The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) returns for its 13th edition from
November 3rd to 9th, 2024, celebrating Africa’s rich cinematic heritage with the
theme “Indigenous to Global: Cultural Wealth for Global Prosperity.” Hosted at
AFRIFF Hub, The Palms, Oniru, Lagos, this year’s festival promises a landmark
celebration of African storytelling, cinematic talent, and cultural pride.
The festival opens with Headless, a film entirely produced in Nigeria by director
Michael W. Ndiomu and closes with the premiere of Obi Emelonye’s anticipated new
film Out of Breath. These productions underscore AFRIFF’s commitment to
spotlighting African narratives that resonate globally, connecting audiences to the
depth of African artistry and heritage.
At a recent press conference, AFRIFF Founder, Chioma Ude highlighted the
festival’s renewed focus on Nigerian and African stories:
“This year, we are emphasizing African talent and heritage,
particularly our unique Nigerian flair. AFRIFF is all about celebrating
who we are and showcasing the creativity and strength within our
continent.”
Ude also emotionally announced AFRIFF’s intention to introduce the
Herbert Wigwe Trailblazer Award, named in memory of Herbert Wigwe,
a visionary in the Nigerian creative economy whose tremendous
generosity to the festival and ardent support of the arts can never be
underestimated nor forgotten. ”This award category will focus on
celebrating Nigerians excelling in the creative fields, acknowledging
Wigwe’s contributions to the growth of Africa’s cultural and creative
industries. The inaugural recipients include Afreximbank President
Benedict Oramah, founder of the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX), and
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. These two awards will be
presented by Honourable Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Art,
Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy at the opening gala and
premiere. The other categories will include the Trailblazer Awards in Film,
Music, Culinary Arts, Fashion and Tech”.
AFRIFF 2024 is themed into unique days celebrating various aspects of African
cinema and collaboration. “Herbert Day,” dedicated to Herbert Wigwe, will explore
his impact on innovation and the intersections of art, technology, and education,
especially within Nigeria’s creative economy. This year’s lineup also features notable
guests like John Boyega, Nigerian British rapper Skepta, who will premiere his short
film Tribal Mark, and Swedish-Somali filmmaker Filson Ali. The festival will also
be premiering highly anticipated films like Kunle Afolayan’s Recall, BasketMouth’s A
Ghetto Love Story, while Showmax is expected to showcase their new original
Princess on a Hill.
The Afriff Daily Themes are as follows:
● November 3rd: Opening Night film premiere
● November 4th: Herbert Day – Honouring Herbert Wigwe’s legacy in fostering
a creative economy.
● November 5th: Co-Production Day – Exploring international film
collaborations.
● November 6th: Animation Day – Showcasing African talent in animated
storytelling.
● November 7th: Television Day – Highlighting the role of television in African
storytelling.
● November 8th: Afro-Unity Day – Promoting Pan-African collaboration in the
global film ecosystem.
● November 9th: AFRIFF Globe Awards night and closing.
AFRIFF partners with organizations from the UK, the US, South Korea, and Turkey,
underscoring its global reach and influence. This year’s event will continue celebrating the collective efforts that make African cinema a beacon of cultural
richness and pride worldwide.
The organizers also announced the jury members for this year which include
Stephen ‘Dr’ Love, Ego Boyo, Dennis Ruh, Wafa’a Celine Halawi, Lanre Olupona,
Victor Okhai, Cynthia Okoye & Yolanda Mogathusi.
For the full AFRIFF 2024 film selection, visit AFRIFF Official Selection.
For Media Inquiries: Ms. Latasha Ngwube
Head, Media and PR, AFRIFF
Email:prfofestival@gmail.com
Website: afriff.com
AFRIFF 2024 invites you to be part of an extraordinary journey of African stories,
from Indigenous traditions to global acclaim, as we unite through the universal
language of film.
