32nd New York African Film Festival Launches in May
New York, NY (April 9, 2025) — Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) and African Film Festival, Inc. (AFF) will partner to present the 32nd edition of the New York African Film Festival (NYAFF). NYAFF features more than 30 contemporary and classic films from Africa and its diaspora screening at FLC May 7 through May 13, with 100 films in total as the festival continues at other esteemed New York City cultural venues throughout the month of May, with many filmmakers in attendance for post-screening Q&As. Since its inception in 1993, the festival has been at the forefront of showcasing African and diaspora filmmakers’ unique storytelling through the moving image.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FILM AT LINCOLN CENTER AND AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCE THE COMPLETE LINEUP FOR
THE 32ND NEW YORK AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL, MAY 7–13
Opening Night selection is the New York premiere of
Afolabi Olalekan’s feature debut, Freedom Way
Inheritance, Mweze, Black Tea, Freedom Way, and Everybody Loves Touda
New York, NY (April 9, 2025) — Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) and African Film Festival, Inc. (AFF) will partner to present the 32nd edition of the New York African Film Festival (NYAFF). NYAFF features more than 30 contemporary and classic films from Africa and its diaspora screening at FLC May 7 through May 13, with 100 films in total as the festival continues at other esteemed New York City cultural venues throughout the month of May, with many filmmakers in attendance for post-screening Q&As. Since its inception in 1993, the festival has been at the forefront of showcasing African and diaspora filmmakers’ unique storytelling through the moving image.
This year’s theme, “Fluid Horizons: A Shifting Lens on a Hopeful World,” honors the resilience of African youth and the forebearers who paved the way for them. As cinema was an integral part of the African continent’s struggle for independence and the triumph of its liberation, this edition of the festival celebrates the African youth who have turned to their cameras to document their experiences and the influence of those who came before them. With a multitude of genres ranging from comedies to experimental films, the 32nd New York African Film Festival offers a multidimensional take on African culture, history, and cinema.
“In a world of uncertainty, the 32nd New York African Film Festival presents a vision of the future through the eyes of Africa’s youth—bold, determined, and endlessly creative. As the youngest and fastest-growing continent, Africa is brimming with stories that demand to be told, not just as reflections of today’s challenges but as blueprints for a future shaped by resilience and possibility,” said Mahen Bonetti, NYAFF founder and AFF executive director. “This year’s festival is a testament to the power of cinema to inspire, provoke, and remind us that hope is always in motion.”
The Opening Night selection is the New York premiere of Afolabi Olalekan’s feature debut, Freedom Way, a powerful tale of the limitless drive of Nigerian youth, which follows the lives of nine individuals set on a collision course in a fast-paced, electric thriller shot on location in Lagos. The Centerpiece film is Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine’s Memories of Love Returned, an intimate, nuanced documentary about the transformative power of photography, executive produced by Steven Soderbergh and named best documentary at the Africa International Film Festival. Closing Night will feature the shorts program “In the Arms of the Mother,” which spotlights films by or about African women from all walks of life, including the world premiere of Kounkou Hoveyda’s We Will Be Who We Are; the North American premieres of Dika Ofoma’s God’s Wife and Anil Padia and Michael Mwangi Maina’s Temple Road; the U.S. premiere of Zoé Cauwet’s Le Grand Calao; the New York premiere of Mariame N’diaye’s Sira; and Kagure N. Kabue’s Iron Fist.
This year’s NYAFF will also spotlight the Democratic Republic of the Congo through the works of veteran and emerging Congolese filmmakers such as Mwezé Ngangura, Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda, Nelson Makengo, David-Pierre Fila, Sammy Baloji, and Xavier Mwamba. Their films include the U.S. premiere of Baloji’s The Tree of Authenticity, a gripping documentary recounting the ecological destruction that began at the time of colonization through the voices of two emblematic scientists.
The festival will also host the North American premiere of Furu by Fatou Cissé, the daughter of legendary filmmaker Souleymane Cissé, which explores the impact of forced marriage on young women in Mali. Two additional features making their U.S. debuts include Awam Amkpa’s The Man Died, based on the harrowing prison memoir by Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka; and Ndar, Saga Waalo, Ousmane William Mbaye’s powerful documentary about Saint-Louis, Senegal, the port of colonial penetration into West Africa.
Special programs include a free panel presented by AFF and OkayAfrica on May 10 entitled “From Then to Now: Celebrating 15 Years of African Cinema,” featuring a discussion with four acclaimed filmmakers from this year’s festival and offering a rare opportunity to reflect on the creative shifts and enduring themes shaping African cinema today. Two free art exhibits running May 8–13 in the Amphitheater at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center include “Congo RE-Vue: A Fresh Perspective by Emerging Congolese Talent,” a dynamic digital photo exhibition dedicated to highlighting the vibrant talent of the next generation of Congolese artists; and Bereket Adamu’s “All Night We Waited for Morning, All Morning We Waited for Night,” a welded steel light sculpture and animated video that reflects on African resistance, migration, and global interconnectedness.
Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 10, at 2pm ET, with an early access period for FLC Members starting Thursday, April 10, at noon. Ticket prices are $17 for the general public; $14 for students, seniors, and persons with disabilities; and $12 for FLC Members. See more and save with a 3+ Film Package ($15 for general public; $12 for students, seniors (62+), and persons with disabilities; and $10 for FLC Members), the $99 All-Access Pass, or the $79 Student All-Access Pass. Contact info@africanfilmny.org for information about attending the Opening Night Party.
The festival continues at Maysles Documentary Center in Harlem from April 15 to 18 and at Brooklyn Academy of Music under the name FilmAfrica from May 23 to May 29 during DanceAfrica, and culminates with an outdoor screening at St. Nicholas Park on May 31.
The programs of AFF are made possible by the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Bradley Family Foundation, Color Congress, NYC & Company, The New York Community Trust, French Cultural Services, Manhattan Portage, Organization de la Francophonie, Essentia Water, Ministre du Tourisme République démocratique du Congo, ZOPMEDIA, South African Consulate General, National Film and Video Foundation, and Motion Picture Enterprises.
FILMS & DESCRIPTIONS
The Opening Night premiere of Freedom Way on May 7 will take place at
the Walter Reade Theater (165 W. 65th Street).
All other films will screen at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center (144 W. 65th Street).
Opening Night
Freedom Way
Afolabi Olalekan, 2024, Nigeria, 83m
New York Premiere
Faced with unfavorable laws and incessant police harassment, three young co-founders struggle to keep their start-up alive. A motorcyclist faces dark times with his family after losing his livelihood. A doctor struggles with his conscience on the job while battling outdated government policies. A police pair find themselves on different sides of the law with a difficult choice to make. The lives of nine individuals are set on a collision course in Afolabi Olalekan’s feature debut, a fast-paced, electric thriller shot on location in Lagos.
