London – International film curator and champion of African cinema Keith Shiri has been appointed Lead Curator to Film Africa 2024.
In a statement Friday, (27 September 2024), the Royal African Society said it was “honoured that Keith will lead Film Africa’s curation, bringing his extraordinarily rich and wide experience in international curation and film festivals, as well as a record of championing African cinema and its profile in the United Kingdom, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean”.
Commenting on his appointment, Shiri said: “I am excited to join Film Africa as a curator”.
He added: “African artistry – especially in cinema – is experiencing a period of unparalleled invention and experimentation, and Film Africa provides the ideal forum in which to share these cultural treasures with audiences from the continent, as well as Britain’s various diaspora communities and the wider British public.
“I look forward to working to assemble a bench of films and speakers to progress our collective conversation about African film – as well as African cultural trends and the perspectives of those whose continent will, this century, emerge as the world’s most important and populous.”
As well as being the founder and director of Africa at the Pictures, a London-based festival of African cinema, Shiri is a programme adviser to the London Film Festival and a founder member and current chair of the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
He has advised the curation of international film festivals including the Venice Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival, the Dubai International Film Festival, the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, and the Tampere Film Festival.
Shiri is also the Regional Secretary (Europe) for the Federation of African Filmmakers (FEPACI), and a Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Research and Education in Arts and Media (CREAM) at the University of Westminster.
He sits on the advisory board of New York’s Focus Features Africa First Programmed, which has long supported young African filmmakers through its mentorship programme.
In keeping with the Royal African Society and Film Africa’s ethos of expanding access to, and inclusion within, African culture and perspectives, the festival’s programme and emphases will reflect input from and be enriched by a diverse range of curators, filmmakers, and critics, to reflect the complexity and nuances of different African and diasporic voices.
Film Africa 2024
Film Africa, London’s unrivalled celebration of African and African diaspora cinema presented by the Royal African Society, is delighted to announce the appointment of Keith Shiri – a titan of African cinema and visual culture – as the Festival’s Lead Curator.
In 2024, Film Africa will take place from Friday, (25 October 2024), until Sunday, (3 November 2024), continuing its mission of highlighting African and African diaspora filmmaking.
The Festival is now open to submissions from African and African diasporic filmmakers.
All entries will be considered for inclusion in the Festival and prizes will be awarded to two entries: The Baobab Award for best short film and the Film Africa Audience Award for best feature-length entry.
Both awards have a £1 000 cash prize.
In 2022, the 10th edition of Film Africa spanned over 10 days from 28 October – 6 November.
The festival hosted screenings at seven venues across London – Picturehouse Central, BFI Southbank, Rich Mix, The Ritzy, Bertha DocHouse, South London Gallery, and The Africa Centre – as well as featuring a selection of 7 narrative and documentary films on the BFI Player.
Film Africa 2022 presented an eclectic hybrid programme of 47 films from 16 countries (including 22 World, European or UK premieres).
