Industry eyes have been on the inaugural edition of the African International Short Film Market (AISFM) since it was first teased at a preliminary virtual event about a year ago. The first major details have now been unveiled, with the hybrid event slated for April 29 (virtual) and April 30 (CEP Entertainment Hub, Lagos).
AISFM’s inaugural edition, delivered by The Filmjoint, will function as a marketplace for short films, connecting filmmakers with buyers, programmers, platforms, and funders.
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The programme will feature 18 curated pitch projects from across Africa presented to industry professionals, alongside a project pool of nearly 40 selected films (including AISFM Top Picks). There will also be market screenings of selected short films, as well as panel discussions and workshops addressing key areas such as distribution, legal frameworks, and emerging technologies. Participation from buyers, platforms, and key stakeholders across the film ecosystem is expected.
Some of the expected panelists include filmmaker Oge Obasi, known for her independent features and genre work; writer-director Stephanie Izsak; Ololade Oloniyo, founder of Starfield Advisory and a film finance consultant; business analyst Aondofa Shija; Cassandra Onwualu, a content sales and acquisition executive; producer and media strategist Prince Nnamdi Adigwu; and entertainment lawyer Omotayo Inajoku.
The pitch jury includes Deepti D’Cunha, a film programmer; Uche Okocha, Managing Director at Trino; Omotayo Inajoku; filmmaker James Omokwe; Nomso Opara, founder of Tentz TV; and Michael Ngema, founder of the Umlazi International Film Festival.
“It’s about creating structure where there has been a gap. Short films are widely produced, but there are limited systems that support how they move—from creation to visibility, to distribution and long-term value. AISFM is designed to begin addressing that,” said Gbenga Adeoti, founder of AISFM, who has long maintained a passion for short films beyond their role as proof of work.
The marketplace will also introduce curated project recognitions, including the AISFM Development Spotlight and AISFM Circulation Pick, aimed at highlighting projects with strong creative and market potential.
Additionally, selected filmmakers from South Africa, through a partnership with FISA Arts Festival, will participate in a structured development pipeline, including a residency hosted within the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF).
The upcoming Filmjoint-organised AISFM points to ongoing efforts to address sustainability and circulation gaps for short films. It sits within a broader push to build sustainable markets for short-form content, alongside recent initiatives such as Saving Cinema, a monthly screening platform providing a recurring cinema space for short films in Lagos. Filmjoint, led by Adeoti, has also recently served as a distributor for a slate of short films on Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife ON Plus.
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