Wednesday, May 7 at 6:30pm – Q&A with Afolabi Olalekan
Thursday, May 8 at 4:00pm
Centerpiece
Memories of Love Returned
Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, 2024, Uganda/U.S., 76m
Luganda and English with English subtitles
New York Premiere
On April 24, 2002, filmmaker Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine’s car broke down in the small town of Mbirizi, Uganda. While waiting for it to be repaired he stumbled upon a small photo studio and met photographer Kibaate Aloysius Ssalongo, whose work spanned from the late 1950s to his death in 2006. This chance encounter turned into a 22-year journey documenting and exploring Kibaate’s life and photography and the profound impact it had on Ntare’s life and the lives of the entire community he documented. Executive produced by Steven Soderbergh, this intimate, nuanced documentary about the transformative power of photography was named best documentary at the Africa International Film Festival and won the Audience Award at the Pan African Film Festival.
Saturday, May 10 at 6:30pm – Q&A with Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine
Closing Night
Shorts Program 4: In the Arms of the Mother
110m
This program of short films by and/or about African women includes Mariame N’diaye’s Sira, Anil Padia and Michael Mwangi Maina’s Temple Road, Dika Ofoma’s God’s Wife, Kagure N. Kabue’s Iron Fist, Zoé Cauwet’s Le Grand Calao, and Priscillia Kounkou Hoveyda’s We Will Be Who We Are.
Tuesday, May 13 at 8:30pm
Sira
Mariame N’diaye, 2023, France, 24m
Soninké and French with English subtitles
New York Premiere
To stay with her daughter and her husband, a young Malian woman living in France in the 1980s has to abide by one condition.
Temple Road
Anil Padia, Michael Mwangi Maina, 2024, France/Kenya, 13m
Swahili with English subtitles
North American Premiere
Inspired by childhood experiences of women-only ceremonies and family Polaroids from the 1950s to the 1970s, Temple Road recreates the spiritual and ritualistic preparation of a woman. Weaving a dreamlike narrative, it blends rituals from Kenyan Indian heritage with diverse Kenyan cultures, reflected in a multicultural cast and interwoven ceremonies. Emphasizing the reverence women deserve as the pillars of society, the film is both a tribute to the past and a call to recognize women as bearers of culture, tradition, and life amidst rising violence against women in Kenya.
God’s Wife
Dika Ofoma, 2024, Nigeria, 15m
Igbo with English subtitles
North American Premiere
A young widow is propositioned by her late husband’s brother. When she refuses his advances, he threatens to have her ousted from her husband’s home, and she has to reconcile her personal convictions and Catholic beliefs with her in-laws’ demands.
Iron Fist
Kagure N. Kabue, 2024, Kenya, 15m
Swahili with English subtitles
In Nairobi’s bustling streets, hardworking mother Wangari, haunted by trauma, discovers empowerment in a local boxing gym. Her unexpected journey sparks a transformative rebirth, fostering resilience and a thriving spirit amid life’s fiercest battles.
Le Grand Calao
Zoé Cauwet, 2024, France/Burkina Faso, 27m
Mooré and French with English subtitles
U.S. Premiere
It’s a hot day, as it often is in Ouagadougou. It’s also a very special day for a group of women taking a long-awaited getaway, a moment of discovery, and a break from the hustle and bustle of the world and their lives. A few tourists are there too, a wealthy family from Burkina Faso is lounging around, and a few soldiers are watching over the place. It’s a small world that moves slowly around the Grand Calao’s swimming pool. Until sunset, the women spend a moment out of time, talking about their lives and their problems, while exploring the new sensation of their bodies in the calm blue water.
We Will Be Who We Are
Priscillia Kounkou Hoveyda, 2024, Sierra Leone, 16m
World Premiere
In Sierra Leone, best friends Aya and Boi decide to marry each other in an attempt to escape society’s pressures to conform.
Black Tea
Abderrahmane Sissako, 2024, Mauritania/Luxembourg/Taiwan/Côte d'Ivoire, 111m
New York Premiere
Mandarin, French, English, and Portuguese with English subtitles
After saying no on her wedding day, Aya leaves the Ivory Coast for a new life in the buzzing “Chocolate City” of Guangzhou, China. In this district where the African diaspora meets Chinese culture, she gets hired in a tea boutique owned by Cai, a Chinese man. In the secrecy of the back shop, Cai decides to initiate Aya to the tea ceremony. Through the teaching of this ancient art, their relationship slowly turns into tender love. But for their burgeoning passion to lead to mutual trust, they must let go of their burdens and face their past.
Thursday, May 8 at 6:30pm – Q&A with Abderrahmane Sissako and producer Kessen Tall
Tuesday, May 13 at 3:15pm
Everybody Loves Touda
Nabil Ayouch, 2024, Morocco/France/Belgium/Denmark/Netherlands, 101m
Arabic with English subtitles
New York Premiere
Irrepressible Touda dreams of only one thing—being a Sheikha, a respected traditional Moroccan performer. Empowered by the songs of resistance and emancipation of the fierce female poets who came before her, she takes the stage every evening in provincial bars. Tired of performing under the lustful gaze of men, Touda sets her sights on leaving her small village for the bright lights of Casablanca, where she hopes to be recognized as a true artist—and secure a better future for her and her son. The latest from award-winning director Nabil Ayouch (Casablanca Beats, Horses of God) premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and was Morocco’s submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
Monday, May 12 at 8:30pm
The Fisherman
Zoey Martinson, 2024, Ghana, 105m
New York Premiere
Atta Oko has spent his life as a proud traditional fisherman in rural Ghana. When he is suddenly forced into retirement his life takes a whimsical turn as he is partnered with a modern, bougie talking fish. As fishy chaos ensues, Atta and his three quirky “associates” navigate the vibrant streets of Accra, chasing their shared dream of owning a fishing boat. Filled with laughter, magic, and the rich culture of Ghana, The Fisherman is a heartwarming tale of family, resilience, and the enduring spirit of a true fisherman.
Sunday, May 11 at 1:00pm – Q&A with Zoey Martinson
Furu
Fatou Cissé, 2024, Mali, 67m
Bambara with English subtitles
North American Premiere
This powerful social drama from director Fatou Cissé, daughter of legendary Malian filmmaker Souleymane Cissé, explores the impact of forced marriage on young women in Mali. The film follows Tou, who is pressured to marry an older man after becoming pregnant, and Ami, who resists village pressure to wed in favor of her independence. Through these parallel stories, Furu examines the complex and often painful choices young women face when their futures are shaped by tradition rather than personal agency. The film confronts the enduring practice of forced marriage and its psychological consequences, offering a poignant and urgent reflection on gender, autonomy, and resistance within a patriarchal society. Preceded by a clip from Cissé’s 2022 documentary A Daughter’s Tribute to Her Father, an intimate portrayal of the life and career of Souleymane Cissé.
