FROM LONDON TO AFRIFF: FUNMI IYANDA ‘WALKING WITH SHADOWS’

FUNMI IYANDA

By Esanbor Enosesiase

After an impressive outing at the recently concluded BFI London Film Festival, ‘Walking with Shadows’, a movie produced by veteran talk-show host, Funmi Iyanda, is set to premiere at the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) tomorrow.

The film, which is produced in collaboration with The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs), is an adaptation of Jude Dibia’s book of the same title. It is centred around a man whose search for validation and love caused him to create a personality at variance with his true self and more acceptable to the society.

Directed by British filmmaker, Aoife O’Kelly, the film fully explores many pressing societal issues which sections of the African society can relate with but cannot freely address, while also promoting the importance of self-discovery and acceptance in a cultural society.

Featuring a stellar cast including Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi, Wale Ojo, Ozzy Agu, Zainab Balogun, Funsho Adeolu, and more, ‘Walking with Shadows’ discusses the context of strong religious and cultural beliefs, and tells the story of self-acceptance after well-kept secrets begin to threaten a ‘perfect’ life.

In her remarks, Iyanda noted that through the unique way the plot unfolds, the film fully explores many pressing societal issues and promotes the importance of self-discovery and acceptance in a cultural society.

She said her desire to showcase the film to African audience started shortly after the London Film Festival, an annual event held in the United Kingdom for two weeks in October, with cooperation from the British Film Institute.

“Since the London Film Festival, I have been looking forward to the opportunity to showcase this masterpiece to the African audience and I’m thankful that we’re finally here.

“The journey through the scripting and production of ‘Walking with Shadows’ has been surreal and the acceptance so far has been overwhelming. Nonetheless, I’m particularly excited about the AFRIFF premiere,” she said. .

Media partners for the premiere are TVC, Channels TV, Goldmyne TV, Accelerate TV, Red Media Africa and YNaija.

 

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