THE much-anticipated historical drama FESTAC ‘77 has been selected by the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) for an exclusive preview at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, marking a major milestone for African cinema on the world stage.

Produced by Adonis Production and distributed by FilmOne Entertainment, the film revisits the landmark Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture held in Lagos in 1977.

Through rich storytelling and meticulous historical detail, FESTAC ‘77 explores the cultural significance and enduring legacy of the festival, which brought together artists and intellectuals from across the Black world in a celebration of African identity and heritage.

The Cannes preview will give global audiences a first glimpse of a project already being hailed as a defining moment in African filmmaking. With high production values and a strong ensemble cast, the film has attracted international attention for its ambitious narrative and commitment to elevating Africa’s stories on its own terms.

“This film is a reclamation of Africa’s rich history,” said Adonijah Owiriwa, Executive Producer of *FESTAC ‘77. “We set out to revisit a defining moment of African unity and cultural assertion—capturing the ambitions, tensions, and triumphs that shaped our collective narrative. Through cinema, we’re preserving our past while inviting the world to engage with our stories through an authentic African lens.”

Owiriwa called the Cannes selection “a pivotal step” in changing the global perception of African cinema and proving that African stories are “as grand, complex, and worthy of global platforms as any other.”

Kene Okwuosa, Group CEO of Filmhouse Group—which includes Filmhouse Cinemas, FilmOne Entertainment, and FilmOne Studios—emphasised the film’s broader cultural significance.

“FESTAC ‘77 is a powerful contribution to the redefinition of African storytelling on the global stage,” he said. “Being selected for Cannes is a major endorsement, not just of the film, but of the direction African cinema is heading. It’s time our stories were no longer sidelined or misrepresented.”

Prince Tonye Princewill, also an Executive Producer, highlighted the growth of the African film industry in recent years. “FESTAC ‘77 reflects just how far we’ve come—in production quality, ambition, and global reach,” he noted. “African cinema is no longer emerging; it is here, competing and contributing meaningfully to global conversations.”

Scheduled for full release later in 2025, FESTAC ‘77 is expected to become a cultural touchstone in African cinema. As it moves from Cannes to international audiences, the film aims to connect Africa’s past with its present, while asserting a bold and compelling vision for its cinematic future.