The Story⚡
Nigeria’s Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) has become the first African film festival to gain official representation on the Goes to Cannes platform at the Marché du Film during the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
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The inaugural AFRIFF Goes to Cannes showcase took place at Palais K, where selected film projects in development from across the continent were presented to an audience of international producers, distributors, financiers, and global industry executives.
Featured Projects At AFRIFF Goes To Cannes
The five projects presented represent diverse stories and voices from across the continent:
Achalugo (Nigeria, historical drama)
Directed by Obi Emelonye (with producer Dolly Nwaduba associated through production efforts), this project explores themes of return, cultural clash, and tradition. A prince comes home with his white wife and mixed-race children, creating conflict with his father, the king, and stirring tensions tied to the history of Achala.
Ashawo (Nigeria, crime thriller)
Written and directed by Emil Garuba, and produced with Brenda Ogbukaa Garuba. This hard-edged genre film follows a young Nigerian sex worker who begins investigating a sex-trafficking network after her best friend is killed. It promises a strong focus on exploitation, survival, and female rage, delivered in English and Pidgin with a projected runtime of 90-110 minutes.
Love, Lanre (directed by Stephane Alexandre, represented by Kay Jegede)
A romance project that blends emotional depth with pan-African settings, combining elements of melodrama, romance, and intrigue. It reflects growing interest in character-driven stories that connect with broader international audiences.
Insight (Rwanda, drama)
Directed by Hakym Reagan. This film tells the story of a former hospital janitor who meets a woman seeking medical help to regain her sight. Their encounter leads both characters into difficult choices shaped by love, sacrifice, and personal transformation.
The Boy and His King (South Africa/Nigeria, historical)
Directed by Valencia Joshua. Set in apartheid South Africa in 1987, the project follows an Indian farm boy who forms an unlikely bond with the Zulu king and eventually becomes a royal adviser. It draws on historical context to explore themes of friendship, loyalty, and cross-cultural connection during a turbulent period.
AFRIFF Founder Chioma Ude addressed the gathering and reflected on the festival’s journey. “For 16 years, AFRIFF has remained committed to elevating African storytelling through training, industry development, and the showcasing of bold, original voices. What began as a vision to create space for African cinema has grown into a platform that nurtures talent, builds careers, and connects our stories to the world,” she said.
Ude also spoke about AFRIFF’s role in facilitating greater international co-productions, wider global distribution channels, and stronger creative exchange between African filmmakers and the international industry.
The participation has already produced early results. Two of the showcased projects have been greenlit for further development following meetings at the Marché du Film and are now advancing to production discussions with international partners.
In Summary
This milestone at Cannes points to a steady shift in how African film projects are reaching global partners. With two projects already moving forward, industry observers will be watching to see which of these titles make it to screens in the coming years and how this increased access to major markets shapes future African storytelling.
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