Femi Odugbemi joins Editorial Advisory Board of Black Camera Journal

Award-winning filmmaker, producer, director, and media scholar Femi Odugbemi has been appointed to the Editorial Advisory Board of Black Camera An International Film Journal, and peer-reviewed publication dedicated to the study, documentation, and critical analysis of Black cinema and visual culture.

The appointment, confirmed by the journal’s Editor-in-Chief, Professor Akin Adeṣọkan, underscores Odugbemi’s significant contributions to filmmaking, scholarship, and international engagement in cinema. In his letter of appointment, Professor Adeṣọkan highlighted Odugbemi’s leadership as co-founder of the iREP International Documentary Film Festival, alongside his extensive work in production, policy, education, and media studies, describing him as a vital addition to the journal’s global advisory board.

Black Camera, published with the support of The Media School at Indiana University Bloomington, serves as a premier platform for scholarship on Black cinematic experiences across Africa and the global diaspora. It features original research, interviews, archival materials, reviews, and critical essays that examine cinema as artistic practice, cultural expression, and political discourse, with a focus on neglected and emerging sites of Black filmmaking.

Odugbemi, who recently shared insights from the Cannes Lions Film Jury in a piece emphasising the enduring power of authentic human stories amid evolving technology and AI tools, welcomed the appointment. “I am deeply honoured by this appointment and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to Black Camera’s longstanding commitment to documenting and advancing critical scholarship on Black cinematic experiences across the world,” he said. “I look forward to supporting the journal’s continued growth, intellectual engagement, and global reach.”

His name will appear on the journal’s masthead beginning with the Fall 2026 edition (Volume 18, Number 1), joining an esteemed board of scholars, filmmakers, and critics from Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and North America. The move further signals growing international recognition for African creative leaders in global academic and cultural institutions.

Odugbemi is the Founder and CEO of Zuri24 Media and BLACKBox Hub, and co-founder of the iREP International Documentary Film Festival. A voting member of both the Oscars and Emmys academies, he has served on numerous international juries and advisory boards.

His career spans acclaimed documentaries, drama series such as Battleground, Brethren, and Covenant, and feature films, while championing African narratives, media policy, cultural advocacy, and industry development.

The appointment comes shortly after he completed his tenure as Head of the Jury (voting members) for the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), where he served for several editions, including multiple years as head judge, helping elevate standards in Nollywood and African film evaluation. Veteran Nollywood actress and icon Joke Silva succeeded him in that role for the 12th edition.

Odugbemi’s latest honour reinforces his position at the intersection of creative excellence, policy influence, and global cultural discourse, strengthening the visibility of African storytelling on the world stage.