AFRIFF: This year’s festival has almost 100 selections in 13 categories, which will showcase a diverse lineup of features, shorts, student shorts, and documentaries spanning across Africa and the diaspora. These films, including Nigerian premieres of some international titles, cover a range of genres, from dramas to animations.
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Here are 22 titles we believe the audience should have on their radar at the festival.
3 Cold Dishes
Described as a Pan-African thriller, 3 Cold Dishes is a tale that gives us insight into the lives of three women from Nigeria, Benin, and Côte d’Ivoire who were trafficked as teenagers. Two decades after escaping from the cruel grasp of their traffickers, they reunited for the main purpose of coming up with a detailed revenge plan to hunt down every man who played a role in their trafficking. Picked as the opening film, Asurf Oluseyi’s 3 Cold Dishes tails these women as they execute their plan across multiple West African cities. 3 Cold Dishes stars Osas Ighodaro, Ruby Akubueze, and Fat Touré.
Safari
Obi Emelonye’s Safari, another pan-African thriller, follows the story of a Nigerian politician’s wife who, exhausted by the chaos surrounding her husband’s presidential campaign, books a vacation trip to Kenya. However, her stress-free vacation is abruptly halted when she becomes involved with a local beach boy who is accused of the gruesome murder of a British tourist. Osas Ighodaro, Ali Nuhu, Anthony Monjaro, and Jidekene Achufusi will be playing key roles.
Son of the Soil
Directed by Chee Keong Cheung, and written by Razaaq Adoti, Son of the Soil, tells the story of Zion Ladejo, an ex-soldier with a haunted past, who returns to Nigeria after the death of his sister only to get drawn back into the world of violence. Son of the Soil trails Zion (played by Razaaq Adoti) as he seeks justice and inevitably confronts the past he has been running away from.
Fractured
Teased as a psychological thriller, Kayode Kasum’s Fractured follows the life of an accomplished businesswoman and adopted heiress to a major snack empire who seems to have a completely perfect life. This illusion of a perfect life is smashed into pieces after a violent robbery in her home. Haunted by visions of a double, she begins to discover betrayals, cracks, and repressed trauma that might lead to the downfall of her person. Atlanta Bridget Johnson, Etim Effiong, and Shaffy Bello play key roles.
The Good Gift
Kayode Kasum’s The Good Gift is a film that celebrates the profound love a father has for his daughter. It’s described as a heart-warming story that does its best to capture the essence of love and sacrifice that is born out of that love. The Good Gift is Kasum’s second film at AFRIFF this year. Williams Uchemba, Lateef Adedimeji, Uzor Arukwe, and Hilda Dokubo play major roles.
To Adaego With Love
Directed by Nwamaka Priscilla Chikezie, To Adaego With Love is a historical romantic drama set in post-war Nigeria. To Adaego With Love shows the forbidden love that thrives between a soldier and a schoolteacher after the Nigerian Civil war, and by incorporating music in the storytelling, these lovers are able to heal themselves in a country that is still damaged from the war. Members of the cast include Chisom Agoawuike, Adam Garba, Bob-Manuel Udokwu, Chioma Chukwuka, Demi Banwo and the late Onyeka Onwenu in one of her final screen performances.
Njem
Uche Chukwu’s Njem tells the story of a young hustler who dreams of migrating to a better life but when fate connects his means of escape to a painful moral choice, he will need to pick between love and survival. Chimezie Imo, Goodness Emmanuel, Rotimi Salami, and Kelechi Udegbe play key roles.
Idia
Directed by Winifred Igwua, Idia is a short film of a young aspiring dancer who experiences mockery after expressing her wish to go for a lead role in a performance. While drawing strength from the legacy of Queen Mother Idia, she must choose between shrinking herself to fit others’ expectations or confidently standing tall. Main cast include Mia McKenzie, Bonnie Milnes, and Aiso-osa Ehigiator.
The Moral High Court
A Chisom Ifeakandu’s film, The Moral High Court dives into the lives of five Nigerian women who decided to take the witness stand. Their moving testimonies cover harassment, abuse, and systemic injustice. They have to contend with Barrister Peters who employs tradition, victim-blaming, and willful ignorance as tools to invalidate their statements. The major cast include Tosin Adeyemi, Adekanmbi Nimi, Kanyin Eros, Celestina Aleobua, Darasimi Nadi, and Bola Stephen.
Shall We Meet Tonight
Wapah Ezeigwe‘s Shall We Meet Tonight is a queer story that revolves around the life of Adaora (Goodness Emmanuel) who is to marry a man she does not have any romantic love for because her heart only knows Susanna (Uzoamaka Onuoha). This short film explores what happens when societal expectations push love into the closet. Shall We Meet Tonight is the most nominated film at The Filmjoint Awards which is set to hold in 2026.
