Every year like clockwork, filmmakers and movie enthusiasts from all spectrums of the industry converge at what is arguably the biggest film festival in Nigeria, the Africa International Film Festival; AFRIFF, to pay homage to the craft of filmmaking in all its many-sided splendour. If AFRIFF was a deity, the thousands of attendees who make their way from across the globe are loyal followers, struck by the awe of its God-likeness, yearning to breathe in its celestial essence for 7 days of cinematographic magic that includes panel conversations, film screenings, Masterclasses and the AFRIFF Globe awards.
This year’s instalment which is the 13th edition of the festival has boasted of some ambitiously-noteworthy highlights that if delivered on, will make AFRFF 2024 a pleasant upgrade from the past episodes.
- OPENING & CLOSING FILMS: The opening and closing screenings at FRIFF 2024 have been sequenced to celebrate home-grown stories that, as the organizers explained, will reflect the heart of African culture. So the festival will kick off with Micheal W. Ndiomu’s ‘Headless’ and close with Obi Emelonye’s highly anticipated ‘Out of Breath.’
- ANIMATION DAY: AFRIFF 2024 is finally recognizing the work of African Animated projects by giving the medium a day of its own. So, the truth is, Animators and their likes have always screened at AFRIFF but in an obscure location, far away from all the festivities and celebrities and this has not gone unnoticed. With a few animated grumbles from veterans of the medium, AFRIFF not unlike a typical deity has finally heard their cry, and is celebrating the creativity and cultural richness of African storytelling through animation by dedicating a day to the art of Animation. Smile.
- MASTERCLASSES: This year’s masterclasses at AFRIFF 2024 are visibly bigger and better. AFRIFF has always turned things up when it comes to their masterclasses, sparing no expense on the training they offer; and so this year we have a few new exciting masterclass entries. A Director’s masterclass with Moses Inwang, A producers’ workshop with Filson Ali, an actors’ masterclass with Ronya Man, and a YouTube monetization Masterclass. All by the best of the best in the industry. My absolute favourite would have to be the talent management masterclass with talent Guru and representation maestro, Fela Oke, and the writers’ lab masterclass with the undeniable King of Storytelling, Tunde Babalola.
- GUEST APPEARANCES: To all the legit groupies in Nigeria who are relatively unconcerned about the subtle art of cinematic wonder, John Boyega and Skepta will be at AFRIFF 2024. If you are anything like the thousands of Boyega and Skepta fans in the area, then that should definitely get your blood pumping. Skepta is debuting his short film titled, ‘Tribal Mark’ at AFRIFF 2024 while John Boyega is having a fireside chat tomorrow, so that’s an excuse to bump into them, right?
- THE HERBERT WIGWE TRAILBLAZER AWARD: This might sweeten the pot for all the suit-wearing corporate types. This year, AFRIFF is introducing the Herbert Wigwe Trailblazer award to honour the visionary who shaped the Nigerian creative economy. He was at a panel conversation in AFRIFF last year, tackling questions about the future of the creative economy and partnerships with private organizations, and swore to lend his hand in making it work in Nigeria. Life played an unexpected one on that front, but if this is AFRIFF’s take on cementing his legacy, then we are all for it.
That’s it; 5 things to look forward to at AFRIFF 2024. This list is our take on things (a rather short take) but there are a hundred more things to look forward to that if we try to type it all, will become a long article, then a script and all things being equal, maybe a long-ass movie. See you at AFRIFF.
