The American Film Institute (AFI) has unveiled its lineup of 158 films for the American Film Institute Festival (AFI FEST). The event will take place in Los Angeles from October 23 to 27.
This year’s American Film Institute Festival spans submissions from 44 countries, including a couple African productions. These are Mati Diop’s documentary, Dahomey, from Senegal, and On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, directed by Zambian filmmaker Rungano Nyoni.
Dahomey delves into the story of 26 royal treasures plundered from the Kingdom of Dahomey to Europe. The film follows the journey of these treasures back to Benin.
Nyoni’s On Becoming a Guinea Fowl is a drama that unravels the secrets of a Zambian family. The film follows Shula, who discovers her uncle’s lifeless body on a deserted road. This triggers a series of revelations as she and her cousins confront their family’s buried truths. The film stars Susan Chardy, Roy Chisha, and Blessings Bhamjee.
Other Notable Appearances
Both On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, and Dahomey are selected for the 2024 edition of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). As is The Village Next to Paradise by Somalian director Mo Harawe. On Becoming a Guinea Fowl also premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. Dahomey won the Golden Bear award at the Berlin Film Festival.
“We are proud to bring the best in film from around the world to the city of Los Angeles,” Todd Hitchcock, Director of AFI FEST and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. “It’s a celebration of storytelling in all its forms, where diverse voices and unique perspectives promise to inspire audiences of all ages.”
The film lineup also includes an array of international films. This includes Architecton directed by Victor Kossakovsky and Gaucho Gaucho directed by Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw. Pavements directed by Alex Ross Perry; Black Dog (Gou Zhen) directed by Guan Hu; and Caught by the Tides directed by Jia Zhangke are also showing. As are Parthenope directed by Paolo Sorrentino and The Shrouds directed by David Cronenberg.
