It’s a Wrap For AFRIFF 2024
The Nigerian domiciled Africa International Film Festival ends today in Lagos. The festival opened on Sunday, November 3, with a film, titled, Headless, directed by Nigerian filmmaker Michael W. Ndiomu. Headless narrates the story of an ambitious filmmaker who moves to Lagos in hopes of achieving his dreams, only to face an intimidating landscape, which put him at the mercy of forces beyond his control. This year’s theme honours the resilience and growth of African filmmaking, underscoring a journey marked by dedication and tenacity. At the opening ceremony, which held on Sunday and which had in attendance Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard M. Mills Jr.; and media mogul Nduka Obaigbena, two trailblazer awards were handed out. The first was to the late Access Bank Group chairman and a long-time supporter of Nigeria’s creative industries, Herbert Wigwe, while the second and third recipient of the award was Afreximbank President Benedict Oramah and Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who were recognised for their contributions to fostering growth in Nigeria’s creative sector. Both the Minister of Creative Economy and Governor Sanwo-Olu commended the founder of AFRIFF Chioma Ude for her resilience in spite of the challenges in putting together a festival. Governor Sanwo-Olu particularly praised the film industry’s contributions to Lagos, highlighting its role in creating employment; fostering creativity, and promoting joy among Nigerians and the global community. Over 300 films were screened during the five-day long festival. There were also a number of panel sessions, master classes, networking sessions, movie premieres and pitch session.
[ad]
Project Submission Open For Durban Filmmart
PROJECT submission for the 16th Durban FilmMart (DFM), Africa’s leading film finance and co-production market, opened on November 6, 2024. It will close on January 19, 2025.  The 16th DFM, scheduled to hold in July 2025 in Durban, South Africa is the flagship event of the Durban FilmMart Institute and was named in UNESCO’s 2021 Film Trends in Africa Report as ‘the continent’s best film market’.  The event is designed to generate visibility for African content and talent and create partnerships to further the development and production of African cinema. The DFM Pitch and Finance Forum is open to feature length fiction and documentary film projects or episodic/ series content in development. One of the three key creative roles (writers, directors and producers) needs to be an African citizen. Filmmakers that are looking for co-producers, financiers, sales agents, streamers, broadcasters and funders, are invited to submit. The independent selection panel will choose up to 20 projects in development from the submissions. Selected projects will be announced in early May 2025. Applications can be made through the Durban FilmMart Institute website: https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/pitch-and-finance-forum-application/. January 19, 2025 is deadline for applications. The Durban FilmMart has earned the reputation as a key platform for industry professionals attracting almost 1500 delegates from 58 countries over the four-day event in 2024. In addition to the Pitch ad Finance Forum the DFM will present a robust industry programme and networking events enabling filmmakers to connect with an array of significant representatives from the industry both locally and internationally.

More Screen Time For ‘The Man Died’ At Home
AFTER two successful screening in London, The Man Died, the feature film inspired by Wole Soyinka’s memoir of same title, has returned to the home turf; set to feature in major film and literary festivals in the country. The movie, which parades a galaxy of sterling actors and crew led by the reigning AMVCA Actor of the Year, Wale Ojo and seasoned Sam Dede and Norbert Young, among others, screened at the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) on Monday November 7. Exploring the theme, Indigenous to Global: Cultural Wealth to Global Prosperity, 2024 AFRIFF, in its 13th edition, opened on November 3 and will close on November 9. After AFRIFF, The Man Died is billed for a special screening on Wednesday November 13 at the Agip Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan Lagos as part of the Lagos Book & Art Festival, LABAF, which had declared its 2024 season “The Soyinka Year,” and dedicated its 26th edition to celebrating the eminent life and illustrious career of the renowned poet, dramatist, essayist, novelist human and civil rights activist, famously referenced as the ‘Global Humanist’. Described as the “biggest Cultural Picnic on the continent of Africa”, the one-week LABAF is exploring the theme, BREAKOUT: Hope is a Stubborn Thing, with over 60 events staged at its traditional venue, Freedom Park, Lagos Island and virtually. From LABAF, The Man Died will feature as the ‘Opening Film’ at the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival, ENIF, in Enugu, on November 27. Inspired by the long history Eastern Nigeria has with Nollywood and the African Storytelling industry, ENIFF 2024 explores the theme, “Reimagine,” focusing on how storytelling can reshape narratives and drive social impact. Since its first screening on July 12 in Lagos to mark the Nobel laureate’s 90th birthday (July 13), The Man Died had been abroad; screening at various festivals and university circuit.
[ad]