The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) is set to honour the late Herbert Wigwe’s legacy with a new Trailblazer Award category at its upcoming 13th edition, scheduled for November 3-9 in Lagos. The announcement came during a press conference where festival organisers also revealed this year’s distinguished jury panel and programming details.
Under the theme “Indigenous to Global: Cultural Wealth for Global Prosperity,” the week-long celebration of African cinema will be hosted at the AFRIFF Hub, The Palms, Oniru. Festival Founder Chioma Ude made the emotional announcement of the Herbert Wigwe Trailblazer Award, establishing a new recognition category that celebrates excellence across various creative sectors including film, music, culinary arts, fashion, and technology.
“Herbert Wigwe’s tremendous generosity to the festival and ardent support of the arts can never be underestimated nor forgotten,” Ude stated. The inaugural awards will honour Afreximbank President Benedict Oramah and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, with presentations to be made by Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy.
The festival’s programming highlights include the opening film Headless by Nigerian director Michael W. Ndiomu and the closing premiere of Obi Emelonye’s Out of Breath. Notable international guests expected to attend include British-Nigerian actor John Boyega and Swedish-Somali filmmaker Filson Ali. Nigerian-British rapper Skepta will premiere his short film “Tribal Mark.”
Wigwe at last year’s AFRIFFThis year’s jury comprises industry veterans and international film experts, including Stephen ‘Dr’ Love, Ego Boyo, Dennis Ruh, Wafa’a Celine Halawi, Lanre Olupona, Victor Okhai, Cynthia Okoye, and Yolanda Mogathusi. Their expertise will help select winners across various categories during the festival.
The event’s daily themes reflect AFRIFF’s comprehensive approach to celebrating African cinema, with dedicated days for co-production, animation, television and Afro-Unity. November 4 has been designated as “Herbert Day” to commemorate Wigwe’s contributions to Nigeria’s creative economy.
JuryAFRIFF 2024 will also showcase several highly anticipated Nigerian productions, including Kunle Afolayan’s Recall, BasketMouth’s A Ghetto Love Story, and Showmax’s original series Princess on a Hill.
The festival continues to strengthen its international partnerships, collaborating with organisations from the UK, US, South Korea, and Turkey.
The festival’s focus on Nigerian and African stories underscores its commitment to promoting cultural heritage while fostering global connections. “This year, we are emphasising African talent and heritage, particularly our unique Nigerian flair,” Ude explained. “AFRIFF is all about celebrating who we are and showcasing the creativity and strength within our continent.”
UdeWith its blend of local talent and international collaboration, AFRIFF 2024 aims to continue its mission of elevating African cinema on the global stage while honouring those who have contributed to its growth and development. The festival will culminate in the AFRIFF Globe Awards night on November 9, celebrating outstanding achievements in African filmmaking.