Leaving Ikorodu in 1999
A Rashida Seriki’s short film, Leaving Ikorodu in 1999, follows the story of ten-year-old Momo’s (Motunrayo Abiola-Oloke) final day in Nigeria as her aunt Fade (Tomi Ojo) and uncle Mahmoud (Tobi Bakre) drive her to the airport so she can reunite with her mother in London. Leaving Ikorodu in 1999 focuses on Fade questioning if leaving Nigeria for London is the best for Momo. Leaving Ikorodu in 1999 premiered at the 2024 S16 film festival.
Hadu
An animated short directed by Damilola Solesi, Hadu is a non-dialogue story that follows the journey of Simi, a young girl, whose special bond with her grandmother helps to direct her to her roots. It is a heartwarming animation that revolves around the celebration of family bonds, cultural heritage, and nostalgia. Previously this year, Hadu was selected for screening at the 2025 International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR).
Angel In The Stone
Doyinsola Ajayi’s Angel In The Stone introduces the audience to Shalewa (Ebunoluwa Oluwarinu), an autistic teenager based in a rural Nigerian village, who seeks comfort in building things from scrap metals. When a fish scarcity in the village endangers the lives of her family, she makes the decision to use her skills to help. Angel In The Stone was a shortlisted finalist in the Student category of the 2025 Sony Future Filmmaker Awards.
The Day The Heart Died
Russell Oru’s The Day The Heart Died is a film that addresses Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Rather than placing it in a broad sociological context, the story places FGM in a domestic setting where love, fear, and duty intertwine. William Benson, Tosin Adeyemi, and Etta Jomaria star in this.
Matabeleland
Matabeleland, directed by Nyasha Kadandara, is a documentary that focuses on Chris Nyathi, a Zimbabwean immigrant living in Botswana, and his struggle with both national and personal traumas. In June, 2025, Matabeleland had its African premiere at Encounters South African International Documentary Festival.
The Eyes of Ghana
Directed by Ben Proudfoot, The Eyes of Ghana is a documentary that revolves around Chris Hesse, the 93-year-old cinematographer for Kwame Nkrumah. The Eyes of Ghana is a personal story of a race against time to recover a country’s cinematic history. It also investigates the power of cinema to preserve national memory and shape cultural identity. The Eyes of Ghana made its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and it has also been screened at other festivals like Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF), Virginia Film Festival, and BFI London Film Festival.
Nawi
Directed by Toby and Kevin Schmutzler, Appu Mourine, and Vallentine Chelleuget, Nawi is a true story that is set in its anti-child marriage message. This film follows the life of Nawi, a young girl sold by her father for a herd of goats, who escapes her forced marriage to pursue her dream of attending high school. Nawi was Kenya’s submission to the 2025 Oscars for the International Feature Film category. Michelle Lemuya, Joel Liwan, Ochungo Benson, and Ben Tekee play key roles.
The Fisherman
A Zoey Martinson project, The Fisherman follows Atta Oko (Ricky Adelayitar), a Ghanaian fisherman, who teams up with a talking fish and his young colleagues — Shasha (Endurance Dedzo), Kobina (William Lamptey), and Emmanuel (Kiki-Romi) — to go to Accra and chase their dreams of owning a boat. The Fisherman made history in 2024 as Ghana’s first official selection at the Venice Film Festival and it went on to open in Ghanaian cinemas in September 2025.
Lace Relations
A joint collaboration between Austrian and Nigerian filmmakers — Anette Baldauf, Chioma Onyenwe (producer of I Do Not Come To You By Chance), Joana Adesuwa Reiterer, and Katharina Weingartner — Lace Relations navigates the intertwined lives of Austrian and Nigerian citizens to reveal the power dynamics and colonial legacy that underpin the lucrative global lace industry.
The Boy Who Gave
Written, directed, and executive produced by Allison Precious Emmanuel (known for his acting role in Hijack 93), The Boy Who Gave centers on a character called Broda. After a tragic accident leaves Broda and his two young siblings orphaned in the Niger Delta, he is forced to abandon his childhood dreams and education to keep his family afloat in a world that offers him nothing. The Boy Who Gave stars Allison Precious Emmanuel, Abbey Delight Dagogo, Hart Andrew, Tina Mba, Blossom Chukwujekwu, and Chuks Joseph.
Seed
Directed by Chawuko Enakadia and Muhammad Atta, Seed, a short film, tells the story of Nnenna who, after years of infertility and societal pressure to birth a male child, resorts to a spiritualist’s ritual in a desperate search for a son, only to discover betrayal, deception, and an unexpected journey toward self-realisation. Seed features Kelechi Udegbe, Uche Nwoko, Uzoamaka Power, and Bobby Ekpe.
Untamable
A Cameroonian crime drama directed by Thomas Ngijol, Untamable follows Commissioner Billong, who goes on a search for justice after the death of his colleague. This search ends up revealing a crack between tradition and change, duty and survival. Untamable had its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, and it has also been screened at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2025. Apart from Thomas Ngijol, who plays the main role, Danilo Melande, Bienvenu Roland Mvoe, and Thérese Ngono also play key characters.
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