Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has received two major international invitations recognising his impact on African cinema.
In a letter dated May 16, the founder of NOIR FEST, Lolade Siyonbola, invited Afolayan to be celebrated at the Harvard-Yale edition of the festival scheduled for November 20–23.
The letter described the Aníkúlápó director as “one of the most important filmmakers of our generation,” praising his role in elevating African storytelling.
“It would be a tremendous honor to celebrate you at NOIR FEST Harvard-Yale… a convening of filmmakers, studio executives, artists, technologists, social media influencers, and cultural architects committed to building a better world through storytelling,” the invitation read.
The organisers also expressed their desire to screen Kunle’s award-winning Netflix film Aníkúlápó during the event and involve him in “curated conversations and working sessions on the future of storytelling.”
NOIR FEST, which debuted in 2022, aims to amplify Black voices in film and media while bridging creativity with technology. It is supported by top universities and global creative institutions and this year’s edition will focus on innovation in African storytelling.
A separate invitation dated October 22, came from the Royal African Society (RAS) in London, organisers of the prestigious Film Africa Festival. The society invited Kunle to attend the 12th edition of the event taking place from November 14 to 23.
The Royal African Society described Film Africa as its “flagship film festival” and “a leading platform celebrating the best of contemporary African cinema.” Kunle was specifically invited to host a masterclass alongside South African film and TV executive Tendeka Matatu.
According to the letter, the session billed as one of the festival’s highlights, will take place on November 17 at BAFTA’s headquarters in Piccadilly, London.
“We request your presence to host a special masterclass in conversation with film and television executive Tendeka Matatu, to share insights into your creative process, industry experience, and the evolution of Nollywood,” the organisers wrote.
This year’s Film Africa will also spotlight the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), featuring films, documentaries and photo installations that explore Congolese identity and culture.
Kunle Afolayan, who has been at the forefront of Nigeria’s new wave cinema, is known for films such as The Figurine, October 1, Citation and Ijogbon. His Netflix original, Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre, expanded the universe of the 2022 hit film Aníkúlápó, further cementing his influence in African cinema.
In 2023, Afolayan was honoured by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars) with an invitation to join its class of voting members, an acknowledgment of his contributions to global storytelling.
