Changing the narrative on Africa.
As ‘Hope is a Word’ begins its international festival journey, the film turns one of Africa’s longest environmental struggles into an intimate story of poetry, memory, and a new generation determined to carry the fight for justice in the Niger Delta.
As Hollywood debates the ethics of AI filmmaking, African creators are increasingly testing whether artificial intelligence can solve the economics of making films on the continent.
Many of the connections between Africa and Latin America—forged and lost centuries ago in the trans-Atlantic slave trade—remain largely unexplored. In southeastern Nigeria, a cultural initiative is reversing that, connecting Nigerians to “sisters” and “brothers” in the Spanish-speaking world through music, dance, and community.
In The Fisherman, a retired Ghanaian fisherman navigates a rapidly changing world, where tradition meets technology and experience collides with ambition. Guided by a mystical talking fish, he embarks on a journey full of humor, heart, and unexpected insights.
Zimbabwe is repositioning film as an economic sector, using tax incentives to attract film productions while building capacity to retain more value locally. The shift mirrors a broader continental push to move beyond filming locations toward full production ecosystems.
Zambia’s luxury fashion brand, Nkanda Yatu, consistently presents traditional aesthetics with modern silhouettes in its high-end clothing. The company’s focus on cultural expression and business sustainability offers a model for aspiring Zambian brands to compete in the global fashion marketplace and contribute to the local economy.
Set during Nigeria’s controversial 1993 annulled presidential election, a new film, My Father’s Shadow, follows a father navigating Lagos with his sons as civil unrest simmers. The film turns political rupture into a family memory by grounding history in domestic life rather than spectacle.
The legendary Afrobeat creator, Fela Kuti, became the first African artist to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. While South African star, Tyla won Best African Music Performance again as female artists continue to dominate the category for the third consecutive year.
The Congolese historical thriller, Rumba Royale, is receiving overwhelming praise from the actors who say they were marked by the unique experience that the film represented. Released during the 2025 festive season, the film spotlights the history and significance of rumba music during the DRC’s struggle for independence, placing the story at the heart of Congolese identity.
Ibrahim “Snoopy” Ahmed is among the four Sudanese filmmakers who came together to make “Khartoum” (2025), which became the first Sudanese film to premiere at both Sundance and Berlinale, where it won the Berlinale Peace Prize. He tells bird about his mission to use his camera to shine a spotlight on those who, like him, have been displaced from home, and about how he found refuge and community in his current city of residence, Nairobi.