Since its inception, the Africa Film Festival Cologne has developed into one of the most important platforms for African filmmaking in Europe. In 2025, the festival once a gain offered an impressive program featuring moving stories, political perspectives, and artistic diversity.
The Africa Film Festival Cologne was founded in 1992 by Christa Aretz and Karl Rössel, both members of the FilmInitiativ Köln e.V. association. Originally launched under the title “Out of Europe,” the festival aimed to provide African filmmakers with a forum that was (at that time) non-existent in German cinemas.
The festival has been running annually under its current name since 2016. It shows films from over 40 African countries and invites directors, actors, and producers to present their works in person.
The 22nd edition of the festival took place from 18th-28th September 2025, and presented over 60 films from Africa and the diaspora. Particular emphasis was placed on works that dealt with social upheaval, feminist perspectives, and postcolonial narratives.
The following films won awards during the festival 2025:
– Best Documentary: Mothers of Chibok by Joel ‘Kachi Benson
The Emmy Award winner portrays four mothers whose daughters were kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014. The film tells a story of courage, resistance, and the power of female solidarity.
– Diversity Film Award: The Art of Sin by Ibrahim Mursal
A moving documentary about queer artist Ahmed Umar, who lives in exile in Norway. The film was honoured for its courageous exploration of identity and religion.
– Audience Award: The Lady and the Chinese Shop by Ery Claver
A surreal urban fairy tale from Angola that addresses the manipulation of society through consumption and power structures.
AfricaNewsAnalysis reporter, Niels Bartels, interviewed model and actress Nsansi-Masika Kiangebeni on location. Among other things, she starred in the student project “Paperlove.”
AfricaNewsAnalysis: Which movies did impress you most?
Nsansi-Masika: Oh, that’s a tough question. I think there were several movies which were quite impressive. One of my favourite movies was “Katanga – The Dance of the Scorpions”. It was very good. I also really liked the “Fanon film” by director Jean-Claude Barny. The camera work was truly impressive, and the images had a very strong aesthetic impact. The actor who played Fanon (Alexandre Bouyer) was also great and brought his thoughts to life. All of the actors were very good and impressed me. I found it particularly exciting how the film shows the creation of his work. Even though I was familiar with much of it, it was fascinating to see it from this perspective.
AfricaNewsAnalysis: How important is such an event (like the Africa Film Festival in Cologne) in your opinion?
Nsansi-Masika: I think it’s very important because we need to show more diversity. And events like this are for everyone. It’s not for us (people of colour), it’s for everyone to see. I think the slogan even says, “Decolonize the screen, decolonize the mind”. I think it’s very important to mention that because we have a “Eurocentric view of things”. I think it’s like a movement against that.
AfricaNewsAnalysis: What qualities (skills) stood out in this year’s movies?
Nsansi-Masika: I really heard a lot (when the guests were talking) that it often happened that actors appeared in a film for the first time which means they have never been on a screen before. Sometimes they even added some phrases that weren’t included in the script. It’s very impressive that they are so creative and that they can do better every time.
AfricaNewsAnalysis: Which topics have been the most important during the film festival?
Nsansi-Masika: I think mental health and physical problems. Especially mental health is not that often a topic for people of colour. It’s very important to mention that again: If you need help, if you deal with mental issues, you can find help somewhere else. Other movies often spoke about war and traumas (and something like that). It’s something that impacts the person. If people are dealing with some issues, it’s very important to get help.
AfricaNewsAnalysis: Thank you for the interview.