-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 85 per cent of its chosen function 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 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 function 23 function movies amongst its 135 choices and culminate in the AFRIFF Globe Awards on the ultimate night time.
Festival founder Chioma Ude stated the numerous illustration of girls in the function movie choice emerged organically through the choice course of, describing it as a mirrored image of the path in which the business is heading.
She additionally addressed issues about synthetic intelligence and its implications for employment in filmmaking, arguing that the expertise ought to be seen as a software for artistic improvement fairly than merely a risk 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 competition’s programme combines regional storytelling and directorial debuts with acclaimed worldwide productions, with its opening and shutting movies highlighting totally different facets of modern filmmaking.
Opening the competition 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 gaggle of intercourse employees alongside their nightly routes. Gucci Franklin leads the forged alongside an ensemble of actors.
The closing movie, ‘It’s the Blackness,’ marks the function directorial debut of veteran actor Hakeem Kae-Kazim. The black comedy-drama, which includes romantic components, 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 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,’ introduced in partnership with the Italian Embassy. An Oscar-winning Norwegian movie can even be screened in collaboration with the Norwegian Embassy.
Technology and inventive independence will function prominently in the anniversary programme, with initiatives designed to equip rising filmmakers with new abilities, develop 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 also be partnering with Pulse Nigeria to introduce the Pulse Rising Filmmaker Award, a brand new class supposed to recognise and supply monetary help for filmmakers on the early phases of their careers.
Its worldwide partnerships are increasing as properly, 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, trade 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 function 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 taking part in an identical function for Africa, utilizing movie to speak the continent’s experiences and identification to world audiences. Hudspeth additionally emphasised that the long run of filmmaking would depend upon combining human expertise with expertise to inform tales that resonate internationally.
As half of its participation, the U.S. Mission will showcase 10 American function movies and host masterclasses that includes Oscar-nominated producer Alex Madigan in November and gaming government Mike Fischer in December.
France additionally expressed help 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 targeted 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 artistic 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 stated.
With its fifteenth version bringing collectively filmmakers, expertise innovators, traders and worldwide companions, AFRIFF is positioning the competition as a gathering level for artistic trade and new enterprise alternatives.
