AFRIFF To Open November 2 In Lagos, Abuja Filmfest Is November 6
The 2025 edition of the Africa International Film Festival will open in Lagos on November 2. The festival, which is in its 14th edition, will feature a new film and content market at this edition. The film and and content market is designed to deepen creative trade and attract more tourism inflow. Running up until November 8, this year’s AFRIFF will showcase feature films, documentaries and shots from across Africa and the diaspora. It will close with a globe award gala on November 8. Founder of AFRIFF Chioma Ude disclosed that the film and content market would provide a business platform for studios, streamers, and investors. Ude also said that the film and content market will connect storytellers and financiers while positioning Nigeria as Africa’s entertainment capital. Speaking further, Ude described the host state, Lagos, as the natural host city because of its infrastructure and global reputation for creativity. “Every November, AFRIFF transforms Lagos into a creative hub where producers, actors, and executives meet. This year, we expect the market to generate real deals and new partnerships,” she added. The festival, launched in 2010, has grown into one of Africa’s leading film gatherings, attracting over 2,000 participants annually. Meanwhile, the 2025 edition of Abuja International Film Festival will open on November 6. This year’s festival, the 22nd, edition is themed From Script to Nation: The Role of Film In Shaping National Identity. The theme aims to explore the powerful and transformative impact of film in society. The festival will close on November 10.
Creative Producer Indaba Await Head Honchos
The highly successful Creative Producer Indaba (CPI), widely recognised for its impact in the film industry, is seeking 15 producers to join its 5th edition, which begins in November 2025. The CPI is a professional development programme designed for film producers that aims at sharpening their leadership and entrepreneurial skills while expanding their creative capacity. Created and designed by Cape Town-based media house, Realness Institute, in partnership with EAVE, as well as the Brazilian Foundation Projeto Paradiso, Canada Media Fund, Telefilm, the Swiss Foundation for professional training in cinema and audiovisual media (FOCAL), the Austrian Film Institute, the French National Centre of Cinema (CNC), and Institut français, the programme will be run over three workshop periods. With a focus on creative outputs within a professional business framework, the programme combines group seminar sessions as well as collaborative group workshops that will look at successful case studies, drawing on the learnings from these.
For the first time in the CPI’s history, all three workshops will hold in the African and Indian Ocean regions, and this year, the programme collaborates with two new festival partners, which would be announced in a few weeks. Workshop one will be held from November 14 to 21, 2025; Workshop two from February 8 to 12, 2026, and Workshop three from April 25 to 30, 2026. For this edition, Ethiopian–American film/television producer and Interim Managing Director of the Realness Institute, Mehret Mandefro and Belgian award-winning film producer Diana Elbaum, will serve as group leaders and mentors. The CPI is looking for African and Indian Ocean Producers (not directors) with or without a film project (feature film, episodic or feature documentary project) and producers outside of Africa (without a project) who have an interest in co-producing with Africa.
Relevant criteria for the programme can be found on the application forms. While some costs are covered by the programme, other costs are not. Applicants are advised to familiarise themselves with the funding structures on the application forms so that they can be sure they will be able to provide their own funds or obtain funding from other sources for aspects of the programme. However, through the partnerships with the Brazilian foundation Projeto Paradiso, Canada Media Fund, Telefilm, the Swiss Foundation for professional training in cinema and audiovisual media (FOCAL), the Austrian Film Institute, and the French National Centre of Cinema (CNC), each has one spot specifically reserved for a producer in their country wanting to co-produce an African project. This partnership guarantees that all programme expenses will be covered for the selected participants from the listed partnering countries (except for per diems).
Entries Open For NollywoodWeek Film Festival In Paris
OKADA Media, organisers of the yearly NollywoodWeek Film Festival, have announced that submissions are officially open for the 2026 edition of Nollywood Week Film Festival, holding May 6 to 10, 2026 in Paris, France. The NollywoodWeek Film Festival offers filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their work on an international stage, connect with global audiences, and be part of the leading platform for African cinema in Europe. Indeed NollywoodWeek is promoted as a place where powerful stories meet new opportunities. Entry requirements can be sourced at www.nollywoodweek.com.
