As the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) marks 15 years of celebrating films, filmmakers, and African stories, it’s once again bringing together some of the biggest names in African and international cinema. The festival opened on Sunday, November 1, in Lagos, with a glamorous opening gala, and will run until Saturday, November 7, bringing a week of film screenings, industry conversations, workshops, masterclasses, and networking opportunities to the city.
This year’s edition, tagged AFRIFTEEN, is more than a celebration of how far the festival has come. It is also an opportunity to look at where African cinema is going, who gets to tell its stories, and what needs to happen for those stories to travel further.
Held under the theme “Frames of the Future: Africa’s Creative Intelligence,” AFRIFF 2026 looks at how creativity, technology, and business are coming together to shape African filmmaking. From the use of AI in film to funding, international partnerships, and new ways of getting films to audiences, the program is looking at the practical issues that will shape the next chapter of the industry.
Founded by Chioma Ude in 2010, AFRIFF has grown into an annual meeting point for filmmakers, actors, producers, investors, distributors, and film lovers. Its 15th edition brings that journey into focus, with Hollywood personalities, Nollywood favorites, emerging filmmakers, and industry executives sharing the same festival space.
Fifteen years of AFRIFF: How it started
AFRIFF’s story began in 2010, when founder and festival director Chioma Ude set out to create a platform that would celebrate African cinema and give filmmakers from Africa more opportunities to connect with international audiences and the wider film industry.
What started as a film festival has grown into something much bigger. Over the years, AFRIFF has created room for film screenings, professional development, industry conversations, and international partnerships. It has also continued to support emerging filmmakers through initiatives such as the AFRIFF Academy.
The 15th edition of AFRIFF is celebrating the people and stories that have brought African cinema this far while making room for conversations about what comes next.
At the press conference held to unveil the AFRIFTEEN program, Ude said, “African cinema is entering an exciting new chapter, driven not only by the power of our stories but also by the intelligence, innovation, and enterprise behind them.”
She added that the festival was created to celebrate the people reimagining how African stories are created, financed, experienced, and shared with the world.
A star-studded opening night in Lagos
AFRIFTEEN began on Sunday, November 1, with an opening gala that brought together familiar faces from Nollywood, Hollywood, music, and the wider entertainment industry. Among the international guests were American actors Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors and Beninese-American actor Djimon Hounsou, who attended as AFRIFF’s Guest of Honor.
They were joined by a strong Nigerian entertainment presence, including Rita Dominic, Osas Ighodaro, Somkele Idhalama, Toni Tones, Ramsey Nouah, Wole Ojo, Frederick Leonard, John Tyler Ekanem, Bucci Franklin, Real Warri Pikin, and Dorothy Bachor.
Other familiar faces at the opening ceremony included Darey and Deola Art Alade, Timi Dakolo, and Kunle Remi. Timi Dakolo performed the Nigerian national anthem, while Kunle Remi hosted the evening’s ceremony.
The opening ceremony also set the tone for the week’s film program, with Olive Nwosu’s “Lady” being the opening film. The film follows a female taxi driver in Lagos whose life takes an unexpected turn when a childhood friend returns and draws her into transporting a group of sex workers around the city. It explores friendship, sisterhood, personal judgement, and the realities of women navigating life in Lagos.
What followed the opening night
After the opening-night celebrations, attention shifted to the films, the people making them and the conversations happening around African cinema. Monday, November 2, marked the start of the AFRIFF Film & Content Market (AFCM), which is running from November 2 to 5 at Twinwaters, Lekki.
The first day, themed Africa Day: The Future of African Storytelling, brought together filmmakers, executives, and industry stakeholders to discuss how African cinema can develop and compete internationally without losing its identity. One of the key conversations was Frames of the Future: Africa’s Creative Intelligence, which explored how the continent can use its creative strengths, cultural heritage, and emerging technologies to build a more competitive film industry.
Another major discussion, Beyond Nollywood: Positioning African Stories for Global Audiences, looked at how African films can reach international viewers while staying true to the cultures and experiences that inspire them. The session featured Ramsey Nouah and other industry voices.
November 3 was Global Film and TV Day, with much of the program focused on the business side of filmmaking and the opportunities available to African and international creatives. The day began with Film is Business: Building Sustainable Production Companies, with a panel looking at what it takes to build production companies that can survive beyond individual film releases.
There was also a session on women shaping the future of African cinema, with Ini Edo and Iyabo Ojo among the speakers while Nancy Isime moderated the session. The discussion focused on female leadership, the barriers women face in the industry, and the opportunities available to women building careers in film and entertainment. One of the day’s highlights was a fireside chat with Hollywood actor Jonathan Majors.
Away from the panels, there were screenings too. One of the films that was screened is ABENI. The Blacksmith’s Daughter, which was directed by Esse Akwawa and Samuel Olasehinde. With more screenings, workshops, and discussions still ahead, there’s plenty more to come.
What to expect from the remaining days
There is still quite a bit happening at AFRIFF 2026, and the conversations are set to get even more interesting as the festival continues. Technology is one of the big areas of focus, particularly how AI, animation, and new filmmaking tools are changing the way films are made. Filmmakers will also take a closer look at the Nollywood film, Ordinary People, and discuss what goes into making a successful production.
The African Youth Creators Hub will also bring content creators together, with Taaooma, Enioluwa, Bae U, and Shank Comic as panelists. For those interested in where African film is heading, there will be discussions around the future of the industry, the growth of streaming platforms, and what the African film scene could look like by 2035. There is also a session called From Catwalk to Character, featuring Yaya DaCosta, Danielle Brooks, and Kanayo Ebi Akinsola, which will look at the connection between fashion and film.
Of course, the screenings remain a big part of the festival. With films from different parts of Africa and beyond showing across Lagos, there is plenty for audiences to discover. Workshops and masterclasses are also continuing, giving filmmakers and people hoping to enter the film industry a chance to learn from experienced professionals.
The festival will wrap up on November 7 with the AFRIFF Globe Awards, which will recognize films and filmmakers from this year’s selection.
More photos from AFRIFF’s grand opening:
Photo Credit: @afriff
