AFRIFF 2023 unveils jury members

The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) has announced jury members for its 12th edition, scheduled for November 5 to 11, 2023 in Lagos, Nigeria.

According to a statement signed by Latasha Ngwube, Head of PR & Media for AFRIFF 2023, the jury composition, a study in excellence in global filmmaking and expertise in the African film business is headlined by Stephen ‘Dr.’ Love, producer of one of Netflix most viewed movie of the year, ‘They Cloned Tyrone’.

Stephen is joined by Nigerian-British actor, John Boyega in the lead, veteran US actor, Jamie Foxx (Ray, Django Unchained) and Juilliard-graduate, Teyonah Parris (Chi-Raq, Candyman).

Others include Nigerian-British writer-producer Abby Ajayi (How to get Away with Murder, Inventing Anna); Nigerian film producer Greg Otudayo; Zimbabwean award-winning author and winner of 2023 African Peace Prize, Tsitsi Dangarembga; and Lebanese-French actress and director Wafa’a Céline Halawi. Geneva Wasserman, Entertainment and technology expert and SVP of Scripted Development at Dentsu, the Japanese media juggernaut, Cuban-American film producer and Afro-Latino voices in film mentor, Ranada Shepard.

We are pleased to present the jury members for the upcoming 12th edition of #AFRIFF, taking place from November 5 to 11, 2023, in Lagos, Nigeria.
Leading the panel is Stephen ‘Dr.’ Love, the producer behind one of Netflix’s most-watched films of the year, “They Cloned Tyrone,” pic.twitter.com/R9oTp8PTfu

— AFRIFF (@AFRIFF) October 27, 2023

The jury members also include renowned Hollywood producer and Head of Inventions Studios, Nicholas Weinstock; multi-talented film acquisition expert and Head of content at MultiChoice, Busola Tejumola; Nollywood royalty and seasoned actress Kate Henshaw, and Nigerian economist and filmmaker Desmond Elliott.

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This edition will be significant after the 2022 edition, where Disney’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Amazon’s Nanny, Sundance Grand Jury Prize, opened the festival.

Paramount, Amazon, Disney, Netflix, Showmax, Mediawan, DStv, Dentsu, the African Union, Canal Plus, Afreximbank and a host of global industry stakeholders attended to offer further opportunities to sustain the growth of the African creative industry.

After receiving over 2,000 films from more than 100 countries across five continents during its call for submission, the jury has selected over 100 films, and are now tasked with issuing their choice of finalists for AFRIFF Globe Awards.

The international jury will award 14 Globe Awards to the most outstanding artistry and maestro in visual storytelling.