AISSA'S STORY won Best Student Short at AFRIFF! I was so overwhelmed, I literally cried on stage and everyone kept coming up to me afterwards saying that it got them choked up, too. I will post my speech when my good friend Ntare Mwine puts it up online. His glorious short MISSING screened too, and he was on the feature film jury. I had a wonderful time in Calabar. Will post more pics soon. --AL.

My short film Aissa's Story will be screening at 3:00PM on November 11 at the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Calabar, Nigeria. 

Back in 2010, I attended the first AFRIFF as a patron, when it was just a modest gathering of film lovers and practitioners in that dusty, would-be-great-if-it-weren't-so-dry-and-congested town of Port Harcourt. 

I could never have imagined then the heights the festival would grow to now, calling Tinapa Film Village in Calabar, Cross River State, home. Last year I met more Nollywood stars there than I could count (or even name), met many of my director idols (Balufu Bakupu-Kanyinda, Kunle Afolayan, and Michelle Bello among them), saw a World Cup qualifying football match, and was generally so impressed that I decided to submit my work this year. 

I must also add, and it can't be understated, that Calabar is my favorite place in the world. My granny lived there most of her life until she passed away last year. Much of what made it my favorite place was sitting with her on the porch and eating fresh sugarcane from her farm, so the loss has dislocated me in a deep way that cannot be healed. But there is also something special about AFRIFF, gathering a group of truly astounding storytellers in a magical place, that is helping me make wonderful new Calabar memories and friends. 

Come check it out if you plan to be there and don't forget to say hello! More info on the (truly spectacular, from a design perspective) AFRIFF website. --AL.