The Eyes Of Ghana To Open TIFF 2025 Documentary Programme
The 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) will kick off its documentary programme with the world premiere of The Eyes of Ghana, directed by two-time Academy Award winner Ben Proudfoot and produced by Proudfoot, Academy Award nominee Moses Bwayo, Nana Adwoa Frimpong, Anita Afonu, Brandon Somerhalder, Ethan Lewis, and Vinnie Malhotra. The film revolves around the extraordinary archive of 93-year-old cinematographer Chris Hesse, who carefully documented the career of Kwame Nkrumah, a key leader of the movement that liberated African countries from colonial rule in the 1960s. TIFF previously revealed some of its star-driven world premiere documentary titles, including John Candy: I Like Me, directed by Colin Hanks, and Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert. Other documentary world premiere include Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s Love+War, a documentary about Pulitzer Prize-winning conflict photojournalist Lynsey Addario, Oscar winner Laura Poitra’s Cover-Up , which centres on the acclaimed journalist Seymour Hersh, Below the Clouds, from Oscar nominee Gianfranco Rosi, and The Tale of Silyan, directed by Tamara Kotevska, who earned an Oscar nomination for 2019’s Honeyland, co-directed with Ljubomir Stefanov. The other documentaries on the slate are Modern Whore by Nicole Bazuin, NI-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising by Shane Belcourt and Neustra Tierra by Lucrecia Martel. TIFF opens on September 4 2025 and runs till September 14, 2025. In a related development, Idris Elba’s Lagos-set work, Dust to Dreams, starring music artist Seal, will premiere in the Toronto International Film Festival’s TIFF Shorts programme. The Short stars Nollywood stars, Nse Ukpe-Etim, Eku Edewor, Atlanta Bridget Johnson and Constance Olatunde in the drama set against a nightclub on the cusp of a new era as its dying female owner sets a succession plan in motion. This edition of TIFF Shorts will showcase 48 short films, representing 28 countries, across seven presentations

Korean Actor, Lee Byung-hun, Others To Be Honoured At TIFF
ACTOR Lee Byung-hun will receive the Special Tribute Award next month at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) of Canada, which runs from September 4 to 14. Korea.net reports that actor was among the four winners named by organisers as winners of this year’s TIFF Tribute Awards, which honors outstanding contributions to cinema. Lee will join the other three winners of the honor: directors Guillermo del Toro and Hikari and actor Jodie Foster to be honoured on September 7. TIFF said about Lee, “A global sensation, Lee Byung Hun has achieved massive success across film and television in both South Korea and Hollywood.” Also invited to TIFF is director Park Chan-wook’s new film “No Other Choice,” which stars Lee. The movie is about a father (played by Lee) who suddenly loses his job after 25 years and devises a desperate plot to find employment for the sake of his family.

Films From 15 Countries To Screen At Kaduna International Film Festival
A TOTAL of 168 films shortlisted from 15 countries including Nigeria, Kenya, France, USA, India, Russia, and Ghana, will feature at the 2025 edition of the Kaduna Film Festival which will hold from August 26 to 30, 2025. The Executive Director of the Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF), Mr Audu Israel, says the eight edition of the festival, which is themed “Film for Social Change”, reinforces the growing influence of cinema as a tool for advocacy, policy influence, and societal transformation. He also said that it is a call for filmmakers to use their craft to drive social change, shape public opinion and inspire positive action. According to Israel “film possesses the unique ability to mirror societal issues and influence behaviors due to its combination of image, story, and sound. From love, death, hope, peace, and violence film is a medium that resonates with all ages.

“It can entertain, educate, and inspire people to act.” He also said, “society continues to absorb the influence of film through media consumption, particularly among youths who spend hours daily on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. With the power of film, creators have the responsibility to become drivers of the future.” He revealed that the festival had received over 2,000 film submissions from more than 50 countries, with Uganda topping entries for the third consecutive year. This year’s edition will feature screenings, masterclasses, workshops, cultural displays, exhibitions, panel sessions, awards and tourism to iconic sites such as the Zazzau Emirate, Kaduna Museum, Fifth Chukker and Arewa House. The main screening venue will be Silverbird Cinema, Galaxy Mall, while other activities will take place at Stonehedge Hotel. In a bid to empower youths, Israel said this year’s festival would train 200 young people in various skills including Pizza making, Yogurt, Paint, Palm Oil, Hand Burger, and local incense production. Starter packs will also be given to some of the participants. He said the event, which is in partnership with Lipton, had invited young filmmakers to submit short films, not more than 10 minutes. They will be on the theme ‘Breakfast with Lipton’ from July 24 to August 21, while winners will be announced at the closing ceremony on August 30.