Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Nigerian Abuja and AFRIFF bans South African films from entry

07/09/2019

7 September, 2019 - 15:05

Organizers of Nigerian Abuja and AFRIFF have announced the immediate suspension of all South African films submitted for their festivals. South Africans should never submit their films to these festivals again in protest against this unwarranted abuse.

As South Africans we call that DIFF and Kwa-Zulu Natal Commission immediately sever any ties with these festivals to protect our filmmakers from racism and for their safety. All Nigerian productions should also immediately be halted as they benefit from financial rebates that the South African tax payer funds.

Their statement follows.

In separate statements released during the week, they jointly condemned unequivocally the reoccurring xenophobic attacks against African migrants including Nigerians in South Africa.

According to the founder and festival director of AIFF, Mr Fidelis Duker, their actions are hitched on the global outcry especially by Nigerians across the world who have called on their compatriots to boycott South African products and services in Nigeria in retaliation of the violence against their countrymen in South Africa.

The statement reads thus: On behalf of the management and organize of the 16 th Abuja International, we wish to announce the immediate suspension of all South African Film Entries submitted for the Abuja International Film Festival.

We as an International Film Festival condemn unequivocally the reoccurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

We have observed the global outcry especially by Nigerians all over the world who have called on their compatriots to boycott South African products and services in Nigeria in retaliation of the violence against their countrymen in South Africa.

However, AFRIFF has taken this painful and avoidable decision to suspend entries submitted by filmmakers from the Republic of South Africa. We therefore strongly condemn hate, prejudice and xenophobia actions of some South African nationals and reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of all violence in any form. The film festival is a platform that was created to promote mutual harmony, respect for the dignity of life. We will continue to advocate a society where everyones rights and freedoms are respected. The right to live and earn a living, freely, safely and protected by the law.

We therefore as a matter of necessity call on the South African government to address the issue of xenophobic attacks with utmost seriousness where the perpetrators are brought to book.

Also, on its own, the founder of AFRIFF, Ms Chioma Ude in a statement condemned the prevailing act of violence, murder and wanton destruction of properties of foreigners in South Africa.

AFRIFF is aware of the ongoing xenophobic attacks in various cities in South Africa and condemns this act of violence, murder and wanton destruction of properties of foreigners in the strongest terms.

It is the belief of AFRIFF that the arts as exemplified in films is a powerful tool of shaping public opinions, beliefs, attitude, disposition and actions, hence we believe that it is a vehicle that should be explored maximally to spread the gospel of tolerance, co-operation and mutual understanding amongst the spectrum of humanity.

It is important to also state that AFRIFF has had a long-standing relationship with DIFF and Kwazulu-Natal Film Commission which has resulted in the exchange of ideas, films, filmmakers, financing and future co-production opportunities. To this end, we are reviewing all the films submitted to the festival with the intention of expressly removing any film and banning any filmmaker from the festival that has positively expressed xenophobic ideas or any kinds of bigotry.

www.thelagosreview.ng

Film Festivals

Africa Nigeria
LINK: http://www.filmcontact.com/news/nigeria/nigerian-abuja-and-afriff-bans...
See more stories from filmcontact

Africa Stories

28/06/2025

Press Release: NFVF Marks Youth Month by Empowering Future Creatives Through Film & TV Bursaries

Johannesburg, 27 June 2025 - As the nation commemorates Youth Month 2025, the N...

13/06/2025

Press Release: NFVF Opens Call for Public Film Screenings on GBV Awareness as South Africa Confronts Ongoing Femicide Crisis

Johannesburg, 12 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an a...

11/06/2025

Press Release:NFVF Reaffirms Commitment to Transparent Funding and Fair Access Amid Industry Commentary By Ms Weaam Williams

Johannesburg, South Africa - 10 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundati...

10/06/2025

Press Release: NFVF Reaffirms Commitment to Transparent Funding and Fair Access Amid Industry Commentary By Ms Weaam Williams

Johannesburg, South Africa - 10 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundati...

06/06/2025

CALL FOR CO-DEVELOPMENT AND WORK-IN-PROGRESS PROJECTS OF FEATURE AND DOCUMENTARY ON THE AFRICAN DIASPORA SO PAULO (BRAZIL) SOUTH AFRICA

S o Paulo Film and Audiovisual Company (Spcine) and the National Film and Video ...

05/06/2025

Press Release: NFVF Celebrates Xoliswa Sithole's Selection for the 2025 Documentary Slate

Johannesburg, South Africa 4 June 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundatio...

29/05/2025

PRESS RELEASE: Remembering a South African Icon - Presley Chweneyagae (1984-2025)

Rest in Power, a True Legend of Our Screens Johannesburg, South Africa 27 May...

29/05/2025

Statement on the NFVF CEO's resignation

Johannesburg, South Africa 28 May 2025 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Vincent Blennies, has resigned from...

22/05/2025

Call for Public Screening Proposals in Raising Awareness on Gender-Based Violence through Film

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...

13/05/2025

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) call for Applications for the Marketing and Distribution Cycle 1 Funding is Open

The NFVF, an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture that was create...

10/05/2025

The National Film and Video Foundation Members of the Appeal Review Committee Call is Open

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...

09/05/2025

The National Film and Video Foundation Marketing and Distribution Advisory Panel Call.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...

09/04/2025

Call for NFVF funding applications to attend Film Festivals and Markets taking place from 1 June 2025 to 31 July 2025

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the ca...

08/04/2025

Press Release: The National Film and Video Foundation Announces its New Chief Executive Officer

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Vincent Blennies as Chief Exec...

