[Sydney] Africa Film Fest Australia 2025 coming to Sydney Opera House and Riverside Theatres

A bold, joyful and thought-provoking celebration of African cinema returns to Sydney from 4 to7 September 2025 at iconic venues including the Sydney Opera House and Riverside Theatres.

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Arts & Cultural Exchange (ACE) and a dedicated team of African Australian curators, today announces the full program for the 2025 Africa Film Fest Australia (AFFA), an expansive showcase of contemporary African cinema, culture and creativity.

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Spanning Australian premiere screenings, industry talks, animation showcases and youth workshops, the Festival brings together visionary artists from across the continent and its diaspora. Events will take place at the Sydney Opera House, Riverside Theatres Parramatta, UTS and ACE Parramatta, with support from Screen NSW, City of Parramatta, Weir Anderson Foundation, Ubuntu Project, UTS, AFTRS, and the African Youth Initiative Sydney.

“This year’s program is a celebration of creativity and resilience across the continent and its diaspora,” said Festival Co-Director Safia Amadou. “We’re thrilled to share a bold and wide-ranging selection of films that honour the joy, complexity and cultural power of African storytelling. These are stories that stay with you - urgent, emotional, imaginative, and always grounded in lived experience.”

The Festival opens at the Sydney Opera House with the Australian premiere of I Do Not Come to You by Chance, by Ishaya Bako, a gripping Nigerian comedy-drama based on Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani’s acclaimed novel. The film follows Kingsley, a university graduate pulled into the orbit of his uncle’s email scamming empire, a morally complex world where opportunity and exploitation go hand-in-hand. The screening will be preceded by a reception at The Rawson.

Also at the Sydney Opera House is the Australian Premiere of the feature Fanon directed by Jean-Claude Barny, which explores the radical political awakening of renowned post-colonial Martinican-born philosopher and psychiatrist Frantz Fanon in 1950s Algeria.

The program of narrative features continues at Riverside Theatres Parramatta with Samia, by Yasemin Şamdereli, an Australian premiere and winner of the grand prize for best feature film and best actress at the13th Dakhla International Film Festival, Morocco, for this stirring biopic based on the true story of Somali Olympic runner Samia Yusuf Omar; Multi award winning film Nawi: Dear Future Me, Australian premiere, winner of best International feature and best performance at Raindance Film Festival, co-directed by Toby Schmutzler, Kevin Schmutzler, Apuu Mourine, and Vallentine Chelluget. A Kenyan-German film which tackles child marriage and the fight for education in rural Turkana; and The Heart is a Muscle, directed by Imran Hamdulay, won the Panorama Independent Jury award at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, 2025. A film from South Africa in which a father’s violent past resurfaces after a harrowing case of mistaken retribution.

The festival’s documentary program includes Sudan, Remember Us, directed by  French-Tunisian filmmaker Hind Meddeb, and won several awards including the Tim Hetherington Award at Sheffield DocFes.This Australian premiere is a poetic and urgent chorus of Sudanese youth activists whose words and creativity fuel the 2019 revolution; and Nteregu, by Manuel Loureiro and Roger Mo, the Australian premiere lyrical documentary that traces Guinea-Bissau’s rich musical lineage, from ancestral drum traditions to diaspora soundscapes, with women firmly at its centre.

The festival will close with the whimsical Ghanaian comedy The Fisherman, an Australian premiere in which a retired coastal fisherman finds an unlikely companion in a talking fish. Written and Directed by Zoey Martinson, the film made history at the 81st Venice International Film Festival in 2024. It was Ghana’s first official selection at the festival and received the prestigious Fellini Medal.

 Other Screening programs

“AFFA’s short film program has become one of the most anticipated highlights of the festival,” said Festival Co-Director Mumbi Hinga. “Last year’s screening sold out quickly, reflecting the audience’s hunger for fresh, diverse voices in African cinema. This year, we’re thrilled to present a dynamic selection of short films by emerging filmmakers.”

Ngano Shorts: Short Film Program: From experimental forms to intimate narratives, Ngano Shorts offers a window into the diverse lived experiences and imaginations of African and Afro-diasporic communities. Screening at Riverside Theatres.

Animation Program: Stories from the Motherland: Animation takes centre stage at Riverside Theatres, with Stories from the Motherland, a vibrant screening of short animation films celebrating the artistry and imagination of African animators. Spanning folktales, futuristic worlds and deeply personal stories, this family-friendly session showcases a new wave of talent redefining what African animation can look and feel like. The Screening will follow A Q&A with the Nigerian animation director, Somto Ajuluchukwu.

Special Events:

Pre-screening reception at the Rawson, The Rocks: “Opening night, Afrobeats Edition”. Kick off the festival in style with high energy in celebration of African Sound and Style. With DJ GNGR spinning the best of Afrobeats, Highlife, and street anthems, bringing the spirit of Lagos to Sydney. Come dressed to express, bold prints, sleek fits, and festival energy encouraged!

Workshop: The festival also presents Creating New Worlds: Building Worlds, Characters and Stories, a two-day comics and visual storytelling workshop for African Australians aged 16–25. Hosted by the University of Technology Sydney, the workshop is led by Nigerian animation director Somto Ajuluchukwu and Sydney-based illustrator Steph Martei. Participants will explore the principles of world-building, character development and African futurism, while learning how to craft powerful and authentic visual narratives. Expressions of interest close 31 July.

Screen Industry Forum: On Friday 5 September, ACE Parramatta will host the 2025 Screen Industry Forum in partnership with AFTRS and the support of Black Music Alliance. The forum will facilitate conversations with emerging and established talent working across film, TV, animation and digital platforms, exploring the challenges and opportunities facing African Australian storytellers in the industry today.

“Closing Night Party: Chale, Let’s Go!!” is our final celebration, the African way: a joyful invitation to dance, connect, and celebrate African creativity in full colour. Let’s close the festival the way we started: together, vibrant, and loud with joy and music.

AFFA 2025 runs from 4 September to 7 September at venues across Sydney. Tickets and program information are available at africafilmfest.au.

TICKETS:

Sydney Opera House
Pre-screening reception- $30
Films GA $30
Concession $26
2 Film Package GA $50
2 Film Package Concession $42

Riverside Theatres
GA: $22
Concession: $20
Group 4+: $18
Child 14 & U: $18
GA: $20
Member concession: $18
Member child 14 &u:  $16
Closing Night Party $20

Industry Forum at ACE Parramatta
$10