The 2025 AAIFF Africa prize for Africa’s Best Independent Film was awarded to Kenya’s The Yellow Dress, directed by Caroline Odongo, while Nana Kofi Asihene, a Ghanaian director, took home the award for Africa’s Best Independent Film Director for Wrong Way.
By Vivian Nneka Nwajiaku
The second All African Independent Film Festival (AAIFF Africa) came to an end on 12th October, 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda, concluding with the AAIFF 2025 Awards Ceremony to honour outstanding African independent filmmaking talent.
The 2025 AAIFF Africa prize for Africa’s Best Independent Film was awarded to Kenya’s The Yellow Dress, directed by Caroline Odongo, while Nana Kofi Asihene, a Ghanaian director, took home the award for Africa’s Best Independent Film Director for Wrong Way.
This year’s edition featured a lineup of 21 independent films from 16 across Africa and the diaspora, with a jury chaired by critically-acclaimed Nigerian filmmaker, C.J. “Fiery” Obasi.
Below is the full list of AAIF Africa 2025 winners.
Africa’s Best Independent Film
- The Yellow Dress (Kenya)
Director: Caroline “Coach” Odongo
Africa’s Best Independent Film Director
- Wrong Way (Ghana)
Director: Nana Kofi Asihene
Africa’s Best Independent Dramatic Feature Film
- Sarah (Kenya)
Director: Nick Reding
Africa’s Best Independent Dramatic Short Film
- Love & Jollof (Ghana)
Director: Ramesh Jai Gulabrai
Africa’s Best Independent Documentary
- 10 Toes Down (Kanya)
Director: Ian Gituku
Africa’s Best Independent Animated Film
- Dawn (Cameroon)
Director: Gary Telly “JEANNOT”
Africa’s Best Independent Experimental Film
- Dèjà Nu (Côte d’Ivoire)
Director: Rolf Hellat
Africa’s Best Student Film
- V’s Secret (Egypt)
Director: Bassma Farah
Rwandan Students Special Award
- So Called Friend (Rwanda)
Director: Methode Muhire
Best Cinematography
- Aïcha (Morocco)
Director: Sanaa El Alaoui
Cinematographer: Oskar Jan Król
Best Editing
- Lettre à ma Fille (Benin/Germany)
Director: Michael Maurissens
Editor: Michael Maurissens
Best Independent Feature Script
- Date Night (Rwanda)
Director: Ghislain Iradukunda
Writer: Ghislain Iradukunda
Best Actor
Xavier Ywaya, The Yellow Dress (Kenya)
Best Actress
Hind Dafer, Aïcha (Morocco)
Special Jury Mention
- Kieupe (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Director: Mélanie K. Zawadi
- Nyiragitwa: Daughter of Sacyega (Rwanda)
Director: Fiston Mudacumura