Friday, May 9 at 6:00pm – Q&A with Fatou Cissé
Identity Pieces / Pièces d’identités
Mwezé Ngangura, 1998, Democratic Republic of the Congo/Belgium, 97m
Lingala, Kingwana, Kikongo, Tshiluba, French, English, and Dutch with English subtitles
In Mwezé Ngangura’s modern comic fairy tale, Mani Kongo, King of the Bakongo, embarks on a trip to Belgium to find his beloved daughter, Mwana, whom he has lost touch with. Dignified and outfitted in full regalia, the African king walks into a society that neither respects his title nor values his humanity. On arriving in Belgium, he has to cope with the very best and the very worst of the Black diaspora, as well as with prejudices rampant in European society, and finds good friends amongst the poor, lower-class whites—showing that nothing is ever black or white.
Saturday, May 10 at 3:45pm
Juju Factory
Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda, 2006, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 97m
French with English subtitles
Kongo lives in the Matonge district of Brussels, where he is writing a book. His editor wants a kind of traveler’s book spiced with ethnic ingredients. However, Kongo is inspired by his vision of complex and tormented souls that he meets at all proverbial and literal crossings. His story, and Juju Factory’s narrative, follow invisible trajectories intertwined with Congolese history and Belgium’s ghosts.
Sunday, May 11 at 8:45pm – Q&A with Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda
The Man Died
Awam Amkpa, 2024, Nigeria, 105m
U.S. Premiere
Based on the harrowing prison memoir by Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, The Man Died is a powerful tale of resistance, courage, and the unyielding human spirit. Set against the backdrop of Nigeria’s civil war, the film chronicles Soyinka’s imprisonment without trial by a brutal military regime determined to silence his voice. Through solitary confinement, torture, and deprivation, Soyinka’s resolve to fight against tyranny and injustice only grows stronger. Interwoven with flashbacks to his earlier life as a writer and activist, the film reveals the profound inner strength and unbreakable spirit that drive Soyinka’s resistance. As he documents his experiences on scraps of paper smuggled out of his cell, his writings become a beacon of hope and a call to action for others living under oppression. The Man Died is not just a personal story but a universal testament to the enduring power of truth and the necessity of standing up against tyranny. It is a poignant reminder that in the face of oppression, silence is not an option, and the human spirit can never truly be extinguished.
Tuesday, May 13 at 6:00pm – Q&A with Awam Amkpa
Mweze
David-Pierre Fila, 2020, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 80m
French and Lingala with English subtitles
David-Pierre Fila’s documentary on Mwezé Ngangura—the visionary Congolese director of Kin Kiesse; Life Is Beautiful; Changa Changa; The King, the Cow and the Banana Tree; Pieces d’identités; and The Governor’s New Clothes—unfolds as a meditation on history, politics, cinema, image, and time. Shot in Kinshasa, Ouagadougou, and Brussels, it is not a biography but an introspective exploration of Mwezé’s life today in Belgium, where he has settled with his family. What emerges is a self-portrait conceived by Mwezé himself, a collage of images layered with sound impressions. From the very first frames, the film presents itself with an understated elegance and subtle charms, its subject less concerned with intellectual discourse and more with stirring the heart.
Saturday, May 10 at 1:30pm
Ndar, Saga Waalo
Ousmane William Mbaye, 2024, Senegal, 91m
French and Wolof with English subtitles
U.S. Premiere
Ndar, the original name of Saint-Louis, an island at the mouth of the Senegal River in the former Waalo kingdom, was the port of colonial penetration into West Africa four centuries ago. An economic, cultural, and political crossroads, it served as a laboratory for the “civilizing mission.” Commerce, town planning, education, and mixed heritage were the instruments for French colonists to assimilate populations, establish themselves in the country, and exploit the wealth. While some cannot deny history and have kept their Saint-Louisian way of living intact, others want to put an end to the colonial heritage. For many young people today, it is time to think about history differently. Yet everyone has managed to preserve their keen sense of living well together.
Sunday, May 11 at 6:30pm – Q&A with Ousmane William Mbaye and producer Laurence Attali
Rising Up at Night / Tongo Saa
Nelson Makengo, 2024, Democratic Republic of the Congo/Belgium/Germany/Burkina Faso/Qatar, 96m
Lingala with English subtitles
As the Congo constructs Africa’s largest power station, Kinshasa and its inhabitants are trapped in literal darkness, waiting and struggling to get access to electric light while also dealing with extensive flooding and preparing to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. Nelson Makengo’s first feature documentary, which premiered at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival Panorama, is a vivid portrait of Kinshasa’s residents—their hopes, disappointments, religious faith, and resilience. Makengo’s subtle, fragmented storytelling captures a population reinventing itself while immersed in the beauty of Kinshasa’s nights.
Preceded by
Profiling
Zaza Mon Amour, 2025, France, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 15m
French with English subtitles
World Premiere
In Marseille, a city of rich cultural diversity that still carries the deep scars of segregation, three childhood friends reunite after years apart, but what begins as a joyful gathering takes a tragic turn due to racial profiling.
Friday, May 9 at 8:30pm
The Tree of Authenticity / L’Arbre de l’Authenticité
Sammy Baloji, 2025, Belgium/Democratic Republic of the Congo, 89m
French and Dutch with English subtitles
U.S. Premiere
Nestled in Africa’s largest rainforest lies one of the many gravesites of the West’s efforts to control nations and nature—one of the world’s largest tropical agricultural research centers. Located on the banks of the Congo River, the Yangambi INERA Research Station was a booming scientific center in its heyday, but today, it is an amalgam of jungle and ruin. Sammy Baloji’s gripping documentary The Tree of Authenticity recounts the stigma of ecological destruction that began at the time of colonization through the voices of two emblematic scientists who worked at Yangambi between 1910 and 1950, Paul Panda Farnana and Abiron Beirnaert. Their stories embody the legacies of colonial modernity and trace the origins of today’s environmental injustice.
Preceded by
The Planet of Water
Leonardo Gámez Gil, 2024, Mexico, 3m
Spanish with English subtitles
New York Premiere
In the near future, humanity—obsessed with saving water while destroying its own planet—faces a devastating environmental crisis. Humans begin to explore space in search of water, and in their absence, the Earth regenerates itself.
La Serpiente de Shelmeca
Laura Bermúdez, 2023, Honduras, 3m
Miskitu and Spanish with English subtitles
New York Premiere
The second most important rainforest in the Americas hides an archaeological secret of an ancient indigenous population, known today as Ciudad Blanca. Wildres Wood, the first biologist from the Miskitu ethnic group, embarks on a journey to the heart of the jungle to protect Honduras’ most important treasure for the world.
