The organisers of the
annual Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) have announced The Square, an Oscar-nominated documentary by Egyptian
filmmaker, Jehan Noujaim, as the opening night film and Hard To Get, from first-time feature director, Zee
Ntuli, as the closing night movie.
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| L-R Rita Dominic, CEO AFRIFF Chioma Ude, AFRIFF Artistic Director Keith Shiri and AFRIFF Goodwill Ambassador Xolile Tshabalala |
The festival’s
Artistic Director, Keith Shiri, said during a press conference at the Eko Hotel
and Suites, at the weekend, that AFRIFF 2014 would once again celebrate the
amazing artistry that African filmmakers are known for.
He said: “Our
opening night film is The Square, an
Oscar-nominated documentary by the Egyptian filmmaker, Jehan Noujaim. This is a
stunning film that charts the course of three years of Egyptian political upheaval
that began in 2011. Our closing night film, Hard To Get, is a
compact, highly enjoyable, kinetic and action thriller. The young South African
director, Zee Ntuli, displays a mastery of the action genre with breezy
performances from its main cast.”
Shiri, who was
flanked by AFRIFF Founder/CEO, Chioma Ude as well as the festival’s Goodwill
Ambassadors, South African actress Xolile Tshabalala and Nollywood star Rita
Dominic, noted that this year’s selection is an array of feature films, in
addition to “some hard-hitting documentaries and a generous selection of shorts
representing over 30 countries from all the regions of Africa.”
According to
him, other films that have made it into the festival’s official selection
include Gone Too Far, an adaption from Bola Agbaje’s Olivier
award-winning play set in London. Directed by Destiny Ekaragha, the
outrageously enjoyable comedy focuses on two estranged Nigerian brothers as
they meet for the first time.
He further
stated that: “Difret is another affecting feature debut from
Ethiopia, detailing the traumatic experience of an Ethiopian girl accused of
killing a man who had sexually abused her. Nigeria is strongly represented
again this year with Tunde Kelani’s Dazzling Mirage,
Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen’s Invasion 1897and the
much-anticipated Kunle Afolayan’s October 1.
“There is
equally a feast of compelling stories in the short films category, among which
is the African Metropolis’ six short films that examine the complexity of urban
life from Abidjan, Cairo, Dakar, Johannesburg, Lagos and Nairobi.”
Emphasizing
Nigeria’s strong representation at the festival, Ude revealed that Invasion 1897, an epic on the historical Benin Empire,
would enjoy a special screening at the festival.
The film
features top Nigerian stars such as Segun Arinze, Paul Obazele, Charles Inojie,
the late Justus Esiri and Mike Omoregbe who played the lead role as Omo n’ Oba
Ovanrawmen Nogbaisi.
In addition to
the wide range of films, the festival also offers industry platforms for skill
acquisition, financing, pitching, symposia on digital distribution and piracy.
AFRIFF 2014 is
scheduled to take place at the popular Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort,
Calabar, Cross River State, from November 9 to 16.
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