-Pageant will focal point on AI in Cinema
Mmachi Okafor
The Africa Global Movie Pageant (AFRIFF) has unveiled 135 movies, new global co-production agreements and synthetic intelligence projects because it marks its fifteenth version, with 85 according to cent of its decided on function movies directed through, produced through or centred on girls.
The competition introduced the programme at a press convention held at Mikano Global headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, bringing in combination diplomats, govt officers, company sponsors and picture business stakeholders forward of the seven-day match scheduled for November 1 to 7, 2026.
The milestone version, themed “Frames of the Long term” with programming constructed round the idea that of “Africa’s Ingenious Intelligence,” will function 23 function movies amongst its 135 choices and culminate within the AFRIFF Globe Awards at the ultimate night time.
Pageant founder Chioma Ude mentioned the numerous illustration of ladies within the function movie variety emerged organically all over the choice procedure, describing it as a mirrored image of the path through which the business is heading.
She additionally addressed considerations about synthetic intelligence and its implications for employment in filmmaking, arguing that the generation will have to be considered as a device for ingenious building fairly than just a risk to jobs.
“AI isn’t going to take any person’s task, however fairly the one that is aware of methods to use AI will change those that don’t,” Ude mentioned.
The competition’s programme combines regional storytelling and directorial debuts with acclaimed global productions, with its opening and shutting movies highlighting other facets of modern filmmaking.
Opening the competition is ‘Woman,’ directed through Oliver Omoresu. The African neo-noir movie is ready in Lagos and follows a tender taxi motive force tasked with transporting a bunch of intercourse employees alongside their nightly routes. Gucci Franklin leads the forged along an ensemble of actors.
The last movie, ‘It’s the Blackness,’ marks the function directorial debut of veteran actor Hakeem Kae-Kazim. The black comedy-drama, which contains romantic components, stars Kalu Ikeagwu and Marcy Dolapo Oni. It follows two shut pals navigating non-public ambition, circle of relatives pressures and sophisticated immigration demanding situations.
Past its African choices, AFRIFF will provide global movies via partnerships with diplomatic missions. Those come with the American movie ‘If I Cross, Will They Omit Me,’ written and directed through 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 may also be screened in collaboration with the Norwegian Embassy.
Era and inventive independence will function prominently within the anniversary programme, with projects designed to equip rising filmmakers with new abilities, increase distribution alternatives and make stronger the placement of African creators within the virtual financial system.
In collaboration with TikTok, AFRIFF will host a hands-on AI Ingenious Movie and Content material Introduction Lab on November 6. The consultation will focal point on serving to rising filmmakers combine synthetic intelligence equipment into content material advent, pre-production and micro-drama manufacturing.
AFRIFF may be partnering with Pulse Nigeria to introduce the Pulse Emerging Filmmaker Award, a brand new class supposed to recognise and supply monetary strengthen for filmmakers on the early phases in their careers.
Its global partnerships are increasing as neatly, with Oman sending a 10-person delegation wearing scripts looking for 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 more potent connections between African and global movie markets.
Diplomatic representatives on the press convention additionally highlighted the significance of global cooperation in strengthening the movie business.
United States Consul Normal Brandon Hudspeth mirrored at the position of storytelling in shaping nationwide id, noting that American storytellers had helped outline how the sector understands the US right through a lot of its 250-year historical past.
He mentioned Nollywood used to be taking part in a an identical position for Africa, the use of movie to keep in touch the continent’s studies and id to international audiences. Hudspeth additionally emphasized that the way forward for filmmaking would rely on combining human skill with generation to inform tales that resonate across the world.
As a part of its participation, the U.S. Undertaking will show off 10 American function movies and host masterclasses that includes Oscar-nominated manufacturer Alex Madigan in November and gaming government Mike Fischer in December.
France additionally expressed strengthen for global collaboration. Laurent Favier, Consul Normal of France, mentioned the demanding situations dealing with the movie business required cooperation amongst ingenious execs and establishments.
“No studio, platform, or artist can meet those new business demanding situations on my own,” Favier mentioned, explaining that the partnership taken with creating new global co-productions in fiction, animation and documentaries.
For Dr Shaibu Husseini, Director-Normal of the Nigerian Movie and Video Censors Board, AFRIFF’s 15-year adventure represents greater than an annual cultural amassing. He described the competition as a platform that has contributed to the visibility of African storytelling and the expansion of the ingenious financial system.
“AFRIFF has now not simply been a date at the cultural calendar, however a monument to African storytelling and a catalyst for financial enlargement within the ingenious sector,” Husseini mentioned.
With its fifteenth version bringing in combination filmmakers, generation innovators, buyers and global companions, AFRIFF is positioning the competition as a gathering level for ingenious trade and new trade alternatives.