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Meet Our Jury

Zharo Hassan

Dr. Zahro Hassan is a film enthusiast and interdisciplinary scholar whose passion lies in storytelling that reflects the richness and complexity of everyday Black life. With a deep appreciation for films that center the lived experiences, histories, and creative expressions of Black communities, she brings a critical and compassionate lens to her role as a jury member. Her academic and community work consistently explore themes of identity, justice, belonging, and representation—elements she is especially drawn to and moved by in cinema.

Kikachi Memeh

Kikachi Memeh is a Vancouver-based Nigerian writer, journalist, and multidisciplinary producer documenting the vibrant tapestry of Nigerian cinema. She is one half of Akojo Film Collective, a curatorial and programming initiative dedicated to contemporary African cinema. Her journalistic work is featured in publications such as Africa is A Country, African Studies Review, The Republic Journal, Brittle Paper, AMAKA Studio, Vancouver Magazine, and Random Photography Journal.

Folakemi Ogungbe

Folakemi Ogungbe, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Film and Multimedia, School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria. She earned her PhD in Film Studies from the University of Ibadan in 2022 and is a 2025/26 Fellow of the University of Michigan African Scholars Program. She served as the Creative Partnerships Coordinator for the African Hub for Sustainable Creative Economies (AHSCE), Lagos Hub, from March 2022 to March 2023—a collaborative research initiative involving King’s College London and the Universities of Southampton, Lagos, Nairobi, and Witwatersrand.

Onyeka Odoh

Onyeka Odoh is a Doctoral Candidate in the Department of English at the University of Calgary, Canada. His research interests are in African literature, migration, care, and cultural studies. He has served as the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Intern in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Calgary. Onyeka has published well-researched papers in peer-reviewed journals such as Research in African Literature, CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture, and Literature Compass. He has won numerous awards, including the 2025 Congress Graduate Merit Award and the 2025 ACCUTE BIPOC Caucus Research and Community Engagement Award. He chaired the committee that organised the 2025 Free Exchange
Conference.

Kotimi Guira

Kotimi Guira has been active in the film industry since 2013, when she began as a volunteer at FESPACO. She has held various roles since, notably within Fespaco Pro, and has coordinated the Yennenga Academy for two consecutive editions (2023, 2025). Appointed as the Burkina Faso delegate for the Vues d’Afrique festival in 2013, she has served as its programming director since 2019. With a degree in finance, she focuses on cultural event organization, serves on numerous film juries and selection committees, and contributes to cultural boards and initiatives in Canada.

Dr. Chiemela Ogbonna

Dr. Chiemela A. Ogbonna is a Senior Lecturer in Film and Multimedia at Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, specializing in film studies, Nollywood, decoloniality, and African cinema. His research explores the intersection of culture and media, offering nuanced insights into narrative and representation. With extensive jury experience—including the Lagos Film Festival, AM-FM, Kaduna International Film Festival, and PAU International Students Film Festival—Dr. Ogbonna is dedicated to recognizing culturally resonant cinematic works. His commitment to authentic African storytelling and elevating underrepresented voices ensures a thoughtful, inclusive approach to jury deliberations, making him a valued advocate for excellence in global cinema.

Jide Salawu

Jide Salawu is a Canada-based Nigerian literary scholar and poet. He is the founding conversationalist at Brown Bamboo. Salawu is the author of Preface for Leaving Homeland, published under African Poetry Book Fund in 2019, and the co-editor of African Urban Echoes, published by Griots Lounge. Salawu’s new book, Contraband Bodies, will be published in Fall 2025 by NeWest Press (Canada) and Narrative Landscape (Nigeria). His research interests include postcolonial theory, urban studies, rural studies, Afro-Canadian diaspora, and African migration narratives. His research works have appeared in Journal of African Cultural Studies, Muziki, African Identities, and so on. He teaches at the Department of English and Film Studies, University of Alberta, Edmonton.

Francois Adianaga

François A. Akouabou ADIANAGA, de nationalité burkinabè est né le 24 septembre 1976 à Abidjan en Côte d’Ivoire. 

Après des études primaires à Abidjan, il poursuit le reste de son cursus scolaire et universitaire à Ouagadougou au Burkina Faso.

Il est actuellement Chef du département Festival Panafricain de Cinéma et de la Télévision de Ouagadougou (FESPACO). 

Enseignant de formation, il obtient une Licence en psychologie sociale et du travail en 2007 puis un Master 1 en Management des Relations de Travail en 2012 à l’Université de Ouagadougou au Burkina Faso.

Dr Ezinne Ezepue

Dr Ezinne Ezepue is an associate professor of film at the University of Nigeria, where she teaches courses in film studies. She holds degrees from Nigeria and the United Kingdom, and completed her PhD in 2018 on the gentrification of Nollywood. A Chevening scholar and TETFund beneficiary, she recently finished postdoctoral research funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation on adapting African folktales into modern film narratives. She is currently an Alliance for African Partnership scholar, undertaking a research exchange with Michigan State University. Dr Ezepue leads the Africa on Script Initiative which empowers youths through authentic storytelling and has published widely on Nollywood. Her interests include documentary, reality filmmaking, and stories rooted in African identity.

Bimbola Adurogboye

Bimbola Adurogboye is a Nigerian-Canadian filmmaker and creative professional currently serving as Program Coordinator at the African Movie Festival in Manitoba (AM-FM). Originally from Nigeria, Bimbola studied biology before relocating to Canada in 2010, where he began his creative journey and transitioned into film. With an advanced degree in Motion Picture Arts, Bimbola has written, produced, and directed a wide range of narrative films, documentaries, and commercial content. Bimbola founded and operated Orchardlane Media, leading numerous independent projects from concept to completion. Passionate about storytelling, representation, and cross-cultural dialogue, Bimbola is committed to uplifting diverse voices and building meaningful connections through film.