The Toronto International Film Festival’s 2016 City to City program will focus on Lagos, Nigeria! How wonderful is that? Although it shouldn’t be much of a surprise, given the internationally-recognized supremely-prolific movie industry that calls Nigeria home – Nollywood; an industry that’s given birth to a growing cadre of local filmmakers interested in shifting the mostly unfavorable critical *outsider* perceptions of films made by Nigerians in Nigeria.

The City to City selection is curated by Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of the Toronto International Film Festival, which runs September 8 to 18, 2016.

“Vital, complex and inspiring, Lagos is entirely unique,” said Bailey. “The city of Fela Kuti’s music has also given birth to one of the world’s most vibrant film industries. The 1,000 low-budget features ‘Nollywood’ produces each year generate about $1 billion in box office. Now, from that commercial hotbed, a new generation of filmmakers is emerging to both advance and challenge Nollywood. Bigger budgets, greater artistic ambition — the new cinema of Lagos is bold, exciting, and ready to take its place on the international stage. We’re excited to share the creativity of this remarkable city’s filmmakers with TIFF audiences in September.”

This is the 8th year for the City to City program, which showcases filmmakers living and working in a selected city, regardless of where their films are set. Cities featured in past programs include London, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Buenos Aires, Mumbai, Athens and Seoul.

The City to City: Lagos lineup will be announced this month. I’m certainly looking forward to reading what’s included in it.

For more information on this year’s City to City program, watch the “Share This Journey” video below featuring Cameron Bailey, and visit http://www.tiff.net/sharethisjourney.