The New York African Film Festival is gearing up for its 33rd edition, a month-long celebration of African and diasporic cinema, starting May 1 in the heart of New York City.
The festival will launch with a Town Hall event at The Africa Centre, followed by the Opening Night at Film at Lincoln Centre on May 6. This year, the festival will kick off with the New York premiere of “Promised Sky,” the latest feature from French-Tunisian director Erige Sehiri.
Starring Aïssa Maïga, Deborah Christelle Lobe Naney, and Laetitia Ky, the film tells the poignant story of an Ivorian pastor in Tunisia who establishes a makeshift home for young women displaced by circumstances, offering a profound exploration of migration and chosen family.
“Promised Sky” has already garnered significant international recognition, having debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025 in the Un Certain Regard section. Both Maïga and Ky are anticipated to be present at the screening on Opening Night.
Presented by African Film Festival Inc. in collaboration with Film at Lincoln Centre, this year’s festival promises over 14 feature films and 25 shorts at Lincoln Centre, totalling more than 100 films across its entire duration.
After the initial week, the festival will continue at the Maysles Documentary Centre from May 15-17 and at the Brooklyn Academy of Music under the “FilmAfrica” banner from May 22-28, coinciding with DanceAfrica. The festival will draw to a close with an outdoor screening at St. Nicholas Park on May 30.
In addition to film screenings, NYAFF will feature an array of filmmakers, actors, and cultural figures, including Zainab Jah and Xoliswa Sithole, as well as emerging directors from across the continent and the diaspora.
Now in its 33rd year, the New York African Film Festival continues to serve as a critical platform for global Black storytelling, highlighting diverse narratives and connecting audiences with filmmakers who are shaping the future of cinema.
