Lights, Camera, Africa! Film Festival Makes Its Return

The Lights, Camera, Africa! (LCA!) Film Festival has returned, reviving its platform dedicated to independent cinema from across the continent. Established in 2011, the festival was founded to present a diverse selection of African and independent cinema while fostering meaningful dialogue around issues and realities rooted in the African experience.

Before the global onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 halted in-person gatherings and disrupted physical film screenings, LCA! staged nine editions in Lagos. During that span, the platform established itself as a critical showcase for indie filmmakers, premiering and screening notable works such as Jihan El-Tahri’s Cuba: An African Odyssey, Hawa Essuman’s Soul Boy, Raymond Malinga’s A Kalabanda Ate My Homework, Ema Edosio’s KASALA!, Adekunle Adejuyigbe’s The Delivery Boy, as well as Abba Makama’s Green White Green and The Lost Okoroshi.

Expanding Alternative Creative Avenues

The reintroduction of the festival program features a curated lineup of independent productions, including Shine Your Eyes, By Design, Never Say Die, Sin Is a Puppy That Follows You Home, and Breastmilk. These selections continue the festival’s focus on non-traditional narratives and diverse filmmaking styles that challenge conventional commercial formulas.

For the African creative economy, the resurgence of independent cinema platforms also provides essential opportunities for music practitioners. Film festivals serve as vital spaces where filmmakers, sound designers, and musicians converge, facilitating soundtrack placements, bespoke scoring, and broader audio-visual collaborations that help export African sonic identity alongside visual storytelling.

Source: Afrocritik