Bio 

Austin Odigie Executive Director, African-Canadian International Film Festival (ACIFF) Nigerian-Canadian Filmmaker | Producer | Director | Industry Mentor.

Austin Odigie is a Nigerian-Canadian filmmaker, producer, and creative leader whose work spans film, television, digital media, festival programming, and artistic mentorship. With over a decade of experience across Nollywood—the world’s second-largest film industry—and the Canadian screen sector, he has built a reputation as a dynamic storyteller and industry bridge-builder committed to elevating African and diaspora narratives globally.

Austin is the award-winning director of multiple films, including Empathy (2020) and Pandora’s Adversaries (2021), and producer/director of the feature film The Wiccan Girl. His work explores themes of identity, justice, spirituality, and human emotion, often blending African cinematic traditions with contemporary global storytelling techniques.

In 2020, Broadpost recognized him as one of Africa’s rising content creators shaping the continent’s creative future from North America. As a producer at Broadlens Media Associates Inc., Austin has led narrative and corporate film productions, developed media strategies, and collaborated with diverse creative teams. He is also a proud member of the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA), where he continues to expand his professional network, strengthen industry knowledge, and contribute to the growth of Black film production in Canada.

Austin’s impact extends beyond filmmaking. He is a committed advocate for creative equity, artist development, and cross-cultural collaboration. In 2022, he received the Ottawa Awards’ Producer of the Year from Faces Magazine, recognizing his contributions to the region’s evolving arts landscape. He has also served as a mentor, speaker, and facilitator for emerging filmmakers, guiding new artists through the fundamentals of screenwriting, producing, directing, and navigating the industry. His passion for capacity-building informs his leadership at ACIFF, where he developed the festival’s Artist-in-Residence Program—a comprehensive creation-to-exhibition pipeline addressing the lack of Black-centered development opportunities in the Canadian film ecosystem.

Austin’s filmmaking experience is complemented by his extensive involvement in both Nigerian and Canadian creative communities. His work bridges continents, offering unique insight into Nollywood’s global influence, African storytelling practices, and the evolving dynamics of Black representation in international media. As Executive Director of the African-Canadian International Film Festival, Austin oversees artistic direction, industry partnerships, programming vision, and community engagement. His leadership is grounded in the principles of the United Nations’ Second International Decade for People of African Descent (Recognition, Justice, Development) and reflects a deep commitment to creating platforms where Black stories can thrive, be preserved, and reach new audiences. Austin is a recipient of the prestigious United Nations Eminent Ambassador for his contributions to human capital development in line with the MDGs, and continues to build initiatives that empower filmmakers, strengthen multicultural arts ecosystems, and ensure that African and diasporic cinema remains an essential part of Canada’s cultural fabric.