Nigeria’s Ojeaga, Omaga Idirigbe Make Cannes Lion Jury Shortlist
CANNES Lions has announced a line-up of global experts from across the creative industries, who will shortlist world-class creative work. The shortlisted work will go on to be judged, awarded and celebrated on the global stage during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, running from June 19 to 23, 2023. Announced today are 197 experts from across 58 markets, representing the global industry’s leading talent from a diverse range of disciplines. Two Nigerian experts — Oje Ojeaga, CEO/CCO Up In The Sky and Omaga Idirigbe, ECD, DDB Lagos, made the list. The Cannes Lions Shortlisting Juries will take part in judging entries remotely from their home locations worldwide. Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, comments, “The first round of judging, which establishes the Cannes Lions shortlist is critical. We have a world-class line up of exceptional talent, and experts from around the world who bring much commitment and expertise to the important task in hand. I would like to extend my gratitude for their hard work in curating the work that will go on to be awarded and recognized at the festival this year.”

CIFF To Cannes For Film Market
CAIRO International Film Festival (CIFF) is participating in three events, which are part of the upcoming Cannes Film Festival taking place between 16 and 27 May. CIFF President, Hussein Fahmy, and the CIFF Director, Amir Ramses, will travel to the French city to represent the festival at the Cannes Film Market (Marché du Film) from May 16 to 24. On Sunday May 21, CIFF is presenting and endorsing director’s Talal Selhami’s under-production film, The Shelter, as part of the Cannes Film Market’s Fantastic 7 initiative. On Wednesday May 24, CIFF, in cooperation with WorkPlace Options and Sane Cinema, will support a workshop titled, Prioritising Wellbeing at Work: Sparking the Conversation amongst Festivals, as part of the Festivals Hub activities. In association with the Festivals Hub, CIFF is supporting this year’s ‘Festivals Mixer’ networking event- that will be held also on Wednesday, May 24, where some of the world’s most prestigious festival representatives, filmmakers, producers and distributors are gathering to connect with other festivals and markets. “We are proud for CIFF’s first official partnership with the Festival Hub’s networking event. We are looking forward for further cooperation in the upcoming editions,” stated Fahmy. The festival director Amir Ramses said, “the partnership with Fantastic 7 is a very important step that aims to enrich genre cinema in the Arab World, especially as international festivals are focusing on author’s films. Our partnership in the festivals’ industry workshop for wellbeing reflects our mission to search for solutions for the current challenges and to create a healthier work environment.” Festivals Hub is an exclusive programme and venue within the Cannes Film Market, specifically designed to welcome and connect festival and market directors, programmers and industry leaders. CIFF has recently opened submission for the upcoming 45th edition (November 15 to 24). The submission process is officially open to requests from all over the world starting from April 15, 2023 until August 1, 2023 through festival’s official website. www.ciff.org.eg Cairo International Film Festival is one of the oldest and most regular festivals in the Arab world and Africa. It acquires its unique status by being the only festival in the Arab and African region registered under Category “A” in the International Federation of Producers in Paris (FIAPF).

AFRIFF 2023 Entries Open
THE Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) has begun accepting entries for its 12th edition, which is due to hold from November 5 to 10. Deadline for submission of entries has been fixed for July 3. The 2023 festival, according to the organisers, will foster valuable exchanges of ideas, production connections and business relationships that deliver value, build capacity and create wealth. In the words of Festival Founder and Executive Director, Chioma Ude, “AFRIFF 12 is a deliberate intervention to foster valuable exchanges of ideas, production connections and business relationships that deliver value, build capacity and create wealth. It has leveraged its networks to attain strategic relevance in the African screen sector which, has catalysed the demand from local and international film stakeholders for AFRIFF to lead in the identification of sector specific deficiencies, and in the implementation of evidence-based interventions across the continent.” The AFRIFF Founder also stated that there would be awards in categories such as feature, documentary, short, animation and students short, as well as prizes in directing, acting and screenplay. The festival will also feature special awards for audience choice and a jury award for outstanding film. AFRIFF has emerged as an international film showcase that presents an immersion into the world of filmmaking, with participation from all over Africa and the diaspora. Deadline for submission is July 3.