The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) has announced an ambitious programme for its 13th edition, featuring high-profile premieres, international guests and an accomplished jury panel. The festival, scheduled for November 3-9 at AFRIFF Hub, The Palms, Oniru, Lagos, will showcase a diverse selection of African storytelling under the theme “Indigenous to Global: Cultural Wealth for Global Prosperity.”
Eight distinguished film industry professionals have been named to this year’s jury, including acclaimed producer Stephen ‘Dr’ Love, veteran Nigerian actress Ego Boyo, and international festival director Dennis Ruh. Other jury members include Wafa’a Celine Halawi, Lanre Olupona, Victor Okhai, Cynthia Okoye and Yolanda Mogathusi, bringing together a wealth of global cinema expertise.
The festival’s opening night will feature Headless, directed by Nigerian filmmaker Michael W. Ndiomu, while Obi Emelonye’s Out of Breath has been selected as the closing film. Among the notable guests expected to attend are British-Nigerian actor John Boyega and Nigerian-British rapper Skepta, who will premiere his short film “Tribal Mark.”
Festival Founder Chioma Ude highlighted the event’s carefully curated daily themes, including dedicated slots for animation, television and international co-productions during a virtual press conference.
“This year’s programme reflects our commitment to showcasing the best of African creativity while fostering global partnerships,” Ude stated.
The lineup includes several anticipated Nigerian productions, such as Kunle Afolayan’s **Recall,** BasketMouth’s **A Ghetto Love Story,** and Showmax’s new original series **Princess on a Hill.** Swedish-Somali filmmaker Filson Ali will also present work during the festival.
AFRIFF 2024’s programme introduces a special “Herbert Day” on November 4th, commemorating the late Herbert Wigwe’s contributions to Nigeria’s creative economy through the newly established Trailblazer Award. The festival has also secured partnerships with organisations from the UK, US, South Korea and Turkey, reinforcing its position as a global platform for African cinema.
The week-long celebration will conclude with the AFRIFF Globe Awards night on November 9, where the international jury will recognise outstanding achievements in various categories. The complete festival programme and screening schedule are available on the AFRIFF website, with public screenings and industry events scheduled throughout the week.
This comprehensive programme marks AFRIFF’s continued evolution as a premier showcase for African cinema, combining local talent with international collaboration while celebrating the continent’s rich storytelling traditions.