Nigeria is making waves in the cinema industry with two feature films, Mojisola and This Is Lagos, selected for the prestigious Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) in 2024. The festival, held annually in Los Angeles, California, showcases black film, art, and culture and will feature over 140 films, along with Q&A sessions and discussions.
Kenneth Gyang, the director of both Nigerian films, expressed his excitement about the festival’s selection and its importance in kickstarting Black History Month celebrations. He also highlighted the festival’s value in providing a platform for cultural exchange and representing diverse narratives from the African diaspora.
This Is Lagos follows the story of Stevo, a young man chasing fame in a city filled with bad actors, while Mojisola tells the tale of a young girl on a quest to save her love and overcome a life-threatening illness. Both films promise to captivate audiences with their unique storylines and an exceptional cast, including Gabriel Afolayan, Ikechukwu Onunaku, and Kate Henshaw.
Gyang is no stranger to the Pan African Film Festival, having previously participated in 2014 with his first feature film, Confusion Na Wa, which won the Jury Prize. He expressed his delight at returning to the festival a decade later with two new features.
Initially scheduled for a nationwide premiere in December 2023, This Is Lagos was unfortunately cancelled without any definite rescheduling information. Nonetheless, the film’s selection for the PAFF is a promising sign of its potential success in the future.
