Shedrack Salami’s inspiring film, “Beyond Olympic Glory,” which tells the story of Nigerian female boxer Cynthia Ogunsemilore and her relentless pursuit of Olympic dreams, has been officially selected for screening at the second edition of the Hollywood African Cinema Connection (HACC)
“Beyond Olympic Glory” Selected for HACC 2025
BY Oluwatomiwa Ogunniyi
April 14, 2025
6:48 am
“Beyond Olympic Glory” by Shedrack Salami has been officially selected as one of thirty-three films to be showcased at the Hollywood African Cinema Connection (HACC), taking place from Apr. 11 to Apr. 14, 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa.
Sharing the exciting news on Instagram, the filmmaker wrote, “We’re really inspired by Cynthia Ogunsemilore’s journey and we can’t wait for the world to experience her story. Her Olympic dream may have faced invited setbacks but her story doesn’t end there. She continues to inspire hope for every young girl who dares to dream and for all of us who believe in rising again.”
Several other Nigerian productions were also chosen for the prestigious film festival, including “T’egbon T’aburo” by Orire Lucky Nwani, “Dreams” by Chioma Paul-Dike, “Fighting Giants” by Oluwaseun Babalola, and “Tina, When Will You Marry?” by Celestina Aleobua.
The diverse lineup also features “The Return” by Mark Kaplan, “Brasse Vannie Kaap,” a Showmax Original by Lauren Scholtz, “Belinda” by Issac Kasenda, “Hans Crosses Rubicon” by Tobie Cronjé, and the festival’s opening film, “Milk Brothers.”
The Hollywood Africa Cinema Connection (HACC) is a film festival that brings together African and Middle Eastern cinema with panel discussions where industry professionals can explore emerging technologies like blockchain and AI. By embracing innovation, the festival aims to shape the future of storytelling while connecting filmmakers, audiences, tech enthusiasts, platforms, film institutions, cinephiles, and art lovers from around the world.
Guiding this year’s conversation is the theme: “Shift: Shifting the Narrative in Cinema and Financing,” with headline speaker and blockchain advocate Yaliwe Mlambo
leading the charge.
Featuring awards and presentations, the dynamic event offers diverse programming across multiple sections, including horror, animation, melodrama shorts, manhood-themed shorts, coming-of-age narratives, magical realism, freedom showcase, documentaries on life and death, women empowerment shorts, and feature films.
This event uniquely blends Hollywood mentorship, African cinema, and Web3 technology to celebrate—and reshape—the future of global storytelling.
