Now in its fourth year, The Annual Film Mischief has adopted the theme “Reclaiming Self”, inviting filmmakers to showcase African stories that celebrate personal identity and authenticity…
By Vivian Nneka Nwajiaku
The Film Rats Club has officially opened the call for entries for the 2025 edition of The Annual Film Mischief (TAFM), its flagship film festival committed to spotlighting and empowering emerging independent filmmakers across Africa.
Now in its fourth year, The Annual Film Mischief has adopted the theme “Reclaiming Self”, inviting filmmakers to showcase African stories that celebrate personal identity and authenticity, reclaim lost histories, reflect the journey of rediscovery, healing and empowerment, and are rooted in resilience and self-expression.
The festival champions independent, innovative, and experimental films, regardless of budget or scale, and is open to all genres, formats, and styles, including shorts, feature-length films, documentaries, and animations. Eligible films are films that are relevant to the African experience and made by African and African diaspora filmmakers. Films with a production year prior to 2022 will not be accepted.
The officially selected films will screen at the festival scheduled for 9th to 31st of October, 2025, across Lagos and Abuja in Nigeria, as well as Accra in Ghana, and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
In previous editions, the festival has provided networking opportunities and a space for honest conversations with respect to the evolution of African cinema. This year’s edition is expected to continue in that standard, with additional activities around wellness and fitness, art showcases, and live performances.
Submissions for the 2025 edition are now open here. The regular deadline is 10th August, 2025, while the final deadline is 30th August, 2025.