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Royal Cocoa International Film Festivals Lagos (RCIFF) edition from April 7-11^th proved to be a needed event not only for the country of Nigeria, continent of Africa, but also on an international level. There are many reasons the film festival which debuted last November 25^th at the Kingdom of Eti-Oni, supported and launched by Osun State Governor, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola is making a global impact. For starters, the Film Festival was Founded by a Reigning African Monarchy, and the King and Queen are actively involved in the festival day to day operations as well as interacting with the filmmakers and guests, this is the first and certainly not the norm.

The film festival is hosted twice a year in Nigeria in Lagos and their Kingdom of Eti-Oni in Osun State Nigeria. The film festival is hosted during two unique festivals. At the Kingdom of Eti-Oni, RCIFF takes place during The Cocoa Festival founded to promote and support cocoa farmers and the production of cocoa; whilst in April, RCIFF film festival focuses on the consumers enjoying chocolate from African and regional chocolate makers during Eko Chocolate Show, which is the largest show dedicate to chocolate in Africa. All of this is produced by Eti-Oni Development Group and during Eko Chocolate Show 2022, International Cocoa Diplomacy, an organization to help bridge the gap between production and consumption towards achieving shared value that will transform cocoa producing regions was launched. The Show was done in partnership with New Generation in Action and AFI World Peace Initiative (NGIA AFI WPI).

Royal Cocoa International Film Festivals (RCIFF) was Founded by Their Royal Majesties of Eti-Oni, Oba (King) Dokun Thompson Gureje IV, the Oloni of Eti-Oni and Queen Angelique-Monet, the Yeyeluwa Olori of Eti-Oni (Queen Consort), and celebrates cocoa farmers world-wide. The Kingdom of Eti-Oni is located in Osun State, Nigeria along the rainforest belt in Sub-Sahara Africa and is the oldest cocoa plantation in the country with a tropical exotic rainforest and habitat for some endangered species. Eti-Oni is ruled by a Monarch bearing the title His Majesty, the Oloni of Eti-Oni. The current ruler is His Royal Majesty Oba (King) Dokun Thompson GUREJE IV.

The focal point of the festival and even the name is to bring positive cultural messages together to a broader international audience while celebrating African stories in the global marketplace, and films of purpose, as well as to promote just, equity, and ethical social practices in the world of cocoa production to rectify an industry where worker abusive practices and child labour have become the norm in cocoa producing regions since the abolition of slavery. Royal represents not only a film festival founded by a Monarch but the Royal Origins and Traditions of Cocoa and the heritage and African narrative of the Kingdom of Eti-Oni.

RCIFF screenings took place at Silverbird Cinemas in Victoria Island, Lagos and was officially declared open by Osun State Governor, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola who was represented by Osun State Commissioner for Environment & Sanitation, Hon Oladepo Solagbade who emphasized the historic nature of the film festivals for humanity and sustainable development in his address. He stated further that the film festivals provided another opportunity to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Eti-Oni as the home of Nigeria’s oldest cocoa plantation and the birthplace of cocoa in Southwest Nigeria. “With this film festival, the Eti-Oni Development Group is pushing the cocoa rebirth agenda through a most innovative and impactful platform of film. It is no doubt an excellent idea that will further help in showcasing the enormous tourism potential of Eti-Oni and indeed, Osun State in general. I am indeed expectant that through this, we would be able to tell the world, the story of the underdevelopment of the coco-producing villages while the developed economies bask in the wealth created by their produce; tell the stories of children who, on account of poverty, are forced to remain on the farm to work and feed the world; and tell stories of the ravaging impact of the changing climate, and many other stories. It is on this note that I welcome you all to this Show, believing that you will be inspired to work for development and become unrepentant cocoa advocates in the mould of our dearly beloved Kabiyesi”

