The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) kicked off on Sunday, November 2, 2025, not Monday as many assumed, with a star-studded red carpet opening night attended by leading industry figures including David Oyelowo, Rita Dominic, Uche Jombo, Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa, Omowunmi Dada, AFRIFF founder Chioma Ude, Osas Ighodaro of the opening film 3 Cold Dishes and many others. The premiere of 3 Cold Dishes took place during the ceremony and the night ended with an after-party.
AFRIFF is recognised as one of Africa’s largest film festivals, bringing together filmmakers and audiences from across the continent and beyond while spotlighting African filmmaking. This year’s edition is themed Rhythms of the Continent: The Afrobeats Film Movement.
Across the week, the festival will feature a broad lineup of screenings from November 3 to 7. More than 50 titles including feature films, shorts and documentaries will be available both online and in person. Attendees can also look forward to masterclasses, workshops, panel sessions and fireside conversations with industry leaders as they explore creative, cultural and commercial issues shaping cinema today. There will also be country presentations that provide insight into different national co-production models, funding structures and film business opportunities. The programme will culminate with the closing film on November 7 followed by the Globe Awards on November 8.
This year, AFRIFF is placing a stronger emphasis on the business side of filmmaking. There will be sessions focused on film marketing and distribution to help filmmakers better understand how to navigate the international film market. In addition, AFRIFF is debuting a dedicated content marketplace where films can be bought, sold and developed, creating room for partnerships among filmmakers, distributors and investors and supporting greater commercial access for African cinema.
