From Lagos to the World: Africa’s First AI Film Festival Reimagines Storytelling

Lagos is preparing to host the first-ever Naija Artificial Intelligence Film Festival (NAIFF), a bold attempt to redefine African cinema through AI. Founded by filmmaker Obinna Okerekeocha, the festival responds to the steep costs and structural hurdles facing African creators. The festival has already received more than 490 submissions from across Africa and beyond. It aims to showcase how generative AI can lower barriers, spark creativity, and project new African narratives onto the global stage. While some fear AI could displace traditional filmmakers, Okerekeocha insists it is a tool to enhance imagination, not replace it. Through workshops, debates, and screenings, NAIFF hopes to inspire creators and reimagine the future of African storytelling.

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