Celebrating Excellence: The 2024 SVAFF to Present Richard Mofe-Damijo With Cultural Icon Award
SAN JOSE, (July 26, 2024) – Silicon Valley African Film Festival to Honor Nigerian Film Legend Actor Richard Mofe-Damijo with Prestigious Cultural Icon Award
San Jose, CA – [July 26, 2024] – The Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) is excited to announce that the beloved Nollywood actor Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, will be honored with the prestigious Cultural Icon Award at this year’s festival. Mofe-Damijo has confirmed his attendance at the award ceremony and the following fireside chat which will take place on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at Montgomery Theater in San Jose, California.
RMD has made considerable contributions to the Nigerian film industry in his decades-long career. He appeared in 30 Days in Atlanta (2014), a film that went on to break all Nigerian box office records at the time of release. More recently, he starred in The Black Book (2023), hailed as the “biggest film out of Nollywood,” which soared to No.3 on the worldwide Netflix charts. RMD’s impact on the industry has been celebrated with multiple awards, including the inaugural Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards. His undeniable impact on the rise of Nollywood on the global stage cements him as a cultural icon deserving of this award.
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 innovation of Silicon Valley and the powerful storytelling of film, especially those narratives that highlight African experiences.” SVAFF Director Chike C. Nwoffiah added, “RMD is the most versatile and influential Nigerian actor of our modern era. He is a gifted actor and a bankable talent who has delighted all of us with his powerful and charismatic stage and screen presence for over 30 years. We are thrilled to honour him at SVAFF 2024 for his inspiring work and role in shaping Africa’s story with the global community.”
The Cultural Icon Award is SVAFF’s highest accolade, presented exclusively to individuals who have demonstrated a relentless commitment to showcasing and uplifting the image of Africa and its diaspora through creative expression. Previous recipients of the award include actor, producer, and philanthropist Jimmy Jean-Louis (2022), actor and producer Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine (2021), former Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas Mother Cynthia Pratt (2019), emeritus editor of Essence Magazine Susan L. Taylor (2018), co-directors of Diamano Coura African Dance Ensemble Dr. Zak and Mrs. Naomi Diouf (2017), and actor, producer, and activist Danny Glover (2016).
Now in its 15th year, SVAFF celebrates the richness, identity, and stories of Africa and its diaspora on their own terms. The festival has grown into a cultural destination event that draws award-winning international filmmakers, high-level foreign government dignitaries, Hollywood celebrities, academics, community leaders, students, and local film enthusiasts. From film screenings to talkback sessions with visiting filmmakers, fashion shows, live performances, panel discussions, workshops, an African market, and red-carpet events, SVAFF provides audiences with an exquisite window into the real Africa and its diaspora through the lenses of seasoned and emerging filmmakers.
This year, SVAFF is proud to introduce the African Film Summit, presented in partnership with the Office of the President of San Jose State University. This groundbreaking event will convene academics, students, filmmakers, film enthusiasts, celebrities, government officials, distributors, and investors from across the globe for an engaging dialogue on African cinema.
Join us for an unforgettable celebration of African film, culture, and creativity. For more information about SVAFF, please visit www.svaff.org.
Sahndra Fon Dufe Okeowo
Outreach & Strategic Engagement Director
Silicon Valley African Film Festival
+1 (408) 886-0049
sahndra@svaff.org
About Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF):
Silicon Valley African Film Festival celebrates the richness, identity, and stories of Africa and its diaspora on their own terms. It has become a cultural destination event that draws award-winning international filmmakers, high-level foreign government dignitaries, Hollywood celebrities, academics, community leaders, students, and local film enthusiasts. SVAFF offers audiences an exquisite window into the real Africa and its diaspora through the lenses of seasoned and emerging filmmakers.