The highly anticipated Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) is back, promising global premieres, celebrated African narratives, and insightful industry panels.

Known for spotlighting diverse voices across African and international cinema, AFRIFF, now in its 13th edition, continues to strengthen its reputation as a premier African arts, culture, and film event. At a recent press conference, AFRIFF Founder Chioma Ude shared, “This year, we are emphasizing African talent and heritage, with a particular focus on our unique Nigerian flair. AFRIFF is all about celebrating who we are and showcasing the creativity and resilience within our continent.”

Here’s a breakdown of what attendees can expect at this year’s festival.

Opening & Closing Films

The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) will kick off with Michael W. Ndiomu’s Headless. This drama follows the journey of a determined filmmaker who arrives in Lagos to make a name for himself, only to confront forces far beyond his understanding, starring Gideon Okeke, Uzoamaka Aniunoh, Baaj Adebule, Gbubemi Ejeye, and Ruby Okezie.

The festival will close out this year’s screenings with Out of Breath, directed by AMAA-winning filmmaker Obi Emelonye. This Igbo epic centers on an elder who defies tradition by attempting to halt the ancient custom of burying elders with their servants, risking his own life to protect his loyal attendant from the very practice he’s trying to end. It stars Kanayo O. Kanayo, Echelon Mbadiwe, Ebele Okaro and Chidi Mokeme.

Jury

This year’s jury features filmmakers from across Africa and the diaspora, including 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).

Key Selections

The festival will also premiere Kunle Afolayan’s Recall, Daniel Oriahi’s A Ghetto Love Story, and Ifeoma Chukwugo’s Phoenix Fury, while Showmax is set to showcase their new original series, Princess on a Hill. Additionally, the Nigerian premieres of TIFF-returnees The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos by Agbajowo and Freedom Way by Olalekan Afolabi are scheduled.

Out-of-competition titles include Fiyin Gambo’s The Other Side of The Bridge and Tolu LordTanner’s The Artifact. See the full lineup of in-and-out-of-competition selections on their website. You can access our Must-See films at this year’s festival here.

Short Films

The festival will feature a curated selection of short films, providing a platform for emerging filmmakers to showcase their work. Titles include Love, Olaitan by Moyosore Akinsete, We Have Bleach by Aisha Salaudeen, Tegbon Taburo by Orire Nwani, Ekun Iyawo by Moses Ipadeola, and Acta Non Verba from Guguru Studios. Additionally, Nigerian-British rapper Skepta will premiere his short film Tribal Mark.

Panels and Key Conversations

AFRIFF’s panels are known for sparking topical discussions, and this year’s lineup promises insightful conversations with industry leaders. Key sessions will cover topics such as film financing and investment, technology in filmmaking, a fireside chat with John Boyega, regional co-production, animation in Africa, faith-based films in mainstream media, television production, and more.

Venue

This year, the festival is experiencing what has been called an upgrade, with the addition of FilmOne at the Palms Mall in Lekki alongside the familiar Landmark location. The new cinema space at Palms is seen as a solution to the limited seating at last year’s festival, which left some attendees frustrated by unavailable seats.

Additional Highlights

This year’s festival introduces the new Herbert Wigwe Trailblazer Award, honoring Nigerians in the diaspora who excel in their respective fields. Festival founder Chioma Ude announced that the inaugural award recipients are Afreximbank President Benedict Oramah, founder of the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX), and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. These awards will be presented by Honourable Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, at the opening gala and premiere. Additional Trailblazer awards will recognize achievements in film, music, culinary arts, fashion, and tech.

Each festival day will feature themed events, including Herbert Wigwe Day (Nov. 4) celebrating Herbert Wigwe and his legacy, Co-Production Day (Nov. 5) to explore international film collaborations, Animation Day (Nov. 6) highlighting African talent in animation, Television Day (Nov. 7) showcasing the impact of television on African storytelling, and Afro Unity Day (Nov. 8) promoting Pan-African collaboration in the global film industry.

This year’s AFRIFF will take place from 3-9 November 2024, with an opening event on the first day and a Globes Awards Night on the final day.

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