12 Movies That Stole the Show at AFRIFF 2023 (And All We Know About Them)
A curated list of interesting movies that showed at the 12th edition of the African Film Festival (AFRIFF)
The 2023 edition of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF 12) took place in Lagos, Nigeria between Sunday, November 5 to Saturday the 11th. It was a week filled with some of the most profound film conversations on the continent this year. Always a joy to behold, the 12th edition of this prestigious festival didnβt disappoint as seen through the caliber of movies that graced its screens and ensuing conversations and the reactions of attendees on social media.
Of the many movies that premiered at the week-long event (and there were a lot), weβve curated a list of the ones we found most interesting and all we know about them in the time leading up to their commercial debut. Enjoy our picks.
Orah (Lonzo Nzekwe)
Orah was the opening film at AFRIFF 12. It was high on the list of a lot of viewers to watch following its previously released trailer which got people excited about the level of grit and action portrayed.
The titular Orah Madukaku, portrayed by Oyin Oladejo, is a Nigerian taxi driver in Toronto, who embarks on a merciless revenge tour after a personal tragedy.
The movie also stars Agape Mngomezulu, OC Ukeje, Oris Erhuero, Kelechi Udegbe, Somkele Iyamah, and many more.
Orah is reported to have delivered on its dark and gritty premise and I canβt wait for it to be commercially available for everyone to be the judge of that.
A Green Fever (Directed by Taiwo Egunjobi)
Taiwo Egunjobiβs passion for filmmaking effortlessly shines through in his projects. You see this in In Ibadan and All Na Vibes, self-contained stories that lend credence and depth to the world in which theyβre set. The filmmaker replicates this magic once again with A Green Fever. Set in 1980s Ibadan, this noir drama explores the themes of power, corruption, and societal upheaval within the backdrop of a single night and its aftermath.
A Green Fever is written by Isaac Ayodeji, and stars Deyemi Okanlawon, Temi Fosudo, William Benson, Chukwu Martin, Ruby Precious Okezie, and Darasimi Nadi, among others.
No release date has been announced for the project yet.
I Do Not Come to You by Chance (Ishayo Bako)
I Do Not Come to You by Chance is based on an award-winning 2009 novel of the same title by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani. This movie, directed by Ishayo Bako and executively produced by Genevieve Nnaji, was the cynosure of all eyes upon its AFRIFF debut. It went on to win the Audience Choice Award at the festival.
The gripping story follows the life of a young man who is unwittingly drawn into the world of cybercrime in a quest to secure his family's future.
It stars Paul Nnadiekwe, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Beverly Osu, Jennifer Eliogu, Emeka Nwagbaraocha, Sambasa Nzeribe, and many more.
No commercial release date has been announced for it yet.
All The Colours of the World are Between Black and White (Tunde Apalowo)
All The Colours of the World are Between Black and White, written and directed by Tunde Apalowo, is one of the most exciting titles to come out of Nigeria this year. Itβs a tender story that delves into the territories of forbidden love and what acknowledging its existence can mean for the βunluckyβ ones caught in its grasp.
Tunde Apolowo has done a great job focusing his lens on this subject and bringing to the forefront a light of conversation on a topic that is mostly spoken in hushed tones.
All The Colours of the World are Between Black and White won the Special Jury Prize at AFRIFF 12, which is only the latest in a long line of accolades the movie has received since it was first unveiled. We can only hope that its commercial release isnβt so far away any longer; the wait is excruciating.
βDreamsβ and βUntil 23β (Chioma Paul-Dike)
Chioma Paul-Dike, through her production house, Two Shoes Production, premiered two of my favourite short films at AFRIFF 12.
Dreams follows Neloβs first night in her husbandβs ancestral home where she dreams of a scary, angry lady, Nkem, who yells at her to leave. Nelo awakens in fright and prays her dream away. However, upon settling into her new home, Nelo hears footsteps and humming but thereβs no one home, just her.
Kelechi Udegbe, Onyinye Odokoro, and Amanda Oruh star in this horror flick that adds even more layers to the rising star that is Chioma Paul-Dike and her level of artistry.
Until 23 tells a spiritual story of a young man Shina and the vow on his life upon turning 23. The short filmβs plot is reminiscent of the Sudanese film You Will Die at 20, a similarity the filmmaker attests to. The intimate cast here is propelled by performances from Adedamola Akapo and Tomi Ojo.
If Chioma Paul-Dike needed something profound to shout βI was at AFRIFF 12,β Until 23 winning the Access Bank Prize for Best Short Film at the AFRIFF Golden Globes closing ceremony sure did that for her.
No commercial release date has been announced for both short films yet.
Over The Bridge (Tolulope Ajayi)
I havenβt seen enough of Tolu Ajayiβs works to speak with authority on his approach to filmmaking. But going through his portfolio and knowing that this filmmaker contributed to the success of Diiche, one of my favourite shows of 2022, stirs me to speak of him with a little more confidence than I typically would.
His latest movie Over The Bridge tells the story of Folarin Marinho (Ozzy Agu), an investment banker who goes missing while working on a major project in Nigeria's most populous state, Lagos. On a search for him, his wife discovers the pressures and challenges her husband was faced with because of the high-profile government job he was working on.
What do I like about this movie? It tells a story that bears markings the average person living in Nigeria today can relate to.
On Tolu Ajayiβs Twitter bio, he says he tells βhuman and brand storiesβ. Over The Bridge bears the markings of a relatable human story. Hopefully, the rest of the world gets to see it soon too when it eventually becomes commercially available in Nigeria.
Over The Bridge also stars Joke Silva, Deyemi Okalanwon, Paul Adam, Segilola Ogidan, Chimezie Imo, and many more.
TΓ¬ E ΕbΓ² (Chinazaekpere Chukwu)
There are two reasons why I considered looking into TΓ¬ E ΕbΓ² in the first instance: it is a 6-minute short film and it is a queer story. Thereβs only one reason why itβs on this list: It is worthy of mention.
Director Chinazaekpere Chukwu joins the lineup of filmmakers at AFRIFF 12 who tell bold stories that inspire conversations about our society.
TΓ¬ E ΕbΓ² tells a story that centers around Feranmi, a 19-year-old lad who struggles to grapple with his feelings for his friend, Tolulope. His father, who does not agree with these changes, goes to extreme lengths to ensure that his son returns to "his" definition of normal.
The best thing I found about TΓ¬ E ΕbΓ² during my research is the directorβs intentional application of the ultimate rule of visual storytelling β show donβt tell. In her own words on a thread on X, she said, βMy storytelling style is simple. Not every scene needs a dialogue. Not every line needs a reply. Sometimes a scene should be too heavy for words.β
So far, the handwriting on the wall says that this is one short film to look forward to, and the whole world needs to see it sooner rather than later.
ΓfΓ mΓ©fΓΉnΓ : An Nwa Boi Story (Kayode Kasum)
Kayode Kasum continues his trend of building eclectic filmography, which is the reason why he remains one of my favourite filmmakers in Nollywood today.
His latest film, ΓfΓ mΓ©fΓΉnΓ : An Nwa Boi Story, is the first feature-length film on the Igbo apprenticeship system and how it revitalized the community's economy by allowing successful Igbo men to pass on their knowledge and blessings to apprentices, perpetuating the cycle of wealth creation. The movie also doesnβt shy from the dark side of tales like this, vividly portraying the ambitions of these young men, the sacrifices required to succeed, and the inevitable betrayals that accompany great success.
ΓfΓ mΓ©fΓΉnΓ : An Nwa Boi Story stars Kanayo O. Kanayo, Alexx Ekubo, Chuks Joseph, Stan Nze, Atlanta Bridget Johnson, and many more. It is expected in cinemas nationwide this December.
βMojisolaβ and βThis Is Lagosβ (Kenneth Gyang)
Director Kenneth Gyang describes Mojisola as βa modern coming-of-age bedtime story.β Why? Letβs seeβ¦ It is a love story set and shot in Jos, Nigeria where Gyang himself was raised. The filmmaker uses this movie as a backdrop to talk about his life and how much the city of his childhood may have changed.
In this snippet from a conversation with Shock NG, Kenneth Gyang says, βPeople have always heard about the beauty and serenity of Jos but no film has been made to showcase the stunning scenery of that colonial town and I`ve always wanted to capture images of my childhood in the face of rapid development and threats of ghettoization. The script for Mojisola was written with specific locations from memories of my childhood. Some of the brilliant landscapes captured were places we used to go as children for picnics,β he said.
For This Is Lagos, Kenneth Gyang goes for something different, this time spotlighting the city of Lagos where Gyang, like most of his colleagues in the Nigerian film industry, works.
This Is Lagos portrays the captivating journey of Stevo (Gabriel Afolayan), a young man with an insatiable hunger for superstardom in a city where everyone wears a mask of some kind.
Where Mojisola takes a more somber and retrospective approach to its story, This Is Lagos is more lighthearted. In all, we can be guaranteed a great time at the movies from the man who brought us Confusion Na Wa, Oloture, and Blood Sisters.
Breath of Life (BB Sasore)
BB Sasore had the pleasure of owning the closing film for AFRIFF 2023.
Breath of Life, described as a faith-based movie, portrays the story of a former clergyman who loses everything he holds dear including his faith, and goes on a journey of self-transformation when his life is taken over by his Christian houseboy.
Breath of Life is produced by Nemsia Films and is set in the 1950s Nigeria. The movie has already been acquired by Prime Video with a premiere date set for December 15.
It stars Wale Ojo, Chimezie Imo, Genoveva Umeh, Ademola Adedoyin, and many more.
Honourable mentions: What No One Knows (Adeoluwa Owu), Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (Bolanle Austen-Peters), Onyeegwu (Jerome Weber and Uche Jombo)
The movies at AFRIFF 12 were like a bunch of colorful stories, each one telling something special. From the tough journey of revenge in Orah to the gripping tale of I Do Not Come to You by Chance, these films left a mark. The festival was like a big show of Nigerian stories, painting pictures in our minds. Even though the festival is over, the stories from AFRIFF 12 will stay with us, promising a time when more people get to enjoy them.
Whatβs your favourite title from AFRIFF 2023? Share in the comments.
The way you write is like 'come, I have seen a wonderful thing and I want to tell you all about it, but I will tell you in a way that you will also see this wonderful thing the way I see it'
I am not a movie person but I now anticipate these movies you have written about. I am looking up the directors and might pay close attention to movies by them.