Nollywood actors Kate Henshaw and Desmond Elliot have been introduced as jury members for the much-awaited 12th edition of The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF).
This was announced in a statement signed by the head of public relations and media, Latasha Ngwube.
The event is scheduled for November 5-11, 2023 at the Landmark Center Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
The international jury will award 14 global awards to the most outstanding films.
They received more than 2,000 films from more than 100 countries on five continents during their call for submissions.
It also selected more than 100 films and is now tasked with choosing the finalists for the AFRIFF Global Awards.
Among the selected films, the police thriller “Orah” has been chosen as the opening night film.
“Orah,” directed by renowned Nigerian-Canadian filmmaker Lonzo Nzekwe, is a bold choice that aligns perfectly with this year’s festival theme: “Indigenous 2.0 Global.”
The film was shot in Canada and Nigeria in late 2022, adding a unique international touch to the festival.
The judge
The AFRIFF 2023 jury is made up of a cast full of stars, experts and cinema luminaries. Includes Stephen ‘Dr.’ Love, the producer of one of the most watched movies of the year on Netflix, “They Cloned Tyrone,” and Emmy-nominated Nigerian-British writer and producer Abby Ajayi.
The jury also includes notable figures such as Nigerian film producer Greg Otudayo, award-winning author Tsitsi Dangarembga and Lebanese-French actress and director Wafa’a Céline Halawi.
Completing the jury are Geneva Wasserman, entertainment and technology expert at Dentsu; Cuban-American film producer Ranada Shepard; renowned Hollywood producer Nicholas Weinstock; film acquisition expert Busola Tejumola, who serves as Head of Content at MultiChoice; the famous Nollywood actress Kate Henshaw and the multifaceted actor, filmmaker and legislator Desmond Elliott.
AFRIFF 2023
During the festival, the international jury will award 14 global awards to honor exceptional achievements in visual storytelling.
AFRIFF, conceived by Chioma Ude, consistently provides a dynamic platform for African and diaspora cinema and film talent. It serves as more than just a film festival; It is a place where ideas, business connections and production opportunities flourish.
AFRIFF is proud to be dedicated to raising the global profile of the African film industry and providing professionals with a stage to showcase their work to the world.
This year’s edition promises to be significant after the success of the 2022 edition, where the festival opened with Black Panther: Disney’s Wakanda Forever and Amazon’s Nanny, Sundance Grand Jury Prize.
Paramount, Amazon, Disney, Netflix, Showmax, Mediawan, DStv, Dentsu, African Union, Canal Plus, Afreximbank and a host of global industry stakeholders attended previous editions of AFRIFF.
