‘Chidera’, a short movie by Sope Aluko, the Nigerian-British actress and filmmaker, is set to premiere at the 2023 Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Lagos.
In a statement, Aluko, who starred in ‘Black Panther’ and ‘Venom’, the Marvel productions, revealed that the short movie explores the “themes of identity, heritage, and self-discovery”.
Reacting to the selection, she also said the film is “close to my heart” while describing it as light “on important social issues and empower our youth”.
“Chidera is a project very close to my heart. It’s essential to use film as a medium to shed light on important social issues and empower our youth. This short film embodies the message of resilience, self-love, and embracing one’s identity, and I can’t wait to share it with the world at AFRIFF,” she said.
‘Chidera’ is produced by SopeBox Productions, the entertainment company owned by Aluko.
The short film tells the story of Chidera, a school teenager who grapples with the complexities of her cultural roots and the expectations from her family and community. She then embarks on a personal quest for self-acceptance.
The 12th edition of the AFRIFF is fixed for November 5 to 11. ‘Chidera’ will be screened on November 7 at the Filmhouse Cinemas, Twin Waters.
Aluko is an advocate for storytelling, representing African narratives in the global film industry.
In 2019, she founded ‘SopeBox Productions’ to “give voice to the positive and engaging stories about the African Diaspora, particularly female-driven stories showcasing the resilience of African women.”
‘Chidera’ had earlier premiered at the 2023 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) and was also selected at the Oscar-qualifying film festival in June 2023.
Copyright 2024 TheCable. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from TheCable.
Follow us on twitter @Thecablestyle