The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) returns for its 13th edition from November 3 to 9, 2024. AFRIFF 2024 will celebrate 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. It will feature 150 films from Africa and the Diaspora, alongside industry discussions and networking events.
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 press conference on Wednesday, October 30 2024, 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.
Chioma Ude, Founder and Festival Director, AFRIFF
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”.
Notable Guests
AFRIFF 2024 is themed into unique days that celebrate 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, and BasketMouth’s A Ghetto Love Story, while Showmax is expected to showcase their new original Princess on a Hill.
Daily Themes at AFRIFF 2024
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 to celebrate the collective efforts that make African cinema a beacon of cultural richness and pride worldwide.
The AFRIFF 2024 Jury
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, and Yolanda Mogathusi.
This year’s festival will feature 150 films from Africa and the Diaspora, along with industry discussions and networking events. The closing night film, OUT OF BREATH by Obi Emelonye, is a cinematic journey into Igbo culture, blending romance, action, and traditional proverbs to create a globally engaging story.
UNGA 79 New York
Coming off a global tour which included AFRIFF’s participation at UNGA 79 New York where the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy (FMACCE) powered by the African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIM) presented the Global Cultural Experience Initiative on the road to Destination 20230. HM Hannatu Musawa brought together industry leaders to explore strategies for harnessing Nigeria’s creative potential to drive global influence & prosperity, pushing home Ude’s panel discussion with Chapel Denham CEO Bolaji Balogun, Ukonwa Ojo and Tae-lim Oh on leveraging cultural wealth.