Vanessa Obioha
The 2018 edition of the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) will be celebrating women in the industry. Themed ‘The Many Faces of Woman’, the week long festival will showcase films about women as well as films done by women.
“The focus is really on female producers, movies that are focused on women, especially lifting them, empowering them,” said AFRIFF founder Chioma Ude at the programme launch held recently at Film House Cinema Twin Waters, Oniru.
“It’s a passionate thing for me, but for the rest of the world everybody knows there is a strong focus on women, whether the men like it or not, women are really the stronger of the two and so we are taking the front seat. We have been relegated to the back for too long, I think it’s time for us to start coming out and do what we do best. With the #metoo movement going on, we have to take very gentle steps. So for me, it’s about trying to achieve our focus on empowering women, showing that we could be as good,” she added.
Over 138 films were selected for the year’s edition and include films from Afghanistan, Nigeria, France and United States of America. The festival will open with ‘Sew the Winter to My Skin’ a Western tale that follows the myth of a South African bandit in pre-apartheid South Africa; and will close with the highly anticipated ‘Nigerian Prince’, a Nigerian venture helmed by the capable Faraday Okoro. Most of the screenings will be held at Genesis cinemas, Film House as well as Terra Kulture.
The well-attended event was also graced by Jérôme Pasquier, the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, who highlighted the immense contribution the French Embassy has given to the film festival, with hopes to continue with the very enriching partnership.
Similarly, Laurent Polonceaux, the Consul General, commented on his enthusiasm with working with the festival.
Also lending his voice, Amaechi Okobi, Access Bank’s Group Head, Corporate Communications and External Affairs Manager, Access Bank harped on the devotion of the foremost African financial institution to the arts.
AFRIFF also had the honour of screening the recently released ‘The Hate U Give’, starring Amandla Stenberg as the first film to show in the new Cineplex. This year’s festival will kick off on November 11 to November 17, 2018.
