Four legends of African and African Diaspora Cinema to be honored at the 2024 SVAFF

(Black PR Wire) San Jose, CA - The Silicon Valley African Film Festival will  honor  four cinema legends— Julie Dash (USA), Dr. John Kani, OIS, OBE (South Africa), Souleymane Cissé (Mali), and Richard Mofe-Damijo (Nigeria)—with Cultural Icon Awards. The ceremony and a fireside chat with the honorees will occur on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at Montgomery Theater in San Jose, California. 

Julie Dash, a filmmaker, author and educator, is celebrated as the first African American woman to have a wide theatrical release in the United States with her magnum opus Daughters of the Dust (1991). Dash is currently a Diana King Endowed Professor at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. “I am truly honored and look forward to being there,” Julie Dash said on the news of her nomination.

Dr. John Kani OIS, OBE, is renowned for portraying King T’Chaka in Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Black Panther (2018), as well as his role as Rafiki in The Lion King (2019). Beyond his on-screen accomplishments, Dr. Kani co-wrote and starred in Athol Fugard’s anti-apartheid play Sizwe Banzi is Dead (1972),  earning a Tony Award and global recognition. Dr. Kani expressed his gratitude for the award, stating, “I am indeed humbled and deeply honored by your gracious gesture.”

Souleymane Cissé, one of Africa’s most respected filmmakers, earned the Jury Prize at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival for his film Yeelen—the first African film to win a prize at Cannes. In 2023, Cissé received  the Carrosse d’Or award at Cannes for his innovative filmmaking. Cissé expressed his gratitude for the nomination, saying “​​I am delighted to learn that you want to honor me with this award in recognition of all my work.

Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) starred in 30 Days in Atlanta (2014), which broke Nigerian box office records, and in The Black Book (2023), hailed as the “biggest film out of Nollywood,” reaching No.3 on the worldwide Netflix charts. RMD has been celebrated with multiple awards, including the LifeTime Achievement Award at the 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards. In response to receiving this title, RMD stated: “It’s an honor to be nominated by an organization that bridges two worlds I cherish.”

The Cultural Icon Award is SVAFF’s highest accolade, reserved for individuals who have relentlessly uplifted the image of Africa and its diaspora through creative expressions. In founder Chike C. Nwoffiah’s words, “These four icons each represent the pinnacle of cinematic excellence and cultural storytelling. We are deeply honored to celebrate their legacies at SVAFF 2024 and acknowledge the profound impact they’ve had in elevating Africa’s story on the global stage.”

Now in its 15th year, SVAFF celebrates the rich stories of Africa. The festival has become a cultural destination event, drawing award-winning international filmmakers, foreign dignitaries, Hollywood celebrities, academics, and film enthusiasts. From film screenings to  panels with visiting filmmakers, fashion shows, workshops, an African market, and more, SVAFF offers an exquisite window into the real Africa and its diaspora. All selected filmmakers were notified on August 15. Click here to see the SVAFF 2024 Official Selections!

This year, SVAFF proudly introduces the African Film Summit, in partnership with San Jose State University, convening global academics, filmmakers, and industry leaders for an engaging dialogue on African cinema.

Join us for an unforgettable celebration of African film, culture, and creativity. Tickets are available here: https://svaff.org/buy-tickets/
For more information about SVAFF, please visit www.svaff.org.

About Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF):