By ADF Newsdesk – 

Acclaimed auteur launches UNIVERSai Film Academy, prepares for international festival, and champions African voices in the age of artificial intelligence

The future of cinema is being reimagined, and Nigerian filmmaker Stanley Ohikhuare, widely known as Xtanlee, is leading the charge.

With over 25 years of experience, the surrealist auteur is embracing artificial intelligence to democratise filmmaking while placing African creativity at the centre of a rapidly evolving industry.

UNIVERSai Film Academy & Studios: Training the Next Generation

In response to the growing influence of AI in film, Ohikhuare has founded the UNIVERSai Film Academy & Studios, a pioneering initiative designed to equip emerging filmmakers with the skills to harness AI without losing their creative voice.

The project has already attracted 267 applications from Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia, reflecting a strong global appetite for knowledge in this field.

Plans are also underway to establish the Academy’s first UK hubs in Worcester, Kent, and Sheffield.

Championing African Narratives on the Global Stage

This September, Ohikhuare will represent African filmmakers at the African International Film Festival in Saskatchewan, Canada, where he will lead a roundtable on “The Integration of Human Imagination and Artificial Intelligence.”

Far from abstract debate, the session will feature a live, interactive workshop in which Ohikhuare demonstrates his process for creating a short film using AI tools.

His mission is clear: to ensure filmmakers learn to enhance, not replace, their artistry with new technology.

BLACK AI FEST: A Landmark Celebration

The movement will culminate in a landmark event, the BLACK AI FEST: The International AI Film Academy Festival and Awards, scheduled for 11–12 October 2025.

The festival will showcase AI-driven films from around the world and mark the theatrical debut of Ohikhuare’s feature-length film, LONE WALKER – one of the first AI-generated films to be released in cinemas.

Aspiring Filmmakers can register for the UNIVERSai Film Academy on their website.

Partners and Volunteers are invited to join the BLACK AI FEST by contacting Associate Producer Elizabeth Dede at echarlesdede@gmail.com