Monday, May 12 at 6:00pm
New York African Film Festival Shorts Programs
Shorts Program 1: Notions of Home
102m
This program of diaspora short films from around the globe includes Ahmed Samir’s Grandma, Hans Augustave’s Nwa (Black), Adesola Thomas’s Sister Salad Days, Devin Powell’s Where Are You From?, Shawn Antoine II’s Green Bay, Rhys Aaron Lewis’s Run Like We, and Francis Y. Brown’s Blinded by the Lights.
Thursday, May 8 at 9:15pm – Q&A with Shawn Antoine II, Hans Augustave, Daty Kaba, and Ahmed Samir
Friday, May 9 at 3:00pm
Grandma
Ahmed Samir, 2024, Egypt, 23m
Arabic with English subtitles
North American Premiere
While living in isolation, Mona and her young son await the birth of a new baby while still carrying the weight of the grandma’s recent death. When her son begins listening to her pregnant belly, convinced his grandmother’s spirit exists inside and wants to return, Mona is unsettled by his quiet certainty. As she struggles to comfort him, she confronts her own fears of failing as a mother, of being unable to fill the absence left behind, and of opening herself to the unknown. With each passing moment, the fragile balance between grief and hope threatens to collapse, forcing her to face the life growing inside her and the love she’s afraid she can’t give.
Nwa (Black)
Hans Augustave, 2024, U.S., 20m
English, French, and Haitian with English subtitles
Nwa is a candid, emotional coming-of-age film about Frantz, a first-generation Haitian-American boy, torn by the decision to get the haircut he knows his strict immigrant father would approve of, or a trendy cut connecting him to the Black American culture he’s been warned by his father not to embrace.
Sister Salad Days
Adesola Thomas, 2024, U.S., 18m
When an asexual double dutcher’s religious father forces her to get married, she enlists her friends and fiancé to stop the wedding and free her older sister whose soul is trapped on their father’s land.
Where Are You From?
Devin Powell, 2025, U.S., 13m
World Premiere
While Sherif, a 14-year-old Senegalese adolescent student in the U.S., watches international cinema, George, his 11-year-old American host, disrupts his bouts of escapism. Both characters have an issue: Sherif misses home and George has nothing to do. They solve this problem by watching movies together, but George can’t keep quiet.
Green Bay
Shawn Antoine II, U.S., 2024, 2m
World Premiere
On a green-skied shore, a woman’s dance becomes a sacred ritual that summons an extraterrestrial being.
Run Like We
Rhys Aaron Lewis, 2024, U.K., 13m
New York Premiere
It’s the 2012 London Olympics and the whole world is going crazy for the fastest man on the planet: Usain Bolt. Everyone apart from Alvin, an awkward 14-year-old who hates sports and constantly disappoints his Jamaican father, Lester, an ex-athlete who can’t understand why his son is “so soft.” So when Alvin is unexpectedly nominated to represent his class in the upcoming school sports day, it could be his last chance to make his dad proud and prove that he can be just like Bolt.
Blinded by the Lights
Francis Y. Brown, 2025, Ghana, 13m
World Premiere
A powerful and visually striking allegory, Blinded by the Lights explores the insatiable greed of the African leader and the devastating cost of betrayal. Set against the backdrop of a nation trapped in the cycle of neocolonialism, the film unpacks the illusions of power, the corruption that festers behind closed doors, and the silent suffering of a people forgotten by those meant to lead them. With bold symbolism and a haunting narrative, Blinded by the Lights is a chilling reflection on leadership, legacy, and the price of selling one’s soul for power.
Shorts Program 2: Mzansi Moments
101m
This collection of short films from South Africa includes Ntokozo Mlaba’s The Passage, Michelle Name and Onke Meje’s Intsikelelo Yamanzi, Nduduzo Shandu’s Gogo, Phumi Morare’s Why the Cattle Wait, Hachimiya Ahamada’s Zanatany, When Soulless Shrouds Whisper, Kgomotso Sekhu’s Shap Shap, and Zoe Ramushu’s Damsel, Not in Distress.
Saturday, May 10 at 8:45pm
The Passage
Ntokozo Mlaba, 2024, South Africa, 12m
Southern Sotho and Zulu with English subtitles
North American Premiere
When Mrembula learns that Dakalo has opened a case of rape against him, he blackmails Bafana, his best friend and Dakalo’s boyfriend, into fabricating a story. Bafana tries to resist but realizes that with his hopes of making it out of the hood, it would be better to go with Mrembula’s story than to end up living his days in a jail cell. Mrembula thus sits Bafana down as they recreate the recollections of the events that unfolded on that fateful night in
the passage.
Intsikelelo Yamanzi
Michelle Name, Onke Meje, 2024, South Africa, 8m
English and Xhosa with English subtitles
North American Premiere
When Cape Town encounters an extreme stretch without water, things get desperate. Perhaps it’s a little boy who returns us to our humanity.
Gogo
Nduduzo Shandu, 2024, South Africa, 13m
Zulu with English subtitles
Introduced to storytelling at a young age from her own grandmother, Nduduzo Shandu crafted a story of a lifetime bond between a grandmother and her grandson.
Why the Cattle Wait
Phumi Morare, 2024, South Africa, 20m
Xhosa with English subtitles
New York Premiere
A folklore love story about a Nguni goddess who must find and convince her former mortal lover to return to the eternal world with her, before she destroys the earth.
Zanatany, When Soulless Shrouds Whisper
Hachimiya Ahamada, 2024, Belgium/Madagascar, 27m
Malagasy with English subtitles
New York Premiere
Majunga, Madagascar, December 1976. A wind of revolt sweeps through the city. Ali, a second-in-command in a bookbinding workshop, is raising his two daughters alone. One morning, before going to work, he witnesses what seems to be a simple neighborhood quarrel….
Shap Shap
Kgomotso Sekhu, 2024, South Africa, 10m
English and Tswana with English subtitles
U.S. Premiere
After surviving multiple attempts on his life in a dangerous village, 13-year-old Mmusi sets out to find his father in the township but is taken in by a strict Jehovah’s Witness. Homeless and judged by society, he struggles to survive in a harsh and unforgiving world. On his journey to reunite with his mother in Johannesburg, Mmusi faces discrimination but discovers hope and strength through unexpected friendships. Just as his life begins to improve, he receives a scholarship to go to the United States, but without a fixed address, his future remains uncertain.
Damsel, Not in Distress
Zoe Ramushu, 2025, South Africa, 11m
Aluta infiltrates a crew of party girls who are hustling Johannesburg’s rich and powerful using charm and deception, but what the crew doesn’t know is Aluta is on a secret mission to find her missing sister. But when a job goes wrong, she’s betrayed and needs to stay one step ahead, or she’ll be the next target.
