Still from Oba (2023) by Femi Oladigbolu. Courtesy of the Artist.
At the crossroads of cinema and visual art, where a plethora of African identities, cultures and stories unfold, ART X Cinema stands as a crucial platform for exploration. Returning to ART X Lagos with a specially curated screening programme for its second year, ART X Cinema encourages all in attendance to consider the effort, participation and imagination required for us to arrive at our promised lands. This year’s programme has been developed by Tega Okiti – curator, practitioner and noteworthy voice in the world of African and Black Diaspora cinema. Since beginning her career in 2014, Tega has shaped thought-provoking public programming and curated projects across various institutions, from the BFI London Film Festival to Film Africa.
Showcasing the next generation of filmmakers and artists that challenge and illuminate the trajectories of African and African-descended people, ART X Cinema will feature 13 films by a unique selection of storytellers – each of whom is mobilising the art of cinema to convey the desires and conditions of their time.
Q:
How would you describe your curatorial style?
A:
I describe my curatorial style as curious, playful, challenging and insightful. I create programmes by making visible the connections and ideas in works of film that we might not ordinarily see. I really enjoy the process of bringing my research to life. With cinema, there's a great balance you can strike between really enjoying what you see and walking away feeling transformed or having learned something new.
Q:
What’s your favourite thing about ART X Lagos?
A:
It's my first year at ART X Lagos, and the fair brings so much vibrancy to the city. I'm honored to be a part of its journey.
Q:
Can you tell us a little bit more about the vision behind ART X Cinema this year?
A:
The programme is a point of entry into all that is present and possible from independent cinema, by and about African people. As we look ahead from the legacy of post-colonial cinema in Africa, we’re asking: who are the master craftsmen? Who are the griots, truth-tellers, and troublemakers.
Still from Coconut Head Generation (2023) by Alain Kassanda. Courtesy of the Artist.
Q:
What does ‘Promised Lands’ mean to you?
A:
For me, ‘Promised Lands’ are places where you get to dream expansively, to collaborate and, most importantly, to live well. The act of making a film is, in itself, an act of open and collective dreaming. African cinema often considers the condition of its citizens and the terms for a better future. On-screen, the worlds we see are the promised lands of the individuals who dare to dream of them.
Q:
And how do you see the theme coming to life through ART X Cinema this year?
A:
This year, we've worked to bring the theme to life with a collection of African filmmakers who are so bold and creative in their filmmaking styles. No genre, style or technique is off limits. We go from time travel and poetry film to science fiction and really beautiful, delicate dramas. These filmmakers maintain a commitment to the beauty and richness of African cultures throughout.
Still from Apostles Of Cinema (2022) by Ajabu Ajabu. Courtesy of the Studio.
Q:
How do you see the role of the curator in today’s world – here and now, in Nigeria, Africa and the wider diaspora?
A:
Someone who tells stories with stories. I spend a lot of my time watching, thinking and writing about cinema. I have a deep interest in the social and artistic potential of the medium, particularly for Black and African people globally. I do this work because I like creating enjoyable experiences for people. It's a wonderful feeling at the end of a screening to see people genuinely thrilled or moved by what they've just seen.
Q:
In your view, how does ART X Cinema help us to (re)imagine a future for the African continent?
A:
The films we present are bold in their thinking. Cinema has a unique ability to hold the complex realities we live through while simultaneously offering or encouraging us to think about solutions creatively.