Juries

Ranada Shepard

Writer · Showrunner · Producer · United States

Chicago-born television writer and producer who created Born Again Virgin and served as showrunner and executive producer of Young Love and the animated Good Times reboot.

Stephen “Dr” Love

Producer · United States

Film and advertising producer known for They Cloned Tyrone, The Land and the Emmy-winning The Talk. Cofounder of The Invisible Collective and a returning AFRIFF juror.

Carl Rumbaugh

Producer · Talent manager · United States

Emmy, Golden Globe and Tony-nominated producer working across film, television and theatre. He is CEO of 23 Management Group.

Andrea Voges

Arts administrator · Film programmer · South Africa

Durban-based arts administrator whose work spans the Durban, Joburg and Red Sea international film festivals, as well as the Realness Institute.

Jackie Lyanga

Film programmer · Festival director · United States

Jacqueline Lyanga is Co-Director of Film Programming at the Berlinale and founder of Global Cinematheque. She previously directed AFI FEST and film programming at Film Independent.

Tim McNeal

Jury President · Television executive · United States

Senior Vice President of Creative Talent Development & Inclusion at Disney Television Studios and president of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society board.

Ahmad Al-Othman

Broadcaster · Screenwriter · Oman

Omani broadcaster, screenwriter and cultural advocate with the Oman Film Society, supporting emerging filmmakers and Omani storytelling.

Wafa'a Céline Halawi

Jury President · Festival strategist · Lebanon

Festival and film-industry strategist who has led and advised cinema initiatives across the Arab world and Africa. She presided over the AFRIFF 13 jury.

Stephen “Dr” Love

Producer · United States

Acclaimed film and advertising producer known for They Cloned Tyrone, The Land and P&G's Emmy-winning The Talk. Cofounder of The Invisible Collective and a returning AFRIFF juror.

Nwakaego “Ego” Boyo

Actress · Producer · Nigeria

Beloved for her role as Anne Haatrope in Checkmate, she founded Temple Productions in 1996 and produced Violated, The Ghost and the House of Truth and A Hotel Called Memory.

Dennis Ruh

Festival director · Consultant · Germany

Former Director of the European Film Market (2020–2024) and head of international festival relations at German Films. He now advises Seriesly Berlin.

Cynthia Okoye

Producer · Nigeria

Nigerian producer and industry executive championing new filmmaking talent and cross-border collaboration across African cinema.

Lanre Olupona

Director · Cinematographer · Nigeria

Founder of Motioniere Studios. Director of photography on Gidi Blues and Battleground, director of Brethren for Africa Magic, and Festival Manager at iREPRESENT Documentary Film Festival.

Yolanda Keabetswe Mogatusi

Filmmaker · Entrepreneur · South Africa

Award-winning storyteller and entrepreneur working across film and television. Her first documentary feature is Rumba in the Jungle – The Return.

Victor Okhai

Filmmaker · DGN President · Nigeria

Producer, screenwriter and cinematographer with over three decades in the industry. He serves as President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria.

Stephen “Dr” Love

Jury President · Producer · United States

Producer of They Cloned Tyrone, one of Netflix's most viewed films of the year, starring John Boyega, Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris.

Abby Ajayi

Writer · Producer · Nigeria / United Kingdom

Emmy-nominated Nigerian-British writer-producer known for How to Get Away with Murder and Inventing Anna.

Greg Otudayo

Film producer · Nigeria

Tsitsi Dangarembga

Author · Filmmaker · Zimbabwe

Award-winning author and winner of the 2023 African Peace Prize.

Wafa'a Céline Halawi

Actress · Director · Lebanon / France

Geneva Wasserman

SVP Scripted Development, Dentsu · United States

Entertainment and technology expert and Senior Vice President of Scripted Development at Dentsu.

Ranada Shepard

Film producer · Mentor · United States

Cuban-American film producer and mentor to Afro-Latino voices in film.

Nicholas Weinstock

Producer · Head of Invention Studios · United States

Renowned Hollywood producer and Head of Invention Studios.

Busola Tejumola

Head of Content, MultiChoice · Nigeria

Film acquisition expert and Head of Content at MultiChoice.

Kate Henshaw

Actress · Nigeria

Nollywood royalty and seasoned actress.

Desmond Elliott

Economist · Filmmaker · Nigeria