After two years of Shooting the Culture, The Annual Film Mischief (TAFM), set to return for its 4th edition, will be Reclaiming Self with a format that extends beyond film screenings.
This year’s edition, scheduled to run from October 9 to 30, will return in Lagos, Abuja, Accra, and Dar es Salaam. Ibadan remains absent on the list of locations for the second year running. The upcoming festival will include a mix of film screenings, wellness sessions, fitness activities, art showcases, and live performances. The aim is to create a space that supports both creativity and personal well-being.
2025 Festival Director Precious Iroagalachi describes the year’s theme, “Reclaiming Self,” as a way to encourage creatives to connect with their identity and personal stories. She said the festival is about celebrating healing, sensitivity, and authenticity within a creative community. This theme will guide the festival’s programming, inviting participants to bring their full selves into the experience.
Since its start in 2022 under the Less is More theme, TAFM has focused on supporting emerging African filmmakers and showcasing low-to-no-budget stories that often go unseen. The 2025 edition hopes to continue this focus by encouraging submissions that explore identity, resilience, healing, and self-discovery. The festival is especially interested in films that question political, social, and creative boundaries commonly placed on African creators.
TAFM will also provide mentorship opportunities, industry access, and spaces for networking and collaboration. Each city will be managed by a regional lead to ensure that local creatives are actively involved and represented. This structure supports the festival’s goal of growing a grassroots, community-based film culture across Africa.
Organised by The Film Rats Club, TAFM has grown into a crucial collective platform to find diverse African voices in independent film during the yearly festival period at the year end.
Details about the submission date and film submission process will be announced soon.
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