The BFI London Film Festival has unveiled its impressive 2024 selection, comprising a total of 255 titles from 80 different countries and spanning no fewer than 64 languages. Among this cultural diversity stands out director Oriahi, who after premiering his latest work on August 30, 2024, has grossed N8 million at the box office.
In a post on his Instagram account, Oriahi shared his pride and honour to announce that his film ‘The Weekend’ has been selected to screen at the 2024 BFI London Film Festival, the UK’s largest film festival. The selection comes as ‘The Weekend’ continues to set new box office records for its genre in the Nollywood film industry. The film will be screened in the BFI’s Cult Films (LFF) section alongside other highly anticipated thrillers and horror films of the autumn season.
Oriahi’s filmmaking journey began with his debut feature film, “Misfit,” a psychological horror film made on a shoestring budget. Other works to his credit include “Taxi Driver: Oke Ashewo” in 2015 and “Sylvia” in 2018. Among many submissions, his latest film, “The Weekend,” stood out by being selected for the Tribeca Film Festival in New York in 2024. It is worth noting that it was the only Nollywood film to have been screened at this international edition that year.
This recognition within renowned film events is a testament to the talent and creativity of African filmmakers, who are increasingly finding their place on the international stage. Nollywood cinema, in particular, is gaining visibility and prestige, offering quality productions that captivate an increasingly large audience.
The invitation of “The Weekend” to the BFI London Film Festival is an affirmation of the growing strength of the African film scene, and a tribute to the diversity and richness of the stories that these talented artists have to offer. Hopefully, this recognition will open new doors for Oriahi and other African filmmakers to continue to shine on the global cinema stage.