The Governor then thanked the organizers for encouraging the coming generation to embrace cocoa farming with pride agreeing that the initiative in many ways aligned with his Administration’s agenda of creating wealth and value from agriculture which has been driven by the philosophy to stimulate large-scale mechanization of the sector and encourage more active youth participation, while tackling the challenge of aging farming. He said further that cocoa owing to its enormous capacity for revenue generation held a critical place in the agenda and cocoa seedlings were distributed to the teeming cocoa farmers of Osun State in addition to the provision of other requisite agricultural inputs such as agro-chemicals and finally gave assurance that his government will continue to work with organizations like Eti-Oni Development Group to make the vision of transforming the cocoa industry and indeed, the entire agriculture sector, a reality and wished Eko Chocolate Show 2022 and the Royal Cocoa International Film Festivals – Lagos Edition, a stimulating and rewarding Festival.

The full day of activities of Royal Cocoa International Film Festivals – Lagos Edition began with Susan Kucera’s “12^th Hour,” narrated by Emmy nominated David Morse and exhibited during the Africa Cocoa and Chocolate Forum on Friday 8^th April 2022. Later in the evening, the Official Opening Film was Susan Kucera’s “Living In The Future’s Past,” narrated by Critically Acclaimed Oscar winning actor Jeff Bridges while the Centerpiece Film was two time Oscar nominated Barry Alexander Brown’s “Son of the South,” Executive Produced by Oscar winner Spike Lee, where Barry Alexander Brown attended by zoom. The Closing Night Film was a spotlight on Nigerian cinema and industry known as Nollywood. Nollywood is globally recognized as the second largest film producer in the world, and is a derivation of both “Bollywood,” a nickname for the Indian film industry, and “Hollywood,” the former center of production for movies in the United States. Nollywood encompasses Nigerian films made on the African continent and sub-industries in African diaspora. Closing RCIFF – Lagos Edition was Nollywood feature film “Cake” by Steve Gukas and Dotun Olakunri.

Additional highlights included a Spotlight on African Women in Rural Communities and the screening of “Kanda Bode” Don’t Get Whipped by Fekad Kiros and Cheryl Halpern. The film shed awareness about the Hamar tribe, a semi nomadic and rural people who live along the Omo River in Southwestern Ethiopia. Preserving the traditions of their ancestors is essential in defining the Hamar’s life. Today, there is a new awareness that aspects of this tradition are harmful to the health and wellbeing of many who participate. The Hamar people are beginning to consider how their tradition can evolve. Many of the audience were African women and men who are strong advocates of women and girl empowerment. None of the audience knew such practices existed and they expressed concerns and appreciation to Mrs. Cheryl Halpern for producing such informative work and Fekad Kiros. The film won “Best Women’s Short Documentary,” and Spotlight on Women.

Another highlight was from India though not a Bollywood film. Instead the film “And They Occupy Me,” is a television series about June 1984 when a tragic incident for Punjab and Sikhs took place and is based on true events that took place in Darbar Sahib Amritsar. The television series directed by Surinder Singh and Malkiat Singh Meet also won “Best Contribution to Social Justice.”

RCIFF is a series of multiple festivals in the year in different locations across the world and this edition also celebrated cocoa farmers through a short film “Reclaiming Cocoa” by Philippe Stalder who was present, the film tells the story of a new generation of Ghanaians who no longer want to ship their most precious commodity to Europe but reclaim the value of cocoa by using it to create their own innovative products.

RCIFF is also about identifying and celebrating up and coming talents and the short film “Prey” which told the story of the African boy child and the dangers of child abuse told from a Nigerian perspective. Prey by Ese Ariremu and Executive Produced by Jasper Aziegbemhin won Best Narrative Short. RCIFF also presented the children who played in the film with Rising Star Awards for their compelling performance. Chidera Duru who is only 6 years old and Solomon Madu 12 years old. Both Ese Ariremu and Jasper Aziegbemhin were present and collected the awards on behalf of the children.

