Kigali, Rwanda – 10^th October 2025 

Bonne soirée to everyone tuning in from your small screens! We know you were dying to be here with us at the 2025 All African Independent Film Festival; but hey, life happens. So, for all of you who couldn’t make it, but are itching to know what’s going on behind the scenes, we’ve got you covered with an exclusive, hush-hush rundown. Ready? Let’s dive right in – here’s how the first day of the festival unfolded!

Starting today and running through the 11th and 12th of October, the festival showcases 21 of the most mesmerizing African films competing in 8 different categories. But everyone knows that already. What you don’t know is how we kicked things off — straight in medias res — with a screenwriting workshop led by the man himself, festival president Scott Hillier.

The workshop featured some of last year’s best scripts as examples of good practice, offering a unique learning experience for all attendees — from this year’s competing directors and ambitious film students to already established filmmakers from across the country.

With our minds warmed up and creativity awakened, anticipation grew for the big moment: AAIFF Africa 2025’s Official Selection and Screening. But patience first, the evening began with the Opening Ceremony. After heartfelt introductions and inspiring words, the audience settled in for the first lineup of the festival:

• Lettre à ma fille, an experimental piece set on the beaches and streets of Benin. A mother’s message to her future daughter transforms into a powerful meditation on womanhood, strength, and self-worth.

• Love & Jollof, a dramatic short that serves up betrayal with a side of humor. A man confesses his affair to his wife… and gets served dinner. Let’s just say betrayal has never been plated quite like this. Hungry yet?

• Kieupe, a haunting drama set in a city marked by decades of war. From a hidden cave, the spirit of peace witnesses humanity’s sorrow. A story of hope, loss, and the fragile dream of unity.

• Nyiragitwa: Daughter of Sacyega, breaking the streak of live-action films, this animated historical tale follows a woman rewriting her world to match her own power and vision.

• V’s Secret, a provocative student short from Egypt, diving into the dark side of desire and obsession. The object of fixation? A small, red G-string.

• Thank You, God, a cinematic gift from Japan, where a taxi driver and his unsuspecting passenger share an encounter that feels anything but accidental.

• Déjà Nu, an experimental audiovisual poem exploring transience, embodiment, nature, euphoria, and loss, a symphony of multicultural emotion.

After the screenings, silence was nowhere to be found. The audience had questions, and the directors were eager to answer during a lively Q&A session.

The night continued as filmmakers, producers, actors, and writers mingled during a vibrant Networking Session, exchanging ideas and sowing the seeds for future collaborations. The day wrapped up in style with music, laughter, and drinks at our Day 1 After Party, held at the French Institute of Rwanda.

As we look forward to AAIFF Africa’s Day 2, we leave you with a heartfelt bonne nuit — and a promise that the best is yet to come.