-Festival will deal with 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 85 per cent of its chosen characteristic movies directed by, produced by or centred on ladies.
The pageant 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 business 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 choices and culminate in the AFRIFF Globe Awards on the ultimate evening.
Festival founder Chioma Ude stated the numerous illustration of ladies in the characteristic movie choice emerged organically through the choice course of, describing it as a mirrored image of the route in which the business is heading.
She additionally addressed issues about synthetic intelligence and its implications for employment in filmmaking, arguing that the expertise needs to be seen as a device for artistic improvement slightly 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 stated.
The pageant’s programme combines regional storytelling and directorial debuts with acclaimed worldwide productions, with its opening and shutting movies highlighting completely different elements of up to date filmmaking.
Opening the pageant is ‘Lady,’ directed by Oliver Omoresu. The African neo-noir movie is ready 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 pals navigating private ambition, household pressures and complicated immigration challenges.
Beyond its African choices, AFRIFF will current worldwide movies by way of partnerships with diplomatic missions. These embody 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 may also be screened in collaboration with the Norwegian Embassy.
Technology and artistic independence will characteristic prominently in the anniversary programme, with initiatives designed to equip rising filmmakers with new abilities, increase distribution alternatives and strengthen the place of African creators in the digital economic system.
In collaboration with TikTok, AFRIFF will host a hands-on AI Creative Film and Content Creation Lab on November 6. The session will deal with serving to rising filmmakers combine synthetic intelligence instruments into content material creation, pre-production and micro-drama manufacturing.
AFRIFF can also be partnering with Pulse Nigeria to introduce the Pulse Rising Filmmaker Award, a brand new class supposed to recognise and supply monetary assist 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 pageant.
The agreements are anticipated to create alternatives for cross-border collaboration, permitting filmmakers to discover joint productions, alternate 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 business.
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 stated 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 government Mike Fischer in December.
France additionally expressed assist for worldwide collaboration. Laurent Favier, Consul General of France, stated the challenges going through the movie business required cooperation amongst artistic professionals and establishments.
“No studio, platform, or artist can meet these new industry challenges alone,” Favier stated, explaining that the partnership centered on growing 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 pageant as a platform that has contributed to the visibility of African storytelling and the expansion of the artistic economic 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 stated.
With its fifteenth version bringing collectively filmmakers, expertise innovators, traders and worldwide companions, AFRIFF is positioning the pageant as a gathering level for artistic alternate and new enterprise alternatives.