With the lifting of most covid restrictions, the festival took place as an in person event but with covid protocols in place to provide a safe and risk free atmosphere and environment for all participants. Guests in attendance were film industry veterans, top government officials, cocoa producers as well as chocolate and film enthusiasts. RCIFF film program concluded on Sunday April 10^th with the Royal Cocoa International Film Awards hosted by Princess Nike Adedoyin-Ajayi former Permanent Secretary, Lagos Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (retired) and Princess Olamide Thompson-Odeneye (Host Committee of Eko Chocolate Show). Beyond the film awards, individuals who had achieved in the “Arts and Entertainment,” sectors were honoured with the RCIFF Lifetime Achievement Award. This included Founder of Silverbird Group Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, for his contribution to film, television, media, arts, and entertainment and Patience Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama G was also honoured for her contribution to “Film, Television, Arts & Entertainment.”

Additional honors went to Oscar winner Jeff Bridges, and Emmy winner David Morse for their narrations and contributions to use their voice to share messages of climate action.

Royal Cocoa International Film Festivals is proving to move boundaries and borders, creating an atmosphere where films are used to engage in conversations around the world about what the world is faced with and where the world will be going from where it presently is.  The Lagos edition proved individuals want to learn more about what cocoa farmers and farmers face worldwide, how they respond to challenges of deforestation and their needs when it comes to issues around gender equality and the conversations during the green carpet networking receptions centred around the topics of the theme of the film festival in addition to the discussions of the narrative feature films, documentaries and animations.

We are grateful for partnerships RCIFF had in order to host such a detailed program during COVID-19 and look forward to the next edition at our Kingdom of Eti-Oni. By then we pray the COVID-19 is over and more filmmakers are ready to come to the continent of Africa and our beautiful Kingdom where our cocoa plantation is set in an exotic rainforest and preserves endangered species. We again thank all the filmmakers who were in our Official Selection and all the films that received awards,” stated Co-Founder Her Royal Majesty Queen Angelique-Monet of Eti-Oni.

The List of Awards are as follows:

1. Cake by Steve Gukas and Dotun Olakunri (Nigeria)

Best Ensemble Cast

2. Prey by Ese Ariremu (Nigeria)

Best Narrative Short

3. Reclaiming Cocoa by Philippe Stalder (Ghana, Switzerland)

Best Documentary Short

4. And They Occupied Me by Surinder Singh, Malkiat Singh Meet (India, USA)

Best Television Series “Contribution to Social Justice”

5. Son of the South by Barry Alexander Brown (USA)

Best Narrative Feature Film

6. Earth Woman (Nigeria)

Best Documentary Short

Spotlight on Women

7. Kanda Bode “Don’t Get Whipped” by Fekad Kiros and Cheryl Halpern (Ethiopia)
8.  

Best Women’s Short Documentary

Spotlight on Women

8. Living In The Future’s Past by Susan Kucera (USA)

Best Environmental Protection

9. 12th Hour by Susan Kucera (USA

Best Conservation & Preservation

10. The Sound of Us by Chris Geros (USA)

Best Music Documentary

Narrative Feature Length Documentary

11. Jeff Bridges (USA)
12. Golden Jubilee Merit of Distinction

“Contribution to Films of Purpose”

12. David Morse (USA)

“Merit of Distinction”

Rising Stars

Prey

13. Rising Star Boy

Solomon Madu (Nigeria)

14. Rising Star Girl

Chidera Duru (Nigeria)

Producer/Director Awards

15. Best Producing Team

Dotun Olakunri and Steve Gukas

Lifetime Achievement Awards

16. Senator Ben Murray-Bruce (Nigeria)

“Contribution to Film, Television, Music, Media, Arts & Entertainment”

17. Patience Ozokwor (Nigeria)

Film, Television, Arts & Entertainment

For more information on Royal Cocoa International Film Festivals email: rciff2021@gmail.com or visit facebook page.