The Lagos State Government has congratulated nine Lagos-based film directors whose films will be screened to global audiences at Toronto International Film Festival holding between September 8th and 18th 2016.
The 41st edition of the festival this year is focusing on Lagos State in its City to City, the first African city to be so honored.
In a press statement signed on Tuesday by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the Toronto International Film Festival will 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.
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 Mr. Kunle Afolayan’s The CEO, which will enjoy a Special Industry Screening on the 12th of September.
“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 as the first African city to be so honoured at the festival, the focus on Lagos in Toronto this year confirms “the arrival of Lagos State on the world stage” and how the global creative community acknowledges the potential that is associated with professionals in the motion picture industry of Lagos State.
The Commissioner listed the selected films as follows: 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 (directed by Abbah T. Makama).
