Rita Dominic & Lynn Whitfield announced as Goodwill Ambassadors for the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF)

Nollywood star Rita Dominic and Hollywood actress Lynn Whitfield have been announced as the ambassadors for the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), BellaNaija Movies & TV can exclusively confirm.

Chioma Ude, the Executive Director and Founder of the Africa International Film Festival, announced the appointment of Rita and Lynn as AFRIFF Goodwill ambassadors on Thursday 24th October 2013 at the AFRIFF office in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Remarking on the choice of the two star actresses, Chioma said, “Rita Dominic is a consummate actress and indeed an African screen Icon, having won several awards and nominations throughout her career, most recently she became Africa’s Best Actress by winning the 2012 Africa Movies Academy Award (AMAA) for her role in the Kenyan film Shattered. She also has won the Nollywood Movies Award, the Nigeria Entertainment Award and City People‘s Face of Nollywood Award. With over one hundred films to her credit, she has played a pivotal role in showcasing Nigerian cinema popularly known as Nollywood.”

She further disclosed that it was not a difficult decision to make considering Rita’s accomplishments in the industry and the fact that she has been a regular face at, and contributor to, the AFRIFF dream from its inaugural edition.

As for the Emmy Award winning Hollywood actress, Lynn Whitfield, Chioma said, “Lynn is a natural choice as AFRIFF Goodwill Ambassador not just for her accomplishments in Hollywood, but also because of her passionate support for the AFRIFF project since its inception.”

Whitfield began her acting career in television and theatre, before progressing to supporting roles in film. She won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special and a NAACP Image Award for her performance as Josephine Baker in the HBO movie The Josephine Baker Story (1991).

On her expectations from the newly appointed Goodwill Ambassadors, Chioma said, “We believe that these two talented, beautiful and popular stars will deliver maximum value to all stakeholders and participating communities, as the AFRIFF brand grows and continues to positively impact Nigeria and Africa as a whole.”

In her response Rita said, “I love that AFRIFF’s focus is youth empowerment and opening doors for the development of the African film industry which is my primary constituency. I am delighted to have been appointed an AFRIFF Goodwill Ambassador. It’s an organization that I cherish and respect and I look forward to working with stakeholders in the industry, the government, the private sector and non-governmental organisations and social enterprises to see how we can ensure that this fantastic festival achieves its objectives and full potential.”

Congrats to Rita and Lynn!