Press Release: AFRIFF 2025 Bridges Afrobeats and Film in a Historic Creative Fusion.

AFRIFF 2025 Set to Spotlight the Afrobeats Film Movement and Launch Nigeria’s First Film and Content Market

Africa’s biggest film festival returns - bolder and more dynamic than ever. The 14th edition of the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) is back, bringing fresh ideas, global conversations, and powerful creative connections to the continent’s film scene.

Scheduled to take place from November 2nd to 8th, 2025, this year’s festival is themed “Rhythms of the Continent: The Afrobeats Film Movement.” The event will celebrate the fusion of Nigeria’s thriving music culture and the African film industry, exploring how Afrobeats—a global sound rooted in African rhythms and storytelling - is shaping a new creative identity for African cinema and inspiring cross-industry collaborations. 

On opening night,“Three Cold Dishes” a film directed by Oluseyi Asurf and executive produced by global superstar Burna Boy and award-winning actress Osas Ighodaro will premiere. The film stars Osas Ighodaro, Wayidi Adeleke, Wale Ojo, Fat Toure, Femi Jacobs. The film follows the gripping story of three young women who, after being trafficked as teenagers, unite years later to execute a daring revenge on the men who once exploited them.

A major highlight of this year’s festival is the launch of the AFRIFF Film and Content Market (AFCM)- Nigeria’s first and only film and content marketplace. This groundbreaking addition will serve as a structured business hub for filmmakers, distributors, buyers, and investors to connect, negotiate, and close deals. The AFCM will foster content licensing, co-production agreements, and international distribution partnerships, unlocking new commercial opportunities for African films and creative content.

The AFCM will welcome global media groups, studios, institutions, and partners including MTN, Goldfinch, SOOP, SPCINE, the Lagos State Government, and the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture & the Creative Economy (FMACCE). Their participation underscores AFRIFF’s growing reputation as a global platform for meaningful collaboration and industry development.

“AFRIFF has always been a bridge between creativity and opportunity,” said Chioma Ude, Founder and Executive Director of AFRIFF. “With the Afrobeats Film Movement and the launch of the AFRIFF Film and Content Market, we’re not just celebrating art - we’re building an ecosystem that empowers African creatives to take ownership of their stories, their businesses, and their place on the global stage.”

Beyond screenings and showcases, AFRIFF 2025 will feature a series of industry sessions, masterclasses, and workshops designed to equip filmmakers with the skills and insights needed to thrive in today’s evolving media landscape. Topics will cover international co-productions, content commissioning, film distribution, marketing, and financing.

The week-long festival will culminate in the AFRIFF Globe Awards, a prestigious ceremony celebrating excellence in African and diaspora cinema. Awards will recognize outstanding achievements in feature films, documentaries, shorts, animation, directing, acting, screenwriting, and more.

During the festival, over 100 films from across Africa and the diaspora will be screened, including a documentary titled “Afroculture: The Making,” which focuses on Flavour’s rise in the Afrobeats era, highlighting the diversity, creativity, and resilience of African storytellers and serving as the closing film for the festival.

With its rich blend of business, education, and entertainment, AFRIFF 2025 promises to be a truly transformative experience for filmmakers, creatives, and audiences alike.

To attend AFRIFF 2025, register at www.afriff.com.