The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) has launched the ARIFF Film and Content Market (AFCM) via a partnership with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy.
AFCM will debut at the 2025 ARIFF in Lagos, Nigeria, as an international marketplace for film, television and digital content. Dates for the event are still to be confirmed.
Former European Film Market director Dennis Ruh will be lead consultant for AFCM, which will look to welcomer creators, investors, distributors and policymakers from around the world.
A memorandum of understanding for the market was signed on Tuesday, May 20 in Cannes, by AFRIFF founder Chioma Ude. Attendees at the signing included Ali Nuhu, managing director of the Nigerian Film Corporation; and Nigerian writer and comedian Bovi Ugboma.
Hannatu Musawa, Nigerian minister of art, culture and the creative economy, also attended the ceremony and looked to emphasise the Nigerian government’s interest in expanding the economic possibilities of the country’s creative industry.
“One of the ways we have cultivated in doing that is by not only partnering with the private sector, but by truly working with key industry players to create an amicable environment,” said Musawa. “This is pivotal to the Federal Government in our push to propel the industry to greater heights.”
The inaugural AFCM will feature curated showcases of African and international content; project pitch sessions; international exhibitions of production and distribution content; and networking opportunities.
AFRIFF has run since 2010, typically in November. The festival has also partnered with UK-based financier Goldfinch International, part of finance and production group Goldfinch.
Goldfinch International will use AFCM as a launchpad for several yet-to-be-announced Africa-focused initiatives.
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