By Josephine Agbonkhese

All is set for the take-off of the 13th edition of the African international Film Festival, AFRIFF, organisers have said.

Scheduled to begin November 3rd, 2024, at the AFRIFF Hub in Lagos, the festival themed ‘Indigenous to Global: Cultural Wealth for Global Prosperity’, will, yet again, celebrate Africa’s rich cinematic heritage— from storytelling to cinematic talent, and cultural pride.

Speaking on this year’s festival at a recent briefing in Lagos, Chioma Ude, Founder, AFRIFF, reiterated 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 said.

The festival, she disclosed, will open with Headless, a film entirely produced in Nigeria by director Michael W. Ndiomu and close with the premiere of Obi Emelonye’s anticipated new film, Out of Breath.

Ude also emotionally announced the introduction of the Herbert Wigwe Trailblazer Award; named in memory of the late Herbert Wigwe, to the festival.

“A visionary in the Nigerian creative economy, Wigwe’s tremendous generosity to the festival and ardent support of the arts can never be underestimated nor forgotten,” she said of the rationale behind the new award.

The new award category, according to her, will focus on celebrating Nigerians excelling in the creative fields, acknowledging Wigwe’s contributions to the growth of Africa’s cultural and creative industries.

She revealed that the inaugural recipients of the award which will be presented by Hannatu Musa Musawa, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, at the opening gala and premiere, will include Afreximbank President Benedict Oramah, founder of the Creative Africa Nexus, CANE; and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The other categories, she added, will include the trailblazer awards in Film, Music, Culinary Arts, Fashion and Tech.

Also speaking, Isioma Idigbe, Director of Projects, AFRIFF, added that 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.

Among others who also spoke were Ikenna Ezenyirioha, Head, Movie Selection, AFRIFF; and Latasha Ngwube, Head, Media and PR, AFRIFF.

According to the organisers, drawing the final curtain on the festival on November 9th will, yet be, its long-standing AFRIFF Globe Awards night.