ACETNEWS
African cinema is taking centre stage in Lagos as the 15th edition of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) brought together filmmakers, actors and other creative industry stakeholders for a week of screenings and industry activities.
The festival, which opened on Sunday, November 1, will run until November 7 under the theme, “Frames of the Future: Africa’s Creative Intelligence”.
The 2026 edition featured 130 films from Africa and other parts of the world, including feature films, documentaries and short films.
Nigerian filmmaker Olive Nwosu’s feature debut, Lady, was selected as the opening film for the festival. Set in Lagos, the film follows a female taxi driver whose life takes an unexpected turn when she reconnects with a childhood friend and begins transporting a group of women through the city’s nightlife.
The story explores themes of survival, friendship and sisterhood against the backdrop of Lagos. It also featured a cast including Jessica Gabriel’s Ujah, Amanda Oruh, Tinuade Jemiseye, Precious Agu Eke and Seun Kuti.
Beyond film screenings, the festival is featuring masterclasses, industry discussions, networking sessions and other activities designed to strengthen the African film industry.
A major component of this year’s programme is the Africa Film and Content Market, which will hold from November 2 to 5 at Twinwaters, Lekki, Lagos.
The market is expected to connect African and international producers with investors, distributors and streaming platforms, creating opportunities for funding, partnerships and wider distribution of African productions.
Speaking on the festival, AFRIFF Director, Chioma Ude, said the 2026 edition would celebrate the innovation, intelligence and enterprise driving African cinema into a new era.
She said the festival aims to inspire fresh possibilities, strengthen industry connections and turn Africa’s creative potential into sustainable opportunities.
The Director-General of the National Film and Video Censors Board, Dr Shuaib Husseini, highlighted the contribution of African storytelling to connecting local talent with international audiences and supporting economic growth.
The festival’s programme also included capacity-building opportunities through the AFRIFF Academy, which is designed to support emerging filmmakers and other creative professionals.
With its combination of screenings, training and business engagements, AFRIFF 2026 is placing attention not only on the stories being told by African filmmakers but also on the opportunities to finance, produce and distribute them.
The festival will conclude on November 7 with the AFRIFF Globe Awards, where outstanding contributions and achievements in filmmaking will be recognised.
Source: Voice of Nigeria
