NBO FILM FESTIVAL 2025 OPENS IN NAIROBI — SHOWCASING THE BEST OF AFRICAN CINEMA AND GLOBAL STORYTELLING

he 6th edition of the NBO Film Festival officially opened on 16 October 2025 at Prestige Cinema, Ngong Road, bringing together filmmakers, cultural enthusiasts, special guests and media at the lively Opening Night. The event marked the beginning of ten days of inspiring screenings, thought-provoking conversations and creative exchanges celebrating the very best of African and global cinema. The ongoing festival, running until Sunday, 26 October 2025, across three venues: Prestige Cinema Ngon’g Road, Kaloleni Social Hall in Eastlands and Unseen Nairobi in Kilimani, continues to spotlight the strength and diversity of African storytelling. This year’s edition features over 26 films from more than 15 countries, including world premieres, African debuts and celebrated international titles that showcase the richness and creativity of cinema from the continent and beyond. TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON MOOKH Link to purchase tickets to prestige cinemas & unseen nairobi screenings. Kaloleni Screenings Free The Opening Night Gala featured the Kenyan documentary ‘How To Build A Library’, directed and produced by Maia Lekow and Christopher King (The Letter). The film, which premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, follows the founders of Book Bunk, Shiro Koinange and Angela Wacuka, as they transform Nairobi’s historic McMillan Memorial Library from neglect into a vibrant community space. The documentary set a powerful tone for the festival, inviting audiences to reflect on heritage, hope and imagination as tools for transformation. Speaking during the opening, Mbithi Masya, Artistic Director of NBO Film Festival, said: “Our goal this year is to remind audiences that African cinema is not defined by geography but by imagination. Each story—whether from Nairobi to Lagos or Harare—represents a piece of a much larger conversation about who we are becoming.” In a special highlight of the opening night, celebrated Kenyan filmmaker, writer and poet Wanjiru Kinyanjui was honoured with The NBO Film Festival Vanguard Award. This annual recognition celebrates trailblazers who have elevated film production standards and accelerated industry growth through exceptional contributions to the African film and television landscape. Kinyanjui, whose body of work spans decades of storytelling, leadership and innovation, continues to inspire a new generation of filmmakers across the continent. Among the major titles that have already premiered at the festival are ‘How To Build A Library’, ‘The Shadow Scholars’ directed by Eloise King, and ‘Matabeleland’ directed by Nyasha Kadandara. Audiences can also look forward to standout films such as ‘Memories of Love Returned’ by Ugandan-American actor and director Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, ‘My Father’s Shadow’ by Akinola Davies—the first Nigerian film ever selected for the Cannes Film Festival, and ‘The People Shall’ by Nick Wambugu and Mark Maina, a powerful documentary capturing Kenya’s Gen Z uprising against power. A festival favourite, Shorts, Shorts + Shots, returned this year at DocuBox at Shalom House. This unique beach-party-style screening experience (Sunday 19 Oct 2025) had guests wear their favourite shorts, enjoy curated short films and connect over drinks in a relaxed, community-driven setting. The 2025 programme also includes a special focus on Afro-Latin American cinema, exploring cultural and historical intersections between Africa and its diaspora, while also introducing a new In-Competition Section, featuring five exceptional films: ‘The Dog’ (Baker Karim), ‘Memory of Princess Mumbi’ (Damien Hauser), ‘My Father’s Shadow’ (Akinola Davies), ‘Promised Sky’ (Erige Sehiri) and ‘The Fisherman’ (Zoey Martinson). Since its founding in 2017, the NBO Film Festival has grown into a cultural cornerstone in East Africa, amplifying African voices, connecting local filmmakers with global audiences and celebrating cinema as a force for change. With its expanded venues, strong lineup and innovative programming, the 2025 edition reaffirms its position as the region’s leading platform for storytelling and artistic exchange.