Shorts Program 3: Centennial Legacies
119m
Marking a century of history, culture, and resistance, this short film program honoring the visionaries and movements that shaped the past and continue to inspire the future includes Lou de Lemos’s The Legend of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, Paulin Soumanou Vieyra’s It Was Four Years Ago, Paulin Soumanou Vieyra’s Ousmane Sembène: The Making of Ceddo, Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda’s The Draughtsmen Clash, and Lebert Bethune’s Malcolm X: Struggle for Freedom.
Sunday, May 11 at 3:30pm – Q&A with Leburt Bethune, Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda, and cultural historian Danielle Brito
Monday, May 12 at 3:00pm
The Legend of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg
Lou de Lemos, Puerto Rico/U.S., 1986, 25m
Spanish with English subtitles
This biography tells the story of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, a Puerto Rican of African descent who dedicated his life to studying African history and collecting Black-related materials from the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa. His collection forms the core of the collection found today at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, a research center of the New York Public Library.
It Was Four Years Ago / C’était Il y a Quatre Ans
Paulin Soumanou Vieyra, 1954, France, Senegal, 9m
French with English subtitles
An African student at his desk hears a song from his homeland on the radio. He feels transported back several years to the time when he was preparing to leave for France. He sketches a few dance steps. Meanwhile, his French girlfriend arrives to continue his classical music education. Listening to the first classical record, his mind wanders back to Africa.
Ousmane Sembène: The Making of Ceddo / L’envers du Décor
Paulin Soumanou Vieyra, Senegal, 1981, 25m
Wolof and French with English subtitles
Paulin Soumanou Vieyra captures Ousmane Sembène, one of the greatest African filmmakers, during the filming of Ceddo. The Making of Ceddo was completed after four years of production, while Ceddo itself was censored by the Senegalese authorities under the Senghor regime until 1983.
The Draughtsmen Clash / Le Damier
Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda, 1996, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 40m
French with English subtitles
The Draughtsmen Clash tells the story of the president of a fictitious African nation who spends a sleepless night playing checkers with a pot-smoking vagabond who claims to be the all-round champion. However, the rules of the game entail the opponents howling vulgar and foul obscenities at one another. The champion proceeds to insult, and trounce, the president. His reward, and his fate, will not surprise anyone.
Malcolm X: Struggle for Freedom
Lebert Bethune, France, 1964, 20m
Bethune’s film portrays Malcolm X at a time when his views were evolving to include what was going on in the world at large. It features interviews filmed during Malcolm X’s trip to Europe and
Africa shortly before his assassination in the United States, interspersed with scenes of African rebellion.
Special Programs
Art Exhibition: “All Night We Waited for Morning, All Morning We Waited for Night” by Bereket Adamu
“All Night We Waited for Morning, All Morning We Waited for Night” is a welded steel light sculpture and animated video that reflects on African resistance, migration, and global interconnectedness. Constructed from steel, cotton, hide skin glue, ink, paint, and a lightbulb, the piece combines material and conceptual tension, with light and movement obscuring as much as they reveal. Depicting winged African figures, it explores themes of environmental disruption, self-agency, and intergenerational relationships that transcend borders. The work’s shifting figures and forms resist fixed meaning, creating a narrative suspended between presence and absence, illuminated and obscured.
The accompanying animation extends this instability, allowing figures to dissolve and reform as the object is made and un- made, while the illuminated steel structure flickers between clarity and obscurity, revealing only partial truths. Through its dynamic interplay of sculpture and animation, the piece moves beyond monumentality, capturing a fluidity of political, environmental, and personal change in an ongoing, layered rhythm that defies stand still interpretation.
Thursday, May 8 – Tuesday, May 13 – FREE
Amphitheater at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center
Congo RE-Vue: A Fresh Perspective by Emerging Congolese Talent
Congo RE-Vue is a dynamic digital photo exhibition dedicated to highlighting the vibrant talent of the next generation of Congolese artists. This project focuses on young Congolese photographers who, with fresh eyes and a forward-thinking approach, are redefining how their country is viewed both within its borders and beyond. Their vision is one of progress, creativity, and optimism. At the heart of Congo RE-Vue is a dedication to contemporary Congolese culture, seen through the lens of photographers (with future editions to include filmmakers) who are reshaping the narrative of their country.
Curated by Cecilia Zoppelletto and produced by ZOPMEDIA in collaboration with ZEKE and Preston Witman Productions, Congo RE-Vue is an exploration of the artistic innovation coming out of Congo today, crafted with care and pride. This is more than just a photo exhibition—it is a movement, a statement, and an invitation to experience Congo through the eyes of its next generation.
The works featured in Congo RE-Vue are a testament to the immense talent of Congo’s young photography generation. From intimate portraits to bold social commentary, each artist brings their own unique perspective, offering a fresh lens through which to see the beauty, challenges, and triumphs of Congo. This first edition includes the works of Christelle Emulu, Arsène Mpiana, Hardy Bope, Henock Diba, Luther Lupeta, Antalya Mbafumoya, and Fortune Lula.
Thursday, May 8 – Tuesday, May 13 – FREE
Amphitheater at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center
From Then to Now: Celebrating 15 Years of African Cinema — Presented by AFF & OkayAfrica
The African Film Festival (AFF) and OkayAfrica present From Then to Now: Celebrating 15 Years of African Cinema—a thoughtful exploration of the evolving landscape of African film. Bringing together four acclaimed filmmakers featured in this year’s festival, this panel offers a rare opportunity to reflect on the creative shifts and enduring themes shaping African cinema today. Panelists include Abderrahmane Sissako (Black Tea), Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda (Juju Factory), Afolabi Olalekan (Opening Night film Freedom Way), and Fatou Cissé (Furu), who also honors the profound legacy of her father, the late Souleymane Cissé. Together, they trace the threads of continuity and change across a decade and a half of cinematic storytelling, offering insight into the present moment and the future of the art form.
Saturday, May 10 at 11:30am – FREE
Amphitheater at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center
FILM AT LINCOLN CENTER
Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) is a nonprofit organization that celebrates cinema as an essential art form and fosters a vibrant home for film culture to thrive. FLC presents premier film festivals, retrospectives, new releases, and restorations year-round in state-of-the-art theaters at New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. FLC offers audiences the opportunity to discover works from established and emerging directors from around the world with a passionate community of film lovers at marquee events including the New York Film Festival and New Directors/New Films.
Founded in 1969, FLC is committed to preserving the excitement of the theatrical experience for all audiences, advancing high-quality film journalism through the publication of Film Comment, cultivating the next generation of film industry professionals through our FLC Academies, and enriching the lives of all who engage with our programs.
Rolex is the Official Partner and Exclusive Timepiece of Film at Lincoln Center.
Film at Lincoln Center receives generous, year-round support from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. For more information, visit filmlinc.org and follow @filmlinc on X, Instagram, and Bluesky.
AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL, INC.
Since 1990, African Film Festival, Inc. (AFF) has bridged the divide between postcolonial Africa and the American public through the powerful medium of film and video. AFF's unique place in the international arts community is distinguished not only by leadership in festival management, but also by a comprehensive approach to the advocacy of African film and culture. AFF established the New York African Film Festival (NYAFF) in 1993 with Film at Lincoln Center. The New York African Film Festival is presented annually by the African Film Festival, Inc. and Film at Lincoln Center, in association with Brooklyn Academy of Music and Maysles Cinema. AFF also produces a series of local, national, and international programs throughout the year. More information about AFF can be found on the Web at www.africanfilmny.org. You can follow AFF at @africanfilmfest on X and Instagram.
For press inquiries regarding Film at Lincoln Center, please contact:
John Kwiatkowski, Film at Lincoln Center, JKwiatkowski@filmlinc.org
Eva Tooley, Film at Lincoln Center, ETooley@filmlinc.org
For press inquiries regarding African Film Festival, Inc., please contact:
Cheryl Duncan, Cheryl Duncan & Company Inc., cheryl@cdcprnews.com
DELA Campus Tour Kicks Off With Pan-Atlantic University
The Nigeria leg of the DELA Campus Tour kicked off with the Pan-Atlantic University in Lagos on 20th March 2025. From 10am, the technical crew began setting up at Benin Hall, the theatre style 60-seater venue for the screening.
Patricia Igho, Lagos - Nigeria
The Nigeria leg of the DELA Campus Tour kicked off with the Pan-Atlantic University in Lagos on 20th March 2025. From 10:00 am, the technical crew began setting up at Benin Hall, the theatre style 60-seater venue for the screening
L-R: Standing by on of El Anatsui’s early wood works: Ayodele O. Banjo (DELA Editor/TWPC), Clement Eno, Solomon Nkwagu (Head Corporate Communications, Yemisi Shyllon Museum). and Patricia Igho ( Africa-Related). Photo by Yemisi Shyllon Museum
The DELA Team was given a tour of the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art by the Head Corporate Communications Mr. Solomon Nkwagu. The museum is situated on the campus, where some of El Anatsui's earlier works are part of the its permanent collection.
The screening was scheduled to take place at 2:00 pm, and students began arriving as early as 1:30 pm, having completed their registration prior to the event. Those students who had classes scheduled in between the start time and the screening later joined the gathering as they were able. Additionally, several members of the staff also made their way to the venue to participate in the event, contributing to the overall atmosphere of engagement and anticipation.
Dr. Añulika Agina, an Associate Professor, Media Studies and MSc Programme Director, made the introductions, and prompted the students to observe a minute of silence for the late Dr. Tom Adaba, who also served as a Senior Consultant on the film project.
The screening kicked off about 2:10 pm and ran through to 4pm. The students displayed keen interest and were actively taking notes during the course. Some of the scenes elicited different reactions such as laughter and awe.
The ‘intense’ Q&A session that followed lasted for an hour and ten minutes. It was an enlightening session, where five students were given the opportunity to ask questions. Mr. Ayodele O. Banjo, the lead editor and co-producer on the project, answered questions that centered on the technical aspects of the documentary i.e filming, music, editing, and personal motivation..
Q & A Photos with DELA Editor Mr. Ayodele Banjo
The day ended with three copies each of books authored by two participants in the film, presented to the PAU library and received by Dr. Ajina. The books are 'But For God' by Dr. Tom Adaba and 'A Samson In The Wild' by Bright Andrew Igho.
DELA: The Making of El Anatsui is a biographical documentary about one of the world's greatest sculptors. The Campus Tour aims to bring art and film students closer to the film's subject. The next stop in Nigeria is the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) on April 10, 2025. In Ghana, the tour will screen at the artist’s five alma mater institutions.
SHARE THIS STORY
Water is Life group exhibition of art and poetry
Mmiri bụ Ndụ - (Water is Life) group exhibition of art and poetry commemorating the 4th International Conference on Water in Africa by *Our Water and Health Network Africa.
Mmiri bụ Ndụ - (Water is Life) group exhibition of art and poetry commemorating the 4th International Conference on Water in Africa by *Our Water and Health Network Africa. Opens at 2 pm Wednesday, 19th March 2025, at the Institute of African Studies Museum, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and runs until Friday, 18th April 2025, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
HIGHLIGHTS: DELA at MoCA CT
A special screening of DELA: The Making of El Anatsui was presented as part of Black History Month event series organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art, Westport Connecticut. This compelling biographical documentary explores the life and work of El Anatsui, one of Africa’s most celebrated sculptors.
Africa-Related - WestPort, CT
A special screening of DELA: The Making of El Anatsui was presented as part of Black History Month event series organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art, Westport Connecticut. This compelling biographical documentary explores the life and work of El Anatsui, one of Africa’s most celebrated sculptors.
DELA offers an intimate look into Anatsui’s groundbreaking contributions to contemporary art, his mentorship of a generation of West African artists, and his transformative role in his local community. The film delves into the profound simplicity and complexity of his monumental creations, highlighting his journey of triumphs and trials. The title, "Dela," meaning "Deliverer" in the Ewe language, encapsulates his impact on art and culture.
Following the screening, filmmaker Oyiza Adaba had an engaging Q&A session with the audience, that covered the film’s subject and impact, production process, collaborations and storytelling.
This event kicks off the award-winning documentary’s 2025 tour of a select global art/academic institutions, including Prof. Anatsui’s alma maters in Ghana, the top art Universities in Nigeria, as well as colleges and art institutions in the South Africa, Israel, France and the United States.
Photos
DELA Premieres at Spain's International Festival of Art Documentaries
A "powerful" biographical documentary about one of the world's most celebrated artists El Anatsui, is nominated for the Dart International Award, and will premiere in Barcelona, Spain on November 30, 2024 at the 8th edition of the Art-focused DART festival.
“DELA” premieres in Spain
A "powerful" biographical documentary about one of the world's most celebrated artists El Anatsui, is nominated for the Dart International Award, and will premiere in Barcelona, Spain on November 30, 2024 at the 8th edition of the Art-focused DART festival.
DART FESTIVAL 2024
November 27 -Dec 4, 2024
Dart is the meeting point between cinema and art in Spain. It is the first documentary film festival dedicated to contemporary art whose main objective is to intertwine culture and knowledge with the general public, and it does so through documentaries on photography, art curatorship, painting, performance, architecture, artistic movements and, in general, on contemporary art, paying special attention to artists, their creative processes and the stories behind their work.
