AFRIFF announces top films

The festival’s Artistic Director, Keith Shiri, said in a press statement made available to Weekly Magazine that AFRIFF 2014 would 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 stunning film charts the course of three […]

The festival’s Artistic Director, Keith Shiri, said in a press statement made available to Weekly Magazine that AFRIFF 2014 would 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 stunning film 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 movie. The young South African director, Zee Ntuli, displays a mastery of the action genre with breezy performances from its main cast.”
Shiri, noted that this year’s selection is an array of feature films, compelling documentaries and a generous selection of shorts films representing over thirty 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.
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.
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.
AFRIFF 2014 is scheduled to take place at the popular Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort, Calabar, Cross River State, from November 9 to 16.