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Is it just me, or has Nigeria been on a film festival marathon lately?
First, the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) came in like a blockbuster premiere, and just as we were catching our breath, the Lagos Fringe Film Festival pulled up with its own cinematic vibes. It’s like the universe whispered, “Let there be lights, cameras, and action—everywhere!”
Now, if you’ve been living under a rock—or somewhere with zero WiFi—here’s the gist: the past few weeks have been a whirlwind of films, workshops, panels, and endless networking. From high-budget Nollywood flicks to indie projects shot on shoestring budgets, these festivals showcased the best (and quirkiest) of African cinema. But more importantly, they reminded us of one thing—Nigeria loves to flex its creativity.
While AFRIFF was all about glitz, Lagos Fringe was the cool indie cousin who threw a more relaxed, artsy party. Think of it as a creative buffet where you could binge on film, theatre, spoken word, music, and even visual art. It wasn’t just a film festival; it was an explosion of creativity!
This year’s lineup featured films that dared to be different. We saw experimental works, documentaries that hit close to home, and shorts that packed a punch in just a few minutes. Lagos Fringe reminded us that storytelling isn’t just about big budgets or fancy effects—it’s about heart, soul, and a touch of vibes.
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The 7th edition of the Lagos Fringe Festival just wrapped up, and let’s just say it was all vibes and impact! Since its debut in 2017, Lagos Fringe has been the spot where Nigeria’s creative scene shines brighter than your favourite Instagram filter. This year’s festival was no exception, with Kenneth Uphopho (aka the Festival Boss Extraordinaire) and Ego Boyo (Chairperson of the Lagos Fringe Advisory Board and certified arts champion) kicking things off with a reflective opening night. They reminded us just how far this festival has come—and, spoiler alert, it’s very far.
But wait, there’s more! This year’s festival wasn’t just about looking back; it was all about levelling up. Enter the Festival Gathering Live Convening Launch, a super-cool meetup, hosted with the British Council. Picture this: over 50 festival managers and cultural big shots from across Africa and beyond, all in one room, chatting about sustainability, funding, and how to make festivals the ultimate creative playground. Yes, it was as inspiring as it sounds.
And if that wasn’t enough, the Creative Enterprise Program came through with workshops that were basically a crash course in boss moves. From content monetization (aka how to get paid!) to AI tools for creatives (robots, but make it artsy), to making it big in Afrobeats (move over, Burna Boy), it was a buffet of skills for creatives looking to dominate the scene. Oh, and there were sessions on pitching and grant writing, because, let’s face it, we all need to learn how to chase that bag.
Lagos Fringe wasn’t just about local vibes, though. This year, they teamed up with creatives from Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the UK to take things international. They also screened 20 films from Film Lab Africa, supported by the British Council. Yes, twenty! The festival wasn’t just about putting Nigerian arts on the map—it was about proving we are the map.
So, to all you creatives out there, Lagos Fringe isn’t just a festival; it’s a whole movement. If you missed it this year, don’t worry—you can already start planning for next year. Just don’t forget to pack your creativity, collaboration spirit, and, of course, your dancing shoes. Until then, let’s keep celebrating the magic of Nigerian arts and the bold, bright future it’s shaping!
