Nine Lagos-based films have been selected to be screened to the global audiences at the next Toronto International Film Festival in Canada, holding between September 8 and 18, 2016.
The films are 76 (directed by Izu Ojukwu), 93 Days (Steve Gukas), The Wedding Party (Kemi Adetiba), The Arbitration (Niyi Akinmolayan), Taxi Driver (Daniel T. Oriahi), Okafor’s Law (Omoni Oboli), Just Not Married (Uduak-Obong Patrick), and Green White Green (Abbah T. Makama).
The international film festival this year, the 41st edition, is focusing on Lagos State in its city to city, the first African city to be so honoured.
In a statement, Tuesday, signed by Steve Ayorinde, Lagos State commissioner for information and strategy, the Toronto festival would be celebrating the talents and creativity that abound in Lagos, with the unprecedented selection of eight new films by Lagos-based filmmakers in the city to city segment and one other film for Industry Special Screening.
According to Ayorinde, in addition, two outstanding actor/filmmakers, Kunle Afolayan and Genevieve Nnaji were selected to ‘In Conversation With’ (ICW), which will have the two celebrities discuss their works on the world stage.
“The Lagos State government is happy to confirm the selection of eight Lagos-made feature films at the Toronto International Film Festival coming up in September as well as Kunle Afolayan’s The CEO, which will enjoy a Special Industry Screening on September 12.
“We are happy that as the birthplace of Nollywood and the state that is regarded as one of the world’s most productive film locations in the world, Lagos State will be the centre of attraction in Toronto, Canada this year,” Ayorinde said.
Ayorinde said as the first African city to be so honoured at the festival, the focus on Lagos in Toronto this year confirmed “the arrival of Lagos on the world stage” and how the global creative community acknowledged the potential associated with professionals in the motion picture industry of Lagos State.
The statement added that in addition to the selected films, TIFF had also invited two young actors for participation at the newly created Rising Stars Programme at this edition. “OC Ukeje, for his role in The Arbitration, and Somkele Iyama for her roles in the three of the films selected – 93 Days, The Arbitration and The Wedding Party.
The commissioner said the state government was pleased that two of the selected films enjoyed the support of the state government during production and that the thrust of all the films would highlight different aspects of lives and historical developments in Lagos and in Nigeria in general.