04/04/2025

ANNECY 2025 STUDENT MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites final-year animation students to submit character designs inspired by lead characters from any South Afric...

14/03/2025

Call for NFVF Funding Applications To Attend Film Festivals and Markets Taking Place From 14 April 2025 To 31 May 2025.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the ca...

01/03/2025

agua bacteriostatica comprar en lnea 18

Antis pticos Orales: Revisi n De La Literatura Y Perspectiva Actual Influenza son contradictorios, dadas las elevadas tasas de curaci n espont nea. De ser neces...

28/02/2025

The Future of Green Energy

The Future of Green Energy: Challenges and Prospects Green energy, also known as renewable energy, has emerged as a critical solution to global energy challenge...

27/02/2025

ai chat bot python 10

Beginner Coding in Python: Building the Simplest AI Chat Companion Possible AI-powered Personal VoiceBot for Language Learning by Gamze Zorlubas You can ear...

24/12/2024

PARTICIPATE AT SERIES MANIA FORUM 2025

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is calling for applications from South African film and television filmmakers to be part of the NFVF's delegat...

30/11/2024

Call for NFVF funding applications to attend Film Festivals and Markets taking place from 15 January 2025 to 31 March 2025.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the ca...

16/11/2024

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) Call for Market and Festival Hosting Funding Applications is Open

The National Film and Video Foundation, an agency of the Department of Sport, Ar...

16/11/2024

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) Call for Current Masters Students to Attend Carthage Film Festival in Tunis, Tunisa.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites current masters students t...

30/10/2024

18TH ANNUAL SOUTH AFRICAN FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS (SAFTAS) HONOURED THE BEST OF THE SA FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRY

Johannesburg, 26 October 2024 - The 18th Annual South African Film and Televisio...

30/10/2024

SAFTAs18 Winners List

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND DOCUMENTARY !Aitsa Practitioner: Simon Kohler Production House: MED CINE BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING DOCUMENTARY Rise: The Si...

24/10/2024

PUBLIC INVITATION TO THE INTERVIEW OF NOMINATED CANDIDATE FOR THE COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO FOUNDATION (NFVF)

In accordance with Section 6 (2) (c) of the National Film and Video Foundation A...

19/10/2024

Call for Applications: Masters Students to Attend the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Lagos, Nigeria.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) invites postgraduate students to s...

15/10/2024

EXTENSION OF: INVITATION TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTARY SLATE PROPOSALS 2024

The National Film and Video Foundation (herein referred to as NFVF) is a statutory body set up by the government to grow and develop the South African Film and ...

11/10/2024

NFVF Announces Old Righteous Blues as South Africa's Official Entry for the 97th Academy Awards (Oscars)

10 October 2024 Johannesburg, South Africa - The National Film and Video Found...

09/10/2024

SPORTEL Monaco 2024 Ravel Booth G06/07

Sportel stand number: Ravel Hall G06/07 After a summer filled with intense sport emotions in Paris, France and beyond, Globecast will be happy to welcome you...

04/10/2024

Press Release

SAFTAs 18 Announces Date and Theme: Honouring Excellence in South African Film and Television with the theme Back to Basics . Johannesburg, South Africa Wedn...

04/10/2024

SAFTAs18 Announces Date and Theme: Honouring Excellence in South African Film and Television with the theme Back to Basics

Johannesburg, South Africa Wednesday, 2 October 2024 The South African Film ...

01/10/2024

National Film and Video Foundation Announces Leadership Changes

Johannesburg, South Africa - Monday, 30 September 2024 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (...

24/09/2024

Invitation for people with disabilities to submit proposals for short films under the theme: Not What Society Expects

Every little girl out there who has felt different because they are not what soc...

09/09/2024

INVITATION TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTARY SLATE PROPOSALS 2024

The National Film and Video Foundation (herein referred to as NFVF) is a statutory body set up by the government to grow and develop the South African Film and ...

06/09/2024

The 18th Annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs18) Nominees Announced.

Johannesburg, 05 September 2024 - The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF),...

09/08/2024

National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) Mourns the Passing of Veteran Actress Mme Connie Chiume

Johannesburg, 8 August 2024 - It is with profound sadness that the National Film...

01/08/2024

Globecast at IBC 2024 Booth 5.C75

Globecast to Showcase the Broadcast Industry's Most Advanced Connectivity and Hybrid Cloud Solutions at IBC 2024 PARIS, 1 August 2024 Globecast, the lead...

16/07/2024

18th Annual South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) open the call for Discretionary Award Nominations

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...

13/07/2024

Invitation for South African filmmakers to submit films for the 97th Annual Academy Awards (Oscars) International Feature Film category.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...

09/07/2024

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) call for Marketing and Distribution cycle 2 funding applications is open

The NFVF, an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture that is created...

02/07/2024

Global Arabic Bouquet (GAB) renewed deal

Arabsat, ASBU and Globecast are commemorating 20 years with a renewed multi-year deal for Global Arabic Bouquet (GAB) services, providing a wide range of DTH di...

11/06/2024

30 YEARS OF SOUTH AFRICA'S DEMOCRACY CELEBRATED THROUGH THE FILM LENS AT THE 77TH INTERNATIONAL CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

Tuesday 11 June 2024, Johannesburg. The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF...

31/05/2024

Statement on the alleged ill treatment of cast members

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), the custodians of the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs), has learned of the allegations of ill-tr...

22/05/2024

Judge blocks auction of Elvis Presley's Graceland estate

Judge blocks auction of Elvis Presley's Graceland estateA judge in Tennessee has temporarily halted a foreclosure sale of Graceland, the historic home of El...