Diana Adehor
I’m a multifaceted individual in the arts, with high adaptability and drive for growth
Arts administrator · ArtistLagos, NigeriaJoined 2026
Artist statement
Institution builder with a proven record of securing strategic funding, designing high-performing operational systems, and forging cross-sector partnerships that enable mission-driven organisations to scale sustainably. Recognised for earning executive leadership roles early in my career, I combine strategic thinking with disciplined execution to build grant pipelines, strengthen institutional capacity, optimise organisational systems, and lead cross-functional teams in delivering measurable outcomes across complex, multi-stakeholder environments. Most notably, I secured a competitive US$30,000institutional grant from the African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) for the Forum for Women in Film and Television (FWIFT) Nigeria, demonstrating the ability to translate institutional priorities into compelling, fundable initiatives. I am driven by a long-term ambition to mobilise catalytic capital, strengthen institutional architecture, and build resilient organisations that solve complex global challenges and deliver lasting social and economic impact across sectors and geographies.
Details
- Based in
- Lagos, Nigeria
- Works in
- Film, Performance Art, Documentary, Cinematography, Animation
- Education
- B.A. (Hons.), National Film Institute
Affiliations
Recent CV
2024–Present
Advisory Council Member, Sponsorship & Partnerships Committee, Forum of Women in Film and Television (FWIFT), Lagos, Nigeria Secured a competitive US$30,000 grant from the African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) after evaluating more than 40 funding opportunities and leading a six-month institutional grant development process, coordinating cross-functional stakeholder inputs, preparing a comprehensive proposal and supporting documentation, aligning programme design and budgets with donor priorities, and delivering a compliant submission that funded FWIFT Nigeria's flagship Annual Conference. Developed FWIFT Nigeria's first structured grant intelligence and fundraising pipeline by monitoring 50+ bilateral, philanthropic, corporate, and private foundation funding opportunities, creating a centralised tracker of donor priorities, funding windows, eligibility requirements, and proposal deadlines that strengthened institutional readiness and improved the organisation's ability to respond proactively to funding opportunities throughout the year. Expanded FWIFT Nigeria's institutional funding network by initiating and nurturing relationships with 20+ prospective donors, corporate organisations, philanthropic institutions, and ecosystem partners, positioning the organisation for long-term funding collaborations while supporting the diversification of its resource mobilisation strategy beyond traditional sponsorships.
2022–Present
Festival Director - African Film Festival Atlanta (AFFATL), African Film Festival Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States Identified, developed and secured AFFATL's first-ever distribution partnership with a US-based film distributor for its 2027 edition, transforming an initial outreach into a strategic partnership that will give selected African films a pathway to acquisition, streaming-platform licensing and wider US-market exposure while advancing the festival's mission of connecting African filmmakers with international audiences. Lead the development of AFFATL's institutional grant pipeline and corporate partnership portfolio by identifying and engaging 60+ prospective philanthropic organisations, corporate sponsors, government agencies, and cultural institutions, supporting board-level fundraising priorities, advancing grant development initiatives, and diversifying institutional revenue streams to strengthen organisational resilience and long-term growth. Promoted to Festival Director within nine months in recognition of driving organisational growth and strategic transformation, assuming executive responsibility for institutional planning, board governance, operational oversight, fundraising, and cross-functional leadership to strengthen AFFATL's long-term sustainability and international positioning. Design and implement executive planning and performance frameworks that aligns programming, partnerships, marketing, and operations around shared organisational priorities, improving cross-functional collaboration and strengthening AFFATL's capacity to deliver strategic objectives across its annual festival cycle.
2025–2026
Programming Manager, African Film Festival Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States Directed the planning and execution of AFFATL's eight-month programming cycle, overseeing programme budgets, funding allocations, screening logistics, stakeholder coordination, and the evaluation of hundreds of international film submissions to deliver a strategically curated festival programme aligned with organisational priorities and available resources. Supported institutional fundraising and resource mobilisation efforts by preparing programme narratives, impact documentation, sponsorship materials, and funding content for philanthropic organisations, corporate partners, and grant applications, strengthening AFFATL's capacity to secure external funding and expand strategic partnerships. Cultivated and managed relationships with filmmakers, distributors, cultural institutions, sponsors, and industry stakeholders across more than 20 countries, facilitating programme partnerships, supporting funding conversations, and contributing to organisational growth that resulted in promotion to Festival Director within nine months.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2022
B.A. (Hons.), Film Arts, National Film Institute, Jos, Nigeria, CGPA 4.02/5.00
Awards, Grants & Fellowships
2024
Distinguished Creative Invitation, United States Embassy in Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria Invited by the U.S. Embassy to a distinguished reception hosted by U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills Jr. during the Zuma International Film Festival, celebrating outstanding Nigerian creatives.
