The African Film & Arts Festival (TAFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to motion pictures and arts that tell African stories, and serves as a platform for educative references to African Culture. TAFF will serve as a Dallas film premiere and art exhibition opportunity for several filmmakers and artists across the globe, whose work are selected to the festival.
TAFF was created to give the independent filmmaker and artist that focus on African stories a platform to compete in the global market. African arts and their creators would have additional world stage, expanding the market for such films and arts, and creating networking opportunities for seasoned and aspiring practitioners to commiserate on ideas and forge working relationships.
The festival was expanded from only films to also appreciate the importance of Arts in storytelling. From Drawings (storyboards) to Music (soundtracks) to Fashion (costume) to Body Paintings (makeup), TAFF will celebrate these important components of film, and becomes The African Film & Arts Festival. It will also serve as a platform for artists to showcase their work on international stage.
Filmmakers have opportunities for feedback. Each film will be reviewed by a panel of judges made up of industry professionals. Our team include the Executive Director, Board of Directors, Advisory Board, Panel of Judges, Planning Committee, Staff Members, and Volunteers.
Mission
Our mission is to contribute to the growing diversity of the city of Dallas and to celebrate African culture through motion pictures and arts; to address Social, Economic, Ethnic, and Health issues that affect the continent; and to provide an equal platform for Independent artists to showcase and distribute their work on a global scale.
Vision
Our vision is to increase the availability of African films and arts in non-African communities, universities, colleges and in public libraries as reference materials in the study of African culture, history, people, and issues.
The Team
Our team constitutes of the Board of Directors, Advisory Board, Ambassadors, Staff, Panel of Judges, Planning Committee, and Volunteers.
Kelechi Eke
Founder
Kelechi is a Software Engineer and filmmaker. He is the creator of
ROOTFLIX and founder of The African Film Festival.
Actress Yeharewerk Gashaw
TAFF Ambassador, Ethiopia
Ambassador Gashaw was the First Ethiopian International model, and also
the first Black Actress in the Popular Soap Opera ‘DALLAS’.
Uche Jombo
Advisory Board, Nigeria
Uche Jombo is award-winning Nigerian filmmaker. She is the Executive Director of UcheJombo Studios.
Yvonne Monalisa
TAFF Ambassador, Tanzania
Monalisa is award-winning actress and a pioneer of Tanzania's movie industry. She won "Best Actress" award at ZIFF 2010.
Alhagie Manka
TAFF Ambassador, Gambia
Alhagie Manka is a renowned filmmaker and CEO of State of the Mic in The Gambia, where he represents
The African Film Festival.
Maddie Mitchell
TAFF Ambassador, Australia
Maddie Mitchell is a Zambian-Australian author and Filmmaker in Queensland, where she represents The African Film Festival.
Dr. Chris Chinwe Ulasi
Advisory Board, Nigeria
Dr. Ulasi is a professional communicator and the department director of Radio, Television and Film at Texas Southern University.
Juliet Ibrahim
TAFF Africa Liaison, Ghana
Juliet Ibrahim is a Ghanaian filmmaker and humanitarian. She won the Best Actress award
at the 2010 Ghana Movie Awards.
Sir Benjamin A. Onyango
Advisory Board, Kenya
Sir Benjamin is a Hollywood actor from Nairobi. He is known for his work in Tears of the Sun and
God's Not Dead.
Cassie Kabwita
TAFF Ambassador, Zambia
Cassie Kabwita is a multi award-winning Filmmaker and one of the pioneers of Zambian Film Industry. She represents TAFF in Lusaka.
Tony Asankomah
Film Critic, Ghana
Tony is a Ghanian film critic and works with GhMoviefreak, the only online film review platform in Ghana.
Molatelo Mainetje
TAFF Ambassador, South Africa
Molatelo is multiple award-winning television news and current affairs producer and documentary filmmaker.
Mohamed Kamel
TAFF Ambassador, Egypt
Mohamed is an award-winning filmmaker. He studied film directing at the Academy of Arts-Higher Cinema Institute in Cairo.
Ruth Nkweti
TAFF Ambassador, Cameroon
Ruth Nkweti is a Cameroonian Actress, Producer, and Film Critic. She is the CEO of Black Diamond Films.
Sandra Mushid
TAFF Ambassador, Congo
Sandra Mushid is a Congolese Filmmaker, and represents TAFF in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ruth Ndulu Maingi
TAFF Ambassador, Kenya
Ruth Maingi is a Kenyan Filmmaker, Costume Designer, and Humanitarian. She is the Founder of RuMa Fashions.
Victor Okpala
TAFF Ambassador, Nigeria
Victor "Eagle Eye" Okpala is a Nigerian filmmaker and CEO of Dope 7 Media in Lagos, where he represents TAFF.
Pascale G. Serra
TAFF Ambassador, Central African Republic
Pascale Serra is a Filmmaker and Journalist from Central African Republic. Her film, ZONE III won various International Awards.
Angèle Diabang
TAFF Ambassador, Senegal
Angèle Diabang is a Senegalese Screenwriter, Director and Film Producer. She represents The African Film Festival in Dakar.
Nene Nwoko
Voice of TAFF, United States
Nene Nwoko is a Nigerian American Actress, Model, and Voiceover Artist. She is the voice behind TAFF announcements.
Dr. Yazomam Ibekwe
Stage Director, Nigeria
Dr. Yaz is a Pharmacist and filmmaker. He is the founder of Townkrier Media, and the co-founder of ATeam branding company.
TAFF TEAM
TAFF became the first African film festival in the city of Dallas and was held in July 2016 with great reception by the African diaspora, the great State of Texas, the city of Dallas, and suburbs around the Dallas metroplex.
The Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, recognizes The African Film Festival with a powerful letter for the effort the organization is making in Bridging Cultures through Film.
Proclamation of The African Film Festival was given by the Mayor of Dallas, Michael S. Rawlings, during the inauguration at the Dallas City Hall on July 1st, 2016. Councilmen, Filmmakers, Community leaders, dignitaries, Supporters, the African community, and friends of Africa attended the unique culturally celebrated inauguration.
City representatives present the proclamation document to the founder of The African Film Festival, Kelechi Eke.
Nollywood was represented by the festival host, Uche Jombo; and Patience Ozokwo, recepient of 2016 African Film Legend Award. Ethiopian Human Rights Activist and recipient of 2016 African Film Leadership Award, Yeharewerk Gashaw, was also in attendance.
