New African Film Festival

March 14–27

Now in its 21st year, the New African Film Festival (NAFF), presented by AFI and Africa World Now Project, brings the vibrancy of African filmmaking from all corners of the continent and across the diaspora to the Washington, DC, area.

Special thanks to NAFF co-founders Mwiza Munthali and Judith Mbuya and media sponsor WPFW.

Featuring 29 films from 19 countries, this year’s festival opens with NO CHAINS NO MASTERS, an epic historical drama that follows an enslaved father and daughter as they race to freedom in 18th century Mauritius. The festival closes with WHERE THE WIND COMES FROM, a rollicking road trip filled with surreal flourishes and warm humor from first-time feature filmmaker Amel Guellaty, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival.

$13 General Admission Tickets

NAFF All-Access Passes are on sale now!
The $150 NAFF All-Access Pass grants you admission for one to every film in the 2025 New African Film Festival, including Opening Night, at a significant savings. Passes are available for in-person purchase only.

See the discounts available to Silver Cinema Club members.

Key:
$5 Tickets $5 Tickets
3D Movie 3D Movie
70mm Film 70mm Film
Book Signing Book Signing
Door Prizes Door Prizes
Double Feature Double Feature
Dubbed Dubbed
FREE Screening FREE Screening
Guest Intro Guest Intro
Guest Q&A Guest Q&A
Live Musical Accompaniment Live Musical Accompaniment
Montgomery College at AFI Silver: $8 Student Tix Montgomery College at AFI Silver: $8 Student Tix
Open Captioned Screening Open Captioned Screening
Opening Night Opening Night
Reception Reception
Subtitled Subtitled

Showtimes

AFI

Introduction by executive producer Jago Agegnehu on March 15

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

BANNED

Sunday, March 16, 2025

Co-presented by the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital

CARISSA

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Saturday, March 22, 2025

DISCO AFRIKA: A MALAGASY STORY

Sunday, March 16, 2025

FREEDOM WAY

Sunday, March 16, 2025

HANAMI

Sunday, March 23, 2025

HOW TO BUILD A LIBRARY

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Sunday, March 16, 2025

MADE IN ETHIOPIA

Sunday, March 16, 2025

MEMORIES OF LOVE RETURNED

Sunday, March 23, 2025

NAWI

Sunday, March 23, 2025

Sunday, March 23, 2025

Co-presented by the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital

SEARCHING FOR AMANI

Monday, March 24, 2025

SUDAN, REMEMBER US

Saturday, March 22, 2025

THE BATTLE FOR LAIKIPIA

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

THE BRINK OF DREAMS

Friday, March 21, 2025

THE LEGEND OF THE VAGABOND QUEEN OF LAGOS

Friday, March 21, 2025

THE NIGHTS STILL SMELL OF GUNPOWDER

Friday, March 21, 2025

THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE

Saturday, March 22, 2025

THE WEEKEND

Saturday, March 15, 2025

Saturday, March 22, 2025