(Press release)
Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX), a program of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), has announced the third edition of its short film competition, CANEX Shorts, designed to recognize and celebrate the talents of young filmmakers from Africa and the diaspora.
Filmmakers aged 18 to 35 can enter the competition and have the chance to win a prize of US$2,000 in each of the three competition categories: Best Fiction, Best Documentary, and Best Animation.
The competition is open to Africans living on the continent, in the diaspora, and in the Caribbean. Each filmmaker may submit only one film, to which they must hold all rights. Films submitted must have been produced in 2023 or later and may be in any language.
In addition to the cash prize, CANEX Shorts winners will also have the opportunity to participate and see their films screened at CANEX during IATF2025, which will be held in Algiers, Algeria, from September 4 to 10, 2025. Furthermore, they will have the opportunity to connect with potential investors and other partners at what has become the largest gathering of creators on the continent.
To enter the competition, filmmakers must submit their films, which must be no longer than five minutes, via the Film Freeway digital platform (https://filmfreeway.com/CANEXShorts). From all the entries, the selection committee will shortlist 30 films—10 films per category—which will be submitted to a jury of renowned film experts from across the continent. The jury will then select one winning film in each category at CANEX at IATF2025.
The winners of the CANEX shorts 2024:
- Silent Screams by Esenaga Mbwe (Botswana) in the CANEX Shorts Best Fiction category;
- We Shall Not Forget by Brian Obra (Kenya) in the CANEX Shorts Best Documentary category;
- and Room-5 by Francis Y. Brown (Ghana) in the CANEX Shorts Best Animation category.
- According to the jury, the quality of the films submitted to CANEX WKND 2024 was exceptionally high, necessitating the awarding of two special mentions: Vodoun Nouminssin and Rain Is Not the Cloud’s Last Parade.
CANEX at the IATF, where the 2025 winners will be announced, will provide a unique platform to facilitate business, investment opportunities, collaboration, partnerships, and inspiration among the creative fraternity throughout the value chain of various sectors of the creative and cultural industries, from film, music, and fashion to culinary arts, sports, and visual arts, among others. Participants at the event will include creators, policymakers, financial institutions, business and political leaders, development partners, opinion leaders, and the most powerful and respected names in the creative and cultural industries from across the continent and the diaspora.
Commenting on the importance of the competition, Ms. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President of Afreximbank in charge of Intra-African Trade and Export Development, said: "The African film industry, estimated at over US$5 billion, is thriving and brimming with untapped potential." She added: "At Afreximbank, we are committed to unlocking this immense value by supporting platforms such as CANEX Shorts that propel African storytelling onto the global stage. By investing in our creatives, we are not only creating jobs and economic opportunities; we are actively ensuring that Africa's vibrant culture and talent are recognized globally."
To enter the CANEX Shorts competition: https://filmfreeway.com/CANEXShorts