The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) 2025 revealed both the spectacular potential and frustrating realities of Africa's premier cinema celebration during its 14th edition in Lagos.
The Promise and The Pilgrimage
For many attendees, AFRIFF represents more than just a film festival—it's a cultural pilgrimage that brings together filmmakers, critics, and cinema enthusiasts under the vibrant Lagos sun. The event has historically served as a crucial bridge connecting African filmmakers with international investors and distributors.
This year's festival maintained its reputation for hosting powerful panel discussions that tackled critical industry topics. Conversations around costuming, Afrobeats integration in film, and Nollywood's future direction generated significant intellectual energy among participants.
Notable industry figures including Folake Folarin Coker, Ugo Mozie, Dr Sid, and M.I. Abaga delivered compelling insights during various sessions. Dr Sid emphasized excellence and accountability in filmmaking, while M.I. Abaga championed creativity as a form of nation-building.
Organizational Challenges Emerge
Despite the high-quality content, AFRIFF 2025 struggled with significant logistical issues that particularly affected short film screenings. Films were delayed for hours, venues changed unexpectedly, and technical problems including poor sound and picture quality plagued several presentations.
The short film segment, which typically showcases emerging talent, became particularly chaotic. Filmmakers watched as guests, family members, and potential collaborators left venues after enduring long waits and confusion about screening locations.
Festival organizers acknowledged the problems through a formal apology email that addressed the technical glitches and general disorganization. However, for many filmmakers who had anticipated their world premieres or career-changing debuts, the apology couldn't compensate for lost opportunities.
The Duality of African Cinema's Premier Event
AFRIFF's contrasting elements created a jarring experience for attendees. The festival demonstrated maturity in its intellectual discussions while simultaneously struggling with basic operational coordination that should have been refined over its 14-year history.
Charles Okpaleke's call for government funding for young filmmakers and Paul Okeugo's emphasis on structure and skill development highlighted the industry's growth potential. Yet these forward-thinking conversations occurred against a backdrop of scheduling chaos and communication breakdowns.
The festival's website experienced numerous glitches, volunteers often appeared uninformed, and the overall scheduling reliability fell short of expectations for an event attracting global attention and significant sponsorship.
Path Forward for AFRIFF
Industry observers note that AFRIFF doesn't require reinvention but rather improved execution. Fourteen years of operation should have established reliable systems for venue management, volunteer training, and technical quality control.
The festival's core value remains undeniable—it continues to provide a sacred space where African cinema lovers gather to celebrate their shared passion. The experience of watching Nigerian films in packed halls, hearing collective reactions, and connecting with future collaborators maintains AFRIFF's essential role in the industry ecosystem.
As one veteran attendee noted, "We love AFRIFF too much to let it stay broken"—capturing the community's frustration mixed with enduring hope for the festival's improvement.
The 2025 edition ultimately served as both a celebration of African cinematic achievement and a stark reminder that passion must be supported by professional organization to fully realize the industry's global potential.