DELA: The Making of El Anatsui will debut alongside other art films such as: I Am Martin Parr, Depot – Reflecting Boijmans, Artefacto 71, Joaquín Torres Garcia. PAX IN LUCEM, Arte Povera, Notes For History, Jean Cocteau, FRIDA, Jeff Koons, A Private Portrait, El Nombrador de Plantas: Abel Rodriguez, Robert Rauschenberg – Taking Venice, The Pilgrimage of Gilbert and George, Elements of a Journey: Antoni Tàpies, Tàpies, el joc de saber mirar, György Kepes. Interthinking Art + Science, Dahomey, The Art of Making It, Acció>Cinema: Renzo Martens I CATPC, The Wisdom of Wonder, Eugènia Balcells Once and Again, Lolo & Sosaku. The Western Archive, Laie Course: Art and Eroticism – A Journey from Jeff Koons to Classical Art, Laie Laboratory: A Glimpse into the Future of Art Documentaries – Video Games, Androids, and Twin Towers.
SPAIN PREMIERE
DELA: The Making of El Anatsui
A brief Q+A with the films director, Oyiza Adaba will follow the screening on November 30, 2024.
Date: Saturday, Nov 30, 2024
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Cinemes Girona - Carrer de Girona, 175, L'Eixample. BARCELONA
Follow the journey
share this story
DELA Premieres In GHANA
DELA: The Making of El Anatsui Premieres at Black Star International Film Festival in Ghana to rave reviews.
DELA: The Making of El Anatsui Premieres at Black Star International Film Festival in Ghana to rave reviews.
Prof. El Anatsui holds his Achievement Award - a gold bar with a black star /Photo by Africa-Related
The evening of September 22 marked the first screening of the biographical documentary at the World Trade Center in Accra, Ghana. The film’s subject, Professor El Anatsui was ushered into the decorated venue by The Anyako Cultural Troupe, while piano genius Funsho Ogundipe of AYETORO performed alongside Trombonist Elikplim Amewode after the screening. There was a brief Q & A with film Director Oyiza Adaba, followed by a citation presentation, done by Dr. Odoi Oddoye. The film was well received by the audience made up of dignitaries that included diplomats, family, friends, artists and colleagues.
Acceptance Speech
Professor El Anatsui opened his acceptance speech with the challenges faced with continuous camera exposure in over 10 years of filming. He also advised the organisers on the use of the term "lifetime achievement," emphasizing it should be ongoing for living individuals.
He reflected on the global perspective of art and suggested that there are still aspects of art that have not been addressed. He also referenced the "art is life" slogan by KNUST, highlighting the complexity of life and its integration into art.
Cultural Influences and Artistic Journey
The Emeritus Professor recounted his early career beginning post-school, influenced by Western teachings with little emphasis on local culture. He noted how the discovery of Adinkra signs excited him as a young man growing up in the rural Volta region.
He also compared the Renaissance period in Europe with the abstract Adinkra signs, emphasizing their cultural significance and citing his influence by abstract art originating from the cultural center in Kumasi. He touched briefly on the challenges and contributions in Art, noting the ease of following but the difficulty of extraction.
For a moment the globally celebrated sculptor reflected on the balance between family and societal influences on his artistic journey, and dedicated the award to society, highlighting its significant role in his development.
He ended by thanking the Black Star International Film Festival organizers for their honor and acknowledged the societal contributions to his growth.
Citation
Black Star International's Tribute honors Professor Anatsui for his transformative works that have changed global perceptions of African art.The citation highlights Professor Anatsui's innovative use of local organic materials and education in his art. We emphasize Professor Natri's contributions to African art on the world stage, showcasing African artistry globally. The tribute acknowledges Professor Anatsui's extraordinary contributions to art and culture in Africa and beyond.
About Black Star International Film Festival
BSIFF IS A CULTURAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO NURTURING, EDUCATING AND INSPIRING LOVE FOR THE BUSINESS OF FILM IN AFRICA.
BSIFF provides a platform that inspires love for film and cinema; supporting independent African filmmakers to reach distribution opportunities, the right network, worldwide audience, film education, acquire relevant skills and that push their creative boundaries beyond limit.
PHOTOS FROM DELA SCREENING
Full Video: "DELA" North American Premiere
Video Highlights of the biographical documentary that carefully captures the life of legendary artist El Anatsui, tracing the artistic endeavors that led to his rise in popularity in the global art world. It made an inspiring debut on Mother's Day, May 12th, 2024 at the prestigious Lincoln Centre in New York.
"DELA: The Making of El Anatsui", is an “in-depth” biographical documentary directed by Oyiza Adaba. It made its North American premiere at the New York African Film Festival (NYAFF31) on May 12th, 2024 at the prestigious Lincoln Centre. “DELA” is currently showing at global film festival before going into distribution. Follow the film’s progress here
DELA Director Oyiza Adaba, in front of Lincoln Center, New York. Photo: Galina Ivankovich/Africa-Related
SHARE THIS STORY
Bride of Zambia
In April 2024, Zambian filmmaker Tisa Chigaga re-released her sophomore short film, Bride of Zambia, on Indie Films World, where it is currently available for online pay per view streaming. A multicultural collaboration, the film was produced by Bollywood entertainment cooperation D-Star Productions and Indie Films World.
Press Release
“Bride of Zambia” Short Film Initiates Rare Conversation on Gender Inequality In Zambia
New York City, May 24, 2024
In April 2024, Zambian filmmaker Tisa Chigaga re-released her sophomore short film, Bride of Zambia, on Indie Films World, where it is currently available for online pay per view streaming. A multicultural collaboration, the film was produced by Bollywood entertainment cooperation D-Star Productions and Indie Films World.
The film follows a young Zambian-born New York resident in the lead up to her wedding. Despite having a modern upbringing, she is pressured into adhering to the highly conservative traditional code of conduct for Zambian brides and eventually wives. Featuring scenes directly questioning the relevance of traditional gender norms in the ultra conservative nation, the film offers a very rare public discussion about gender inequality in Zambia.
Despite the highly controversial nature of the chosen themes, in an unforeseen show of support, the filmmaker has received messages from hundreds of women identifying with the plight of the protagonist, and thanking the film for finally speaking out. It is the filmmaker’s hope that more engagement with the film will break down further boundaries around conversations pertaining to gender and tradition in Zambia.
“Thank God for this production. A lot of women are truly oppressed by these teachings. What a courageous step to put this out and finally speak about it!” @mwesh_moon on Instagram
“Even as a Bollywood producer, I was able to see the power and impact of this story. It is my hope that this film will do more for gender parity in Zambia and the world throughout.” Mukesh Modi, CEO Indie Films World and D-Star Productions
“Making Bride of Zambia was by far the scariest thing I have ever done. But hearing women say the film made them feel seen and that they finally have a voice, made it all worth it. It is my hope that this film will enable more open discussions on what has always been considered a taboo subject.” Tisa Chigaga, Director
Tisa Chigaga currently serves as the Program Manager of the New York African Film Festival, and can be reached on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter (@tisachigaga). Bride of Zambia is available to view here on Indie Film World.
