The Toronto International Film Festival® today announced the 2016 City to City programme will focus on Lagos, Nigeria. The City to City selection is curated by Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of the Toronto International Film Festival.

“Vital, complex and inspiring, Lagos is entirely unique,” said Cameron 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 eighth year for the City to City programme, which showcases filmmakers living and working in a selected city, regardless of where their films are set. Cities featured in past programmes include London, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Buenos Aires, Mumbai, Athens and Seoul.

The City to City: Lagos lineup will be announced in August. The 41st Toronto International Film Festival runs September 8 to 18, 2016.

Film submissions for the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival are now open. The deadline for submission is May 6. The late submission deadline is June 3. For more information visit http://tiff.net/submissions.