Positions
2024–Present
Advisory Council Member, Sponsorship & Partnerships Committee, Forum of Women in Film and Television (FWIFT), Lagos, Nigeria Secured a competitive US$30,000 grant from the African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) after evaluating more than 40 funding opportunities and leading a six-month institutional grant development process, coordinating cross-functional stakeholder inputs, preparing a comprehensive proposal and supporting documentation, aligning programme design and budgets with donor priorities, and delivering a compliant submission that funded FWIFT Nigeria's flagship Annual Conference. Developed FWIFT Nigeria's first structured grant intelligence and fundraising pipeline by monitoring 50+ bilateral, philanthropic, corporate, and private foundation funding opportunities, creating a centralised tracker of donor priorities, funding windows, eligibility requirements, and proposal deadlines that strengthened institutional readiness and improved the organisation's ability to respond proactively to funding opportunities throughout the year. Expanded FWIFT Nigeria's institutional funding network by initiating and nurturing relationships with 20+ prospective donors, corporate organisations, philanthropic institutions, and ecosystem partners, positioning the organisation for long-term funding collaborations while supporting the diversification of its resource mobilisation strategy beyond traditional sponsorships.
2022–Present
Festival Director - African Film Festival Atlanta (AFFATL), African Film Festival Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States Identified, developed and secured AFFATL's first-ever distribution partnership with a US-based film distributor for its 2027 edition, transforming an initial outreach into a strategic partnership that will give selected African films a pathway to acquisition, streaming-platform licensing and wider US-market exposure while advancing the festival's mission of connecting African filmmakers with international audiences. Lead the development of AFFATL's institutional grant pipeline and corporate partnership portfolio by identifying and engaging 60+ prospective philanthropic organisations, corporate sponsors, government agencies, and cultural institutions, supporting board-level fundraising priorities, advancing grant development initiatives, and diversifying institutional revenue streams to strengthen organisational resilience and long-term growth. Promoted to Festival Director within nine months in recognition of driving organisational growth and strategic transformation, assuming executive responsibility for institutional planning, board governance, operational oversight, fundraising, and cross-functional leadership to strengthen AFFATL's long-term sustainability and international positioning. Design and implement executive planning and performance frameworks that aligns programming, partnerships, marketing, and operations around shared organisational priorities, improving cross-functional collaboration and strengthening AFFATL's capacity to deliver strategic objectives across its annual festival cycle.
2025–2026
Programming Manager, African Film Festival Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, United States Directed the planning and execution of AFFATL's eight-month programming cycle, overseeing programme budgets, funding allocations, screening logistics, stakeholder coordination, and the evaluation of hundreds of international film submissions to deliver a strategically curated festival programme aligned with organisational priorities and available resources. Supported institutional fundraising and resource mobilisation efforts by preparing programme narratives, impact documentation, sponsorship materials, and funding content for philanthropic organisations, corporate partners, and grant applications, strengthening AFFATL's capacity to secure external funding and expand strategic partnerships. Cultivated and managed relationships with filmmakers, distributors, cultural institutions, sponsors, and industry stakeholders across more than 20 countries, facilitating programme partnerships, supporting funding conversations, and contributing to organisational growth that resulted in promotion to Festival Director within nine months.
Skills
Board Support, Budget Development, Donor Research, Fundraising, Grant Proposal Dev., Grant Prospecting, Institutional Fundraising, Leadership, Partnership Dev., Project Management, Risk & Compliance, Strategic Planning
Portfolio
About
Lagos, Nigeria
- Film
- Performance Art
- Documentary
- Cinematography
- Animation
Joined September 2026
About
Lagos, Nigeria
- Film
- Performance Art
- Documentary
- Cinematography
- Animation
Joined September 2026