The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) organizers have set November as the date for this year’s festival.
Chioma Ude, founder of AFRIFF, stated during a media event in Lagos on Thursday that the festival’s 12th edition would take place from November 5 to 11.
Ude stated that the event, themed ‘Indigenous to worldwide 2.0,’ would primarily promote and showcase indigenous culture to a worldwide audience.
She stated that the platform had produced 1,000 high-quality films that would be shown throughout the festival.
“This edition of the festival is important because creatives would be exposed to a series of learning, cutting across filmmaking, makeup act, designers and more,” Ude said.
“We need to understand international policies and laws to be able to sell our indigenous content globally.”
On his part, Will Stevens, the consul general at the United States consulate, said: “I am grateful to be here, the festival last year was so incredible, I’m looking forward to this year’s edition.
“This is all about building Nigeria for the world, America grew based on what people see about the nation and I think it is now Nigeria’s time.
“It has been amazing supporting AFRIFF for 9 years now in a row and we are grateful for the partnership.”
Also in attendance was Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu who expressed the Lagos state’s willingness and readiness to partner with the organisers of AFRIFF to achieve a beautiful and successful festival.
Sanwo-Olu said the 12th edition of AFRIFF would be the “biggest and boldest so far”.
“We are excited to be part of this, we believe that it is when we tell our stories that we are better understood and well embraced,” he said.
“As government, we commit our resources and time to whatever has to put the state and nation’s creative industry on the global stage.
“This is the time to work collaboratively to project our indigenous content for global acceptance.
“The creative industry is the only industry that can flog all the shortfalls that we have, an industry that knows no boundary,” he said.
