As part of the African Film Press (AFP) alliance, we are proud to announce the launch of the AFP Critics Award, a prize created to spotlight African film critics and their role in shaping cinema culture. The award, judged by critics, will debut at the upcoming S16 Film Festival in Lagos, December 2025.
(Click to Follow the What Kept Me Up channel on WhatsApp)
Inspired by the long-running FIPRESCI Prize, the AFP Critics Award was first introduced to industry professionals at an intimate event on August 22 in Nairobi. The event hosted the screening of Rungano Nyoni’s On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (Kenyan premiere) as well as an overview of what the African Film Press has been up to and plans for the future.
For the inaugural edition of the Critics Award, the winner will be selected by AFP’s founding editors — Jennifer Ochieng (Sinema Focus), Ikeade Oriade (What Kept Me Up) and Tambay Obenson (Akoroko). The award will come with a cash prize, a trophy, and a certificate. Future editions will expand to include more critics from across Africa and the diaspora.
“We see the AFP Critics Prize as an important step in centring African critical voices in festival culture, while also creating visibility and recognition for filmmakers on the continent,” said AFP co-founder Tambay Obenson.
Founded in 2024, AFP brings together African film platforms including Akoroko (global and African film), Sinema Focus (Kenya and East Africa), and What Kept Me Up (Nigeria and West Africa). Supported by funding from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and private investors, AFP is expanding in September with a Southern Africa platform. The goal? To build a network of African film journalists and also strengthen the continent’s film industry.
S16 festival co-founder CJ “Fiery” Obasi welcomed the partnership, noting that it aligns with Surreal16’s mission of creating space for originality and risk-taking in African cinema.
“We’re excited the inaugural AFP Critics Prize will be presented at Surreal16. From the beginning, our festival has been about creating space for risk-taking and originality, and partnering with African Film Press ensures African critics are part of shaping that conversation.”
The decision to begin at S16 builds on the festival’s reputation as a launchpad for independent African cinema with global reach. Over the years, films that first screened at S16 have travelled far beyond Lagos. The influence of the festival’s community is not just in the rise of new, unique films but also in how these films and filmmakers are received in the global space, including Locarno Open Doors in Switzerland, Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, and the Mostra de Cinemas Africanos in Brazil.
“Surreal16 was the natural place to begin. The timing aligned, and their focus on bold, independent storytelling made it the right partner for launching the prize,” Obenson says.
S16 Film Festival was founded in 2021 by filmmakers CJ Obasi, Abba Makama, and Michael Omonua. The festival has attracted support from the French Embassy, the Dutch Embassy, the Goethe-Institut, and Sterling Bank.
This partnership with S16 is the first of more planned collaborations that will feature the AFP Critics Award at multiple African festivals each year.
Become a patron: To support our in-depth and critical coverage—become a Patron today!
Join the conversation: Share your thoughts in the comments section or on our social media accounts.
Track Upcoming Films: Keep track of upcoming films and TV shows on your Google calendar.
