-Festival will give attention to AI in Cinema
Mmachi Okafor
The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) has unveiled 135 movies, new worldwide co-production agreements and synthetic intelligence initiatives because it marks its fifteenth version, with 55 per cent of its chosen characteristic movies directed by, produced by or centred on girls.
The competition introduced the programme at a press convention held at Mikano International headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, bringing collectively diplomats, authorities officers, company sponsors and movie trade stakeholders forward of the seven-day occasion scheduled for November 1 to 7, 2026.
The milestone version, themed “Frames of the Future” with programming constructed across the idea of “Africa’s Creative Intelligence,” will characteristic 23 characteristic movies amongst its 135 picks and culminate in the AFRIFF Globe Awards on the ultimate evening.
Festival founder Chioma Ude mentioned the numerous illustration of girls in the characteristic movie choice emerged organically in the course of the choice course of, describing it as a mirrored image of the path in which the trade is heading.
She additionally addressed considerations about synthetic intelligence and its implications for employment in filmmaking, arguing that the expertise ought to be considered as a device for inventive growth fairly than merely a menace to jobs.
“AI is not going to take anyone’s job, but rather the person who knows how to use AI will replace those who don’t,” Ude mentioned.
The competition’s programme combines regional storytelling and directorial debuts with acclaimed worldwide productions, with its opening and shutting movies highlighting completely different facets of modern filmmaking.
Opening the competition is ‘Lady,’ directed by Oliver Omoresu. The African neo-noir movie is about in Lagos and follows a younger taxi driver tasked with transporting a bunch of intercourse staff alongside their nightly routes. Gucci Franklin leads the solid alongside an ensemble of actors.
The closing movie, ‘It’s the Blackness,’ marks the characteristic directorial debut of veteran actor Hakeem Kae-Kazim. The black comedy-drama, which includes romantic parts, stars Kalu Ikeagwu and Marcy Dolapo Oni. It follows two shut buddies navigating private ambition, household pressures and complicated immigration challenges.
Beyond its African picks, AFRIFF will current worldwide movies via partnerships with diplomatic missions. These embrace the American movie ‘If I Go, Will They Miss Me,’ written and directed by Walter Thompson-Hernández and starring Oscar nominee Danielle Brooks, in addition to Marco Bellocchio’s ‘The Traitor,’ offered in partnership with the Italian Embassy. An Oscar-winning Norwegian movie will even be screened in collaboration with the Norwegian Embassy.
Technology and inventive independence will characteristic prominently in the anniversary programme, with initiatives designed to equip rising filmmakers with new expertise, increase distribution alternatives and strengthen the place of African creators in the digital financial system.
In collaboration with TikTok, AFRIFF will host a hands-on AI Creative Film and Content Creation Lab on November 6. The session will give attention to serving to rising filmmakers combine synthetic intelligence instruments into content material creation, pre-production and micro-drama manufacturing.
AFRIFF can be partnering with Pulse Nigeria to introduce the Pulse Rising Filmmaker Award, a brand new class meant to recognise and supply monetary help for filmmakers on the early levels of their careers.
Its worldwide partnerships are increasing as nicely, with Oman sending a 10-person delegation carrying scripts in search of Nigerian co-production companions. South Africa and Brazil have additionally signed three-year, multi-project co-production and residency framework agreements with the competition.
The agreements are anticipated to create alternatives for cross-border collaboration, permitting filmmakers to discover joint productions, change experience and construct stronger connections between African and worldwide movie markets.
Diplomatic representatives on the press convention additionally highlighted the significance of worldwide cooperation in strengthening the movie trade.
United States Consul General Brandon Hudspeth mirrored on the position of storytelling in shaping nationwide identification, noting that American storytellers had helped outline how the world understands the United States all through a lot of its 250-year historical past.
He mentioned Nollywood was enjoying the same position for Africa, utilizing movie to speak the continent’s experiences and identification to world audiences. Hudspeth additionally emphasised that the longer term of filmmaking would rely on combining human expertise with expertise to inform tales that resonate internationally.
As half of its participation, the U.S. Mission will showcase 10 American characteristic movies and host masterclasses that includes Oscar-nominated producer Alex Madigan in November and gaming govt Mike Fischer in December.
France additionally expressed help for worldwide collaboration. Laurent Favier, Consul General of France, mentioned the challenges going through the movie trade required cooperation amongst inventive professionals and establishments.
“No studio, platform, or artist can meet these new industry challenges alone,” Favier mentioned, explaining that the partnership centered on creating new worldwide co-productions in fiction, animation and documentaries.
For Dr Shaibu Husseini, Director-General of the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board, AFRIFF’s 15-year journey represents greater than an annual cultural gathering. He described the competition as a platform that has contributed to the visibility of African storytelling and the expansion of the inventive financial system.
“AFRIFF has not merely been a date on the cultural calendar, but a monument to African storytelling and a catalyst for economic growth in the creative sector,” Husseini mentioned.
With its fifteenth version bringing collectively filmmakers, expertise innovators, buyers and worldwide companions, AFRIFF is positioning the competition as a gathering level for inventive change and new enterprise alternatives.
