As the curtains fall on the 14th Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), the continent’s premier cinematic showcase, a poignant truth emerges: AFRIFF still holds our dreams, even when it disappoints. This year’s festival, held from November 10–16 at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, delivered a powerful blend of triumph and introspection, reaffirming its role as a beacon of African storytelling while candidly confronting its growing pains.
Under the theme “Cinema: A Catalyst for Change,” AFRIFF 2025 screened over 180 films from 45 countries, hosted 12 masterclasses, and welcomed more than 30,000 attendees—including global icons like The Woman King director Gina Prince-Bythewood, Nollywood legend Genevieve Nnaji, and South African filmmaker Jahmil X.T. Qubeka. The Globe Awards honored excellence across categories, with The Fisherman’s Daughter (Ghana) taking Best Feature Film and Oge (Nigeria) winning Best Short Film, while The Last Breath (South Africa) earned the Audience Choice Award.
Yet, amid the glamour, honest conversations dominated. Attendees and panelists openly discussed logistical hiccups—delayed screenings, venue overcrowding, and accreditation bottlenecks—that tested the festival’s infrastructure. Founder Chioma Ude addressed these in the closing press conference:
“AFRIFF is a mirror of our industry—brilliant, ambitious, and still growing. We celebrate the wins, but we own the disappointments. Every glitch is a lesson. We are committed to scaling with grace, because African cinema deserves a world-class home.”
The festival’s Talent Development arm trained over 1,200 emerging filmmakers through the AFRIFF Academy, while the Women in Film initiative spotlighted 45 female-led projects, including the world premiere of Sisters in Silence, directed by rising star Ifeoma Chukwuogo. Industry sessions tackled funding gaps, distribution challenges, and the rise of streaming platforms, with Netflix Africa announcing a $2 million commitment to AFRIFF-supported projects over the next three years.
Critics and fans took to social media with the hashtag #AFRIFFDreams, sharing stories of inspiration alongside constructive critiques. As one attendee posted: “AFRIFF gave me my first red carpet moment. The sound failed during my short film, but I still met my mentor. That’s the dream—imperfect, but alive.”
AFRIFF 2025 also marked a digital milestone, livestreaming 20 events and reaching over 1.5 million viewers globally via YouTube and the AFRIFF app—its largest virtual audience to date.
As the festival looks ahead to its 15th anniversary in 2026, organizers have pledged infrastructure upgrades, expanded venue partnerships, and a renewed focus on accessibility. In the words of jury president Akin Omotoso:
“AFRIFF is not just an event—it’s a movement. It holds our dreams because it dares to show our full humanity: the brilliance, the struggle, the hope. Even in disappointment, it teaches us to build better.”
About AFRIFF
Founded in 2010 by Chioma Ude, the Africa International Film Festival is a non-profit platform dedicated to nurturing African cinema through screenings, training, and industry development. With support from the Lagos State Government, Netflix, and Bank of Industry, AFRIFF continues to bridge local talent with global opportunities.
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