# #
DELA: Makes North American Debut At 31st New York African Festival
The biographical documentary that carefully captures the life of legendary artist El Anatsui, tracing the artistic endeavors that led to his rise in popularity in the global art world, made an inspiring debut on Mother's Day, May 12th, 2024 at the prestigious Lincoln Centre in New York.
Moderator Ben Dotsei Malor and DELA Director Oyiza Adaba during the Q&A
Ihunmehai Isaac, New York
Photos: John Oko Nyaku, Africa Photo Communication
It was an eventful and beautiful Mother's Day on May 12th, 2024 at the prestigious Lincoln Centre, with guests trooping in with tickets in hand, to see the “in-depth” biographical documentary directed by Oyiza Adaba - "DELA: The Making of El Anatsui".
The story carefully and deliberately captures the life of legendary artist El Anatsui, tracing the artistic endeavors that led to his rise in popularity in the global art world.
“The film gave more essence to what we normally know of El...”
The screening witnessed an attentive audience engaging in the film, through moments of emotional connections that brought laughter, tears, and silence to the Frances Beale Theater at the prestigious Lincoln Center.
The screening was followed by a resounding applause and a Q&A session, moderated by Ben Dotsei Malor, former BBC Africa anchor and Chief Editor of United Nations News for Dailies.
Malor praised Oyiza Adaba's vision and called for the film to be shown in academic institutions across the world. He welcomed questions from the audience that expanded on the film's 10-year journey, the use of language, art appreciation and much more.
The first-time director explained her motivation to build on the work of previous documentations of the subject, to tell a more personal story. She expressed gratitude to the artist for his generous support, as well as the sponsors and crew who made it possible.
DELA Director Oyiza Adaba with El Anatsui’s Family members and Ben Malor (UN)
Notable guests present include the Anatsui and Ametewee Families, Tamsen Greene of Jack Shainman Gallery NY, the film's director of photography Jason Hill, Jazz musician Randy Muller, percussionist Ricky “Dirty Red” Gordon, Tyrone Birkett of New Freedom Sounds, and Words By MOE who contributed to the films soundtrack.
“As an African-American New Yorker with limited travel to Africa, it was wonderful to see the artist’s setting, in his culture...”
DELA Crew: Director Oyiza Adaba with Ghana Director of Photography Jason Hill
Guests were treated to a reception where they got to interact further with members of the production team.
Mahen Bonetti, the Executive Director and brainchild behind the New York African Film Festival, described DELA as “a masterpiece story that needed telling”. The long-running festival, which showcased over 50 films from 24 countries ends at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) on June 1, 2024.
“DELA” is currently showing at global film festival before going into distribution. Follow the film’s progress here
SHARE THIS STORY
Photo Highlights DELA: North American Premiere at NYAFF31
Photo Highlights
DELA: North American Premiere at NYAFF31
photos by John Oko Nyaku (Africa Photo Communications)
Photo Highlights
DELA: North American Premiere at NYAFF31
May 12, 2024
SHARE THIS STORY
Highlights from NYAFF31 Opening Night with Tolu Ajayi
Celebrating a remarkable and extraordinary visit to Lanre Olagoke's Regent Street Studio in London, where I had the privilege of spending time with the esteemed artist and painter, Lanre Olagoke MBE.
Oyiza Adaba, New York
OVER THE BRIDGE
Director: Tolu Ajayi
Opening Night Film
New York African Film Festival (NYAFF31)
Screening/Q&A with Director
Wednesday May 8, 2024
Film at Lincoln Center, NY
The 31's edition of the New York African Film Festival (NYAFF31), opened with the screening of a Tolu Ajayi film "Over The Bridge". The 99-minute made in Nigeria drama made its North American Premiere at the prestigious Walter Reade Theatre Film at Lincoln Center.
On hand to welcome guests from over 25 countries, was NYAFF Executive Director and Founder Mahen Bonetti. Her vision of sharing African cinema since 1993, continues to bring budding and accomplished filmmakers together annually, in the big apple.
Film Synopsis Folarin is an accomplished investment banker with a beautiful wife and a life most people can only dream of. When a high-profile government project his company was hired to manage goes awry, he starts to question everything he’s ever known to be true. After going missing, he discovers himself in a remote fishing village and starts to put together the missing pieces—but will he ever find his way back home?
PHOTOS
SHARE THIS STORY
Highlights of Anya Fụlụ Ugo 2015
An Interdisciplinary African Arts Conference in honour of El Anatsui and Obiora Udechukwu that took place at the Faculty of Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. The maiden edition was held in honour of Professors El Anatsui and Obiora Udechukwu.
By oyiza adaba - Africa-Related, Nigeria
Faculty of Arts Complex, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Photo: Africa-Related
anya fụlụ ugo jaa ya mma, na-adi afụ ugo kwa daa
- the eye that sees an eagle should adore it, for only rarely are eagles seen -
Video Courtesy of Africa-Related
Interdisciplinary African Arts Conference of the Faculty of Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria in honour of El Anatsui and Obiora Udechukwu
Theme: African Art and Artists after the Millennial Turn
Venue: Princess Alexandria Auditorium, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Date: 24-27 June 2015
This conference adopts an interdisciplinary approach to the discourse of the current state of art and artists in Africa and in the African Diaspora. It is our tribute to two important global artists associated with the Faculty of Arts at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, whose work over the past four decades demonstrates the multiple layers of critical, historical, and other narrative contexts that African art engenders today. Professors El Anatsui and Obiora Udechukwu are acclaimed for creating a respectable body of works that have grown to defy any marginal critical or historical narrative - a microcosm of the form and content of African art today.
The four-day even was attended by artists and educators from various countries including UK, Spain, The United States, Germany etc. The program was packed with activities such as breakout sessions, art exhibitions, guided tours etc.
The broad theme of the conference, “African Art and Artists after the Millennial Turn” proposes an interdisciplinary approach to the discourse of the current state of art and artists in Africa and in the African Diaspora. Under the banner “Anya Fulu Ugo”, this maiden edition was held in honour of Professors El Anatsui and Obiora Udechukwu.
share this story
Memory Lane: A visit to China Achebe at Bard College
African journalists and educators Okey Ndibe, Joyce Ashuntantang, Omoyele Sowore and Oyiza Adaba visit Prof Chinua Achebe at Bard College in 2008
Press Release
African journalists and educators Okey Ndibe, Joyce Ashuntantang, Omoyele Sowore and Oyiza Adaba visited Prof. Chinua Achebe at his home at Bard College in 2008.
Annandale-on Hudson February 2008
