Film at Lincoln Center and African Film Festival Inc. have announced the lineup for the 31st New York African Film Festival, featuring over 50 films from more than 25 countries. Scheduled from May 8-14, the festival will commence with the North American premiere of “Over the Bridge,” a narrative feature set in Lagos, Nigeria, directed by Tolu Ajayi.
The closing-night film, “Dilli Dark,” directed by Dibakar Das Roy, depicts the story of a Nigerian MBA student in Delhi, India, and stars Nigerian actor Samuel Abiola Robinson as Michael Okeke.
Director Dibakar Das Roy mentioned that the aim of the film is not just to depict Africans in Delhi but to represent anyone who feels like an outsider in today’s society, regardless of their location. The film aims to serve as a metaphor for every outsider, whether they are in India, America, or elsewhere.
The festival, which debuted in 1993, has been dedicated to showcasing the unique storytelling of African and diaspora filmmakers through the art of cinema. This year’s theme, “Convergence of Time,” seeks to explore the intersection of historical and contemporary roles played by individuals representing Africa and its diaspora in art.
