TIFF 2016: ‘City to City’ to focus on Lagos

Lagos is the focus of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) City to City programme. According to organisers in a statement, the City to City selection is curated by Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of the Toronto International Film Festival. Bailey, quoted in the statement said: “Vital, complex and inspiring, Lagos is entirely unique. The […]

Lagos is the focus of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) City to City programme.
According to organisers in a statement, the City to City selection is curated by Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of the Toronto International Film Festival.
Bailey, quoted in the statement said: “Vital, complex and inspiring, Lagos is entirely unique. The city of Fela Kuti’s music has also given birth to one of the world’s most vibrant film industries. The 1,000 low-budget features ‘Nollywood’ produces each year generate about $1 billion in box office.”
He added that: “Now, from that commercial hotbed, a new generation of filmmakers is emerging to both advance and challenge Nollywood. Bigger budgets, greater artistic ambition – the new cinema of Lagos is bold, exciting, and ready to take its place on the international stage. We’re excited to share the creativity of this remarkable city’s filmmakers with TIFF audiences in September.”
 The programme, which is in its eighth year, showcases filmmakers living and working in a selected city, regardless of where their films are set. Cities featured in past programmes include London, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Buenos Aires, Mumbai, Athens and Seoul.
Details of the events for the programme will be announced in August. The 41st Toronto International Film Festival holds from September 8 to 18, 2016 as deadline for film submissions for the fiesta closed last week.