Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) has selected Olive Nwosu's film Lady as the official opener for its 15th edition, scheduled to run from 1 to 7 November in Lagos. Hakeem Kae-Kazim's It's the Blackness will close AFRIFF.
The films on display were announced at a pre-festival press conference. This year's AFRIFF theme is "Frames of the Future: Africa's Creative Intelligence."
Lady is an Anglo-Nigerian film that follows a Lagos cab driver who befriends a group of prostitutes. The main characters include Ujah (Jessica Gabriel), Amanda Oruh, and Seun Kuti. The film received a special jury award at Sundance.
It's the Blackness, penned by Dapo Oshiyemi, a UK-based dark comedy about two unemployed Black graduates looking for love and dealing with family pressure.
The Special Presentations section features African, diaspora, and international works such as Kaelo Iyizoba's The Spectacular Death of Prisca, Walter Thompson-Hernandez's If I Go Will They Miss Me, and Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value. In separate news, actor and filmmaker Bolaji Ogunmola says Bad Blood, directed by Yemi "Filmboy" Morafa and produced by Vincent Ezeni, will debut at AFRIFF.
This year's festival will bring audience participation through ticketed screenings and events. The festival will launch the Pulse Rising Filmmaker Award alongside Pulse Nigeria, as well as the existing Globe Awards, during the closing ceremony. At the same time, Toyosi Akerele will facilitate an AI filmmaking and content lab with TikTok on 6 November.
AFRIFF Film & Content Market #2 will take place from 2-5 November, with the full film lineup yet to be disclosed. For sellers offering African productions, the market dates will offer a window into West African theatrical and streaming sessions.
