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By Rita Okoye
Stakeholders of the AFRIK International Film Festival (AIIF) officially launched the event in Lagos on Friday, announcing plans for its inaugural edition to take place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in 2026.
The AIIF is positioned as an annual event dedicated to promoting the richness and diversity of African cinema, aiming to showcase the continent’s immense creative potential to a global audience. The festival, unveiled in Ikeja, Lagos, seeks to establish a dynamic platform for filmmakers, producers, distributors, and enthusiasts to connect, collaborate, and celebrate authentic African narratives.
Organisers envision it as a vibrant celebration of African culture, creativity, and community spirit, destined to become a cultural landmark that amplifies African voices across the world.
Speaking at the press conference, Program Coordinator Toka McBaror, a renowned filmmaker, director, and cinematographer, stressed that the core mission of AIIF is to empower Africans to tell their own stories.
Mr. McBaror strongly emphasised the festival’s commitment to tangible impact and capacity-building over mere glamour. He underscored that AIIF will prioritise robust workshops and training sessions, an area he noted is often lacking in other festivals.
“No one can describe my mother’s kitchen better than I. If someone else tells our story, they won’t tell it like we did because they weren’t there. AIIF is to celebrate the African story, the African filmmaker, and to pave the way for emerging creatives. We are bringing masterclasses and training that will impact the filmmaker directly,” McBaror stated.
The Program Coordinator outlined a realistic and practical screening process for the festival, aiming to maintain a high-quality showcase. He explained that AIIF will employ “close submission” techniques and focus on quality control to avoid the screening issues sometimes seen at larger film events.
“It is better to take 10 films and screen them well than take 50 and have issues,” he noted, explaining the decision to close submissions earlier to allow for thorough planning and evaluation.
Mr. McBaror acknowledged that the debut edition will be purposefully small but meaningful to ensure a solid foundation. “We are cutting our cloth according to our material as small and impactful as possible. We’re starting with one square metre, and it will expand. So we are starting from Nigeria, then it becomes an African event,” he explained.
Isaac Nwankpa, CEO of AIIF, a media entrepreneur, cultural innovator, and filmmaker, addressed the financial backing and economic vision for the festival. He confirmed his personal investment, stating his belief in the platform’s potential to attract further investors and boost the film economy on the continent.
