Lagos has been named one of the partner cities for the 2026 edition of “Goes to Cannes,” a showcase programme within the Marché du Film, the industry arm of the Cannes Film Festival.
The initiative, scheduled to run from May 15 to 18 at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, will see the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) represent Lagos alongside partner festivals from Rio de Janeiro, Adelaide, Montevideo, Tallinn and Hong Kong. Tokyo, Japan, has been designated the country of honour for the year.
AFRIFF’s participation follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed by its founder, Chioma Ude, with Nigeria’s Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy. The agreement led to the creation of the AFRIFF Film & Content Market (AFCM), launched in 2025 to provide African filmmakers with a structured platform for pitching, financing and distribution conversations.
At Cannes, AFRIFF will present five to seven Nigerian and African works-in-progress through extended teasers and live pitches to sales agents, distributors and investors. One project selected from the partner festivals will receive a €10,000 minimum guarantee prize from Spanish studio Sideral Cinema.
The development marks another step in Nigeria’s growing presence at Cannes. In 2025, Akinola Davies Jr.’s My Father’s Shadow became the first Nigerian film to screen in the festival’s Official Selection, earning a Caméra d’Or Special Mention.
The 2026 Marché du Film will run from May 12 to 20, drawing thousands of film professionals and hosting screenings, pitch sessions and networking events across multiple strands, including the Producers Network and Cannes Docs. With Lagos now part of the “Goes to Cannes” slate, Nigerian projects are set to gain expanded visibility within the international film market.