AFRIFF DAY 5: SHOWERS OF BLESSING

AFRIFF 2023 continued to serve us with scintillating moments, as it provided great moments for industry players and enthusiasts. A lady I spoke with told me she was in a state of suspended animation when she laid eyes on many of the stars from across the globe. She is an Accountant in a top accounting firm in Lagos, and had quickly took a week off work so she can attend and partake in the festival’s offering.

When I met Conphidance at the red carpet at Mikano, his face looked eerily familiar, and we spoke for a short time with the camaraderie of old buddies reuniting at a friend’s wedding. When he said “Gods of America”, I knew I had to give him a hug. That is one of my favorite foreign series, just behind Game of Thrones, Peaky Blinders, Merlin and The Legend Of The Seeker.

For Welket Bungue and Stephanie Tum, from Guinea Bissau and Cameroon respectively, festival was a chance to network and meet with industry personalities from not just Nigeria, but from all over the world because evidently, there were delegates from all over the world.

For Rodrigo Espindola, one of the three delegates from Spcine, Brazil, being in Nigeria for AFRIFF was a chance for them to learn about the African culture. As a matter of fact, it was the first time any of them any of them are in Africa.

When you speak to Nollywood enthusiasts, they are always quick to jump on projections for the next ten years for Nollywood. This is not bad, but I just feel they are not paying enough attention on Nollywood’s growth. To understand just how much Nollywood has grown, we need to look back 10-20 years ago. Financially, the industry offered less than what is obtainable to stars today to them, but like Charles Inojie said in a podcast recently, whatever they lacked in terms of finances and technology, they more than made up for it with passionate and quality acting.

The reasons festivals are so important is because, it offers a unique opportunity for industry players to meet themselves and forge bonds. These bonds could then translate into collaborations and the making of beautiful movies. Furthermore, you will find that many movie lovers show up during festivals, as that can be the only time they get to meet their idols. AFRIFF has shown a lot strength to have successfully run this campaign for 12 years running now, and I am certain, from the look of things that many industry players are grateful for the opportunities AFRIFF presents to them.

Yesterday, I met two young producers who were excited their short films were screened. The excitement on their faces was contagious, as they proudly ad loudly asked guests to come watch the movies. They approached me, but sadly I did not see any of the short films.

Apart from all these though, the red carpet events of AFRIFF is also an opportunity for Nollywood top stars, rising stars and ex top stars to stay up in the spotlight. From now till the end of the year at least, this festival will continue to trend, and the viewers will have the faces of the attendees on their screens.

Personally, I am both amused and entertained by the Festival. This is my first festival, and all I can tell you is, I am blown away by the surgical precision with which the host, Chioma Ude has run this event so far, and I am eager to see this AFRIFF 2024, as well as any other festival that comes before then.

AFRIFF 2023 continued to serve us with scintillating moments, as it provided great moments for industry players and enthusiasts. A lady I spoke with told me she was in a state of suspended animation when she laid eyes on many of the stars from across the globe. She is an Accountant in a top accounting firm in Lagos, and had quickly took a week off work so she can attend and partake in the festival’s offering.

When I met Conphidance at the red carpet at Mikano, his face looked eerily familiar, and we spoke for a short time with the camaraderie of old buddies reuniting at a friend’s wedding. When he said “Gods of America”, I knew I had to give him a hug. That is one of my favorite foreign series, just behind Game of Thrones, Peaky Blinders, Merlin and The Legend Of The Seeker.

For Welket Bungue and Stephanie Tum, from Guinea Bissau and Cameroon respectively, festival was a chance to network and meet with industry personalities from not just Nigeria, but from all over the world because evidently, there were delegates from all over the world.

For Rodrigo Espindola, one of the three delegates from Spcine, Brazil, being in Nigeria for AFRIFF was a chance for them to learn about the African culture. As a matter of fact, it was the first time any of them any of them are in Africa.

When you speak to Nollywood enthusiasts, they are always quick to jump on projections for the next ten years for Nollywood. This is not bad, but I just feel they are not paying enough attention on Nollywood’s growth. To understand just how much Nollywood has grown, we need to look back 10-20 years ago. Financially, the industry offered less than what is obtainable to stars today to them, but like Charles Inojie said in a podcast recently, whatever they lacked in terms of finances and technology, they more than made up for it with passionate and quality acting.

The reasons festivals are so important is because, it offers a unique opportunity for industry players to meet themselves and forge bonds. These bonds could then translate into collaborations and the making of beautiful movies. Furthermore, you will find that many movie lovers show up during festivals, as that can be the only time they get to meet their idols. AFRIFF has shown a lot strength to have successfully run this campaign for 12 years running now, and I am certain, from the look of things that many industry players are grateful for the opportunities AFRIFF presents to them.

Yesterday, I met two young producers who were excited their short films were screened. The excitement on their faces was contagious, as they proudly ad loudly asked guests to come watch the movies. They approached me, but sadly I did not see any of the short films.

Apart from all these though, the red carpet events of AFRIFF is also an opportunity for Nollywood top stars, rising stars and ex top stars to stay up in the spotlight. From now till the end of the year at least, this festival will continue to trend, and the viewers will have the faces of the attendees on their screens.