This is Jonas Carpignano’s year as a filmmaker. His first feature, Mediterranea, a touchy film on human capital flight, will open two important film festivals – the 6th Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) and then in Europe – the 26th Stockholm International Film Festival which will take place from November 11 through 22, 2015.

Born in New York for an Italian father and an African-American mother, and partly raised in Rome, the archetypal feel of director Carpignano’s first feature film and the fact that it is connected with the issue of migration, a global concern, is probably the reason festival programmers and indeed festivalgoers have found it a good pick. But it is indeed a good pick as opening film for both festivals especially for the Nigerian domiciled Africa International Film Festival. The issue of human capital flight on the continent of Africa has reached a stage where even world leaders are calling for a state of emergency to be declared on the situation.

Critics are of the opinion that a narrative that explores the theme of migration should find a spot on any festival shortlist and AFRIFF’s programmer and Artistic Director Keith Shiri has done a good job of deciding on the film as the opening film of AFRIFF which will be held at Eko Hotel in Lagos from November 8 through 15, 2015.

No doubt, the selection in this year’s AFRIFF does not only celebrating African cinema but demonstrates once more that the cinematic storytelling industry in Africa has become more compelling and visible.

“We chose to screen a number of films whose content are topical with issues that we hope will engage audiences and provoke debates,” Shiri, who is a programmer for the London African Film Festival and a long standing jury member of Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), explained.

AFRIFF’s founder and Chief Executive Officer Chioma Ude expressed pleasure that the highly revealing immigrant story will open AFRIFF.

Ude said, “We are very delighted to open the festival with Mediterranea which is a sad story of capital flight. It is a peculiar story about Africa and its most vibrant workforce wasting away in the wilderness. It is a narrative we want our teeming festivalgoers to see”.

Starring Koudous Seihon and Alassane Sy och Aisha, Mediterranea is the story of two young men leaving their home country Burkina Faso to make the dangerous trip over the Mediterranean to Italy. The film closed as a touching portrayal of African migrants in Italy and an expansion of Carpignano’s previous short films A Chjàna (2012) and Young Lions of Gypsy (2014).

Another good pick for AFRIFF this year is the highly anticipated feature film debut by notable Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji’s Road To Yesterday. The movie, a love story about a couple desperate to mend its marriage on a road trip to a relative’s funeral, will close the week-long festival. It is the first time the movie will be screened publicly and so festivalgoers say they anticipate a good outing for the film.

The other feature films to expect at the festival include Samba Gadjigo Sembene, Tomi Ayamode’s Unbroken, Ireti Bakare’s Buhari and the Burden of Expectation, Akin Omotoso’s Tell Me Something Sweet, Yared Zeleke’s Lamb, as well as Desmond Elliot’s Reflections. Gadjigo’s Sembene is a film about the late Ousmane Sembene, a pioneer and colossus figure of African cinema that features in the documentary competition.

But at the core of AFRIFF objectives is the talent development where AFRIFF has been engaging with its partners in creating opportunities for young people to explore filmmaking.  Also included in its programme for 2015 is an interesting lineup of international panorama with films from China, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, France, Denmark, Australia, India and as well as Iran.

Importantly, the festival will also present keynote industry conversations and engagements as well as education and training programmes.

According to Shiri, “We are hoping for a busy and exciting time of doing business, networking and celebration of Africa’s new aesthetic experience, a cinema that is in synch with the realities of today. It is always a daunting task to go through all the submitted titles to fit in a programme that runs for a week, but I would like to congratulate and thank all the filmmakers for sharing their work with us”.