Several Nigerian celebrities like Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Ufoma McDermott, and others were present to commemorate the beginning of the event.
It started with the opening film Sew the Water into My Skin by Jahmil X.T Qubeka.
The festival will run from the 11th of November until the 17th of November and will show over 138 films from over 50 countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, France and the United Kingdom.
This year’s theme has been announced as The Many Faces of Woman and according to their website “is a visual exploration of the portrayal of women in cinema that raises discussions on a central question; ‘What is a woman?’”.
Some of the selected films are made by female directors and/or about women as central characters or protagonists. Others are directed by male directors with their gaze on and the interpretation of being a woman.
“Through this exercise, I hope an intersection of Male-Female gaze on the Woman can be glimpsed and interrogated.” says Newton Aduaka, the artistic director at AFRIFF.
A total of 29 Nigerian films will be screened at the festival, including four feature length movies – Kasala, Nigerian Prince, Where is Kyra, and The Delivery Boy.
See photos from day one below.
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