, including “Queen of Adire – A Story of Nike Davies Okundaye” by Titi
Ogunfere and “Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti” by the visionary Bola Austen-Peters, among others,
all of which showcase indigenous narratives from women who have made national impact.
Furthermore, the festival will be adorned with a series of diverse activities including Panel
discussions, and Networking sessions, leading to the prestigious AFRIFF Globe Awards.
This year’s edition will also unveil three exciting new categories sponsored by MTN Nigeria,
these additions include the Honouree Award, offering N2 million naira to each recipient, the
Viewer’s Choice category, allowing viewers to vote for their preferred movie of the year, and
the Fan Favorite Award, enabling fans to cast their votes for their beloved actors and
actresses. The Awards will be presented to selected actors at the Globe Awards Night, on
November 11 th during the festival. Actors to be honoured include Richard Mofe Damijo (The
Black Book), Blossom Chukwujekwu (The Trade), Chidi Mokeme (Shanty Town), Funke
Akindele (Battle on Buka street) and Femi Adebayo (Jagun Jagun). Others are Chioma Akpotha (Gangs of Lagos), Kunle Remi (Anikulapo), Ini Edo (Shanty Town), Nse Ikpe Etim (4-
44-44), Lateef Adedimeji, (Jagun Jagun), and Tobi Bakare (Gangs of Lagos).
The N.E.F.T.I. (NEFT emerging Film Talent International) competition in collaboration with LG
Electronics and AFRIFF will also be selecting and rewarding new young talent with prize
money of $5000 for the creativity while embracing their uniqueness.
AFRIFF will celebrate the diverse and vibrant African film industry. highlighting the cultural
richness and storytelling of African talents while underscoring the importance of continued
collaboration, innovation, and investment in the region’s cinema.
The 2023 edition is partnered and sponsored by Lagos State Government, Access Corporation, MTN, Prime Video, Paramount, Mikano, HOW Foundation, WIGWE University, PAC Capital, The Refinery, Martel, US Consulate Lagos, French Embassy, DSTV, Showmax, Africa No Filter, NEWF, NEFTI, Spcine, and UCA University for the Creative Arts UK.
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L-R Steven Dr Love, Chioma Ude; Founder AFRIFF, Middle Eastern Filmmaker Samir Abdel Nasir
Chioma Ude; Founder AFRIFF
L-R Steven Dr Love, Chioma Ude
L-R Ikenna Ezenyirioha – Program & Artistic Director, Latasha Ngwube – Head of PR and Media, Steven Dr Love, Chioma Ude – Founder, AFRIFF, Ebuka Ude – MarCom & Sponsorship Director, AFRIFF
See here, Link to the honourees.
For more information about AFRIFF and upcoming events, please visit www.afriff.com
ABOUT AFRICA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (AFRIFF)
The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), conceived by Ms. Chioma Ude, is a world-class
showcase that celebrates Cinema and filmmaking talent from Africa and the diaspora. It
consistently delivers a rich program to foster invaluable exchanges of ideas, production
connections, and business relationships. It creates an energetic and exciting hub for
entertainment industry professionals to make rewarding connections and has gradually
gained a reputation for delivering Africa’s most vibrant film festival experience. Its objectives
are to develop the film industry to a level where the products compete favorably with their
contemporaries all over the world; provide a growth opportunity for these film industry
professionals to eventually export their products to the world; facilitate access to investors,
equipment, technical and skill acquisition through Festival organized fora and several
capacity development workshops.
www.afriff.com
AFRIFF AFRICA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
e-mail: info@afriff.com
website: www.afriff.com
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