100 films will be screened at the Mashariki African Film Festival (MAFF) 2025, the 11th edition of the festival that will bring together diverse people from the film industry from different parts of the world.
The festival will be held in Kigali from 22 to 29 November 2025. It will be held at Century Cinema – Kigali, and will have the theme “Creative Horizons”, where participants will be encouraged to broaden their artistic horizons, to see beyond the ordinary.
Among the works that will be screened, there are 60 international films and 39 Rwandan films in the category known as “Iz’iwacu”.
In the international film section, 13 feature films, 26 short films, 10 feature films, 10 television series, and one special category will be screened. In the Iz’iwacu section, 12 feature films, seven TV series, 18 online films and two short films will be screened.
In addition to screenings, the festival will also feature workshops, masterclasses and networking events to promote collaboration and development in the film industry.
Another highly anticipated event is the “International Content Market”, which will take place from 23 to 25 November, where film professionals will meet to discuss projects, find partners and those who already support or distribute works in international markets.
The festival will conclude with the Mashariki Awards ceremony, which will recognize the achievements of African cinema in various categories including Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director of Photography (DOP), Best Sound Technician and Best Scriptwriter.
Among the most anticipated events is the “People’s Choice Award”, where film lovers will vote for their favorite talent. The winners of this award will receive a car as a reward for the strong relationship between filmmakers and fans, as well as recognition for young artists who are changing the face of African cinema. Two cars will be awarded in the male and female categories with the highest votes.
