KAP Graduates 20 Beninese Filmmakers, Two Films Set for AFRIFF
Twenty young Beninese filmmakers have graduated from the KAP-SOPA Pan-African Filmmaking Bootcamp, with two of the three short films produced during the programme set to screen at the next edition
Twenty Beninese filmmakers have completed the KAP-SOPA Pan-African Filmmaking Bootcamp, with two short films produced during the program slated to be shown at the upcoming Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF). This development was revealed by AFRIFF founder and Executive Director, Chioma Ude, at the graduation ceremony and film premiere held at KAP Film Village and Resort in Igbojaye, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Ude stated that two of the films would be featured in the Students’ Film category at the upcoming AFRIFF, offering the young filmmakers a platform to showcase their work beyond the training program and onto the broader festival circuit.
The intensive 12-week program was organized by the KAP Film and Television Academy in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Benin via its audiovisual agency, SOPA. The participants embarked on their training in Cotonou, Benin, before transitioning to Nigeria for practical training and production, culminating in the completion of the three short films.
The graduation ceremony was attended by a range of notable figures within the African film industry, including film curator Keith Shiri, Cameroonian filmmaker Jean-Pierre Bekolo, renowned filmmakers Tunde Kelani and Tade Ogidan, media executive Femi Odugbemi, international producer Virginie Besson-Silla, Ude herself, and actress Sola Sobowale.
The KAP-SOPA curriculum integrated theoretical filmmaking knowledge with practical production experience, mentorship, and exposure to professional film environments. The students progressed from classroom instruction in Benin to hands-on production at KAP Film Village in Oyo State, enabling them to complete their original works in a professional setting.
The graduation ceremony also marked the unveiling of ITAN, The Screen Gathering and Awards, a new initiative championed by KAP Group founder Kunle Afolayan. The unveiling ceremony was performed by Femi Odugbemi. ITAN aims to create a platform for filmmakers, producers, distributors, investors, policymakers, academics, and other stakeholders involved in African cinema to convene and collaborate.
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