Lagos Heads to Cannes with Five AFRIFF Works-in-Progress

Lagos is once again stepping onto the global stage as the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) secures a prestigious spotlight at the Festival de Cannes 2026.

On April 28, 2026, the Marché du Film—the official film market of Cannes—unveiled AFRIFF’s selected works-in-progress for this year’s showcase. The presentation is scheduled for May 16, 2026, at Palais K inside the Palais des Festivals, with access limited to accredited industry badge holders.

Founded in 2010 by Chioma Ude, AFRIFF has steadily grown into one of Africa’s most influential film platforms, and this latest selection underscores the continent’s evolving storytelling power.

The Selected Projects

1. Family Secrets

*Directed by Robert Peters (Nigeria, South Africa | Drama)*

A layered narrative that weaves together a disrupted wedding, a dangerous drug deal in Umlazi, a Ghanaian fashion event, and deeply buried family truths. The film explores how secrets ripple across relationships, fame, and identity.

2. Insight

*Directed by Hakym Reagan (Rwanda | Drama)*

A former hospital janitor crosses paths with a woman desperate to regain her sight. What unfolds is a moving story of love, sacrifice, and the moral dilemmas that come with life-changing decisions.

3. Prostitute (Ashawo)

*Directed by Emil Garuba (Nigeria | Crime Thriller)*

A gritty, emotionally charged thriller following a young sex worker who embarks on a dangerous investigation into a trafficking ring after her best friend’s murder.

4. Achalugo

*Directed by Obi Emelonye (Nigeria | Historical Drama)*

A returning prince brings home his white wife and mixed-race children, igniting tension with his traditionalist father—the king—and forcing a confrontation with history, identity, and legacy.

5. The Boy and His King

*Directed by Valencia Joshua (South Africa, Nigeria | Historical)*

Set in apartheid-era South Africa (1987), the film tells the unlikely story of an Indian farm boy who forms a bond with a Zulu king and rises to become a trusted royal adviser.

Why This Matters

This Cannes showcase is more than just exposure—it’s a strategic gateway. The Marché du Film is where global distribution deals are born, co-productions are negotiated, and emerging markets like Nollywood gain stronger international footing.

For Lagos and the wider African film ecosystem, this moment signals a continued shift: from local dominance to global relevance.

AFRIFF’s presence at Cannes reinforces a clear message—African stories are no longer on the margins. They are central, compelling, and ready for the world stage.