Renowned Nigerian filmmaker and media scholar Femi Odugbemi has been appointed to the Editorial Advisory Board of Black Camera, An International Film Journal, a peer-reviewed publication by Indiana University Press.
This appointment strengthens the integration of African industry expertise with global academic discourse on Black cinema, reinforcing Odugbemi’s role as a key influencer in creative and institutional leadership.
The appointment was confirmed by the journal’s Editor-in-Chief, Akin Adeṣọkan, who cited Odugbemi’s distinguished contributions to filmmaking, scholarship and international engagement in cinema as invaluable to the journal’s continuing mission.In his letter of appointment, Professor Adeṣọkan noted that Odugbemi’s leadership as co-founder of the iREP International Documentary Film Festival and his extensive work across production, policy, education and media studies make him an important addition to the journal’s global advisory board. Published with the support of The Media School, Indiana University Bloomington, Black Camera is internationally recognized as a leading platform for scholarship on Black cinematic experiences across Africa and the global diaspora.The journal explores neglected and emerging sites of Black filmmaking, publishing original research, interviews, archival materials, reviews and critical essays that engage cinema as artistic practice, cultural expression and political discourse.
Accepting the appointment, Odugbemi said:“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. I look forward to supporting the journal’s continued growth, intellectual engagement and global reach.”Odugbemi’s appointment further reflects the growing recognition of African creative leaders within global academic and cultural institutions.
Throughout his career, he has worked at the intersection of storytelling, media policy, cultural advocacy and industry development, championing African narratives while helping shape conversations about the future of film and television on the continent and beyond.His name will appear on the journal’s masthead beginning with the Fall 2026 edition (Volume 18, Number 1), joining an internationally respected Editorial Advisory Board comprising distinguished scholars, filmmakers and critics from Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and North America.
