By Nura Bala Ajingi.
The city of Kano will host the 8th edition of the Kano Indigenous Languages of Africa Film Market and Festival (KILAF) from November 6 to 8, 2025, celebrating African storytelling and multilingual cinema.
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Speaking at a press briefing held at the NUJ Secretariat Press Centre, Festival Founder and CEO, Malam Abdulkareem Muhammad, announced this year’s theme:
“Crossing Storytelling Boundaries: Strategies for Multilingual Success in African Filmmaking.”
Muhammad, who also heads Moving Image Limited, emphasized the festival’s ongoing partnership with Bayero University Kano’s Faculty of Communication, which hosts an annual academic conference.
He also launched the latest publication featuring selected scholarly papers from past editions.
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Malam Abdulkareem disclosed that KILAF 2025 received 616 film submissions from 77 countries, out of which 85 films from 30 countries made the final selection. Leading contributors include Egypt (17 films), Nigeria (14), Morocco (8), and Tunisia (4).
A total of 87 films have been nominated across 18 award categories, including co-productions with the UK, USA, Israel, and Italy, winners will be selected by a 7-Member international jury and will be announced at the festival’s closing ceremony on November 8.
He also revealed that KILAF will host the 2nd Entrepreneurship Summit for Women in Media Business on November 8, targeting 100 women entrepreneurs, the event, scheduled to hold at the Dangote Business School, BUK, will feature stakeholders from NAWOJ, NCWS, and other women-focused media groups.
New to this year’s program is the KILAF-SUG Carnival, a cultural showcase scheduled for the same day at the Adamu Muazu Mini-Stadium, BUK, the carnival will feature fashion shows, durbars, music, parades, and traditional performances, highlighting Africa’s rich cultural heritage.
On his part, Festival Director Muhammad Galadima said KILAF 2025 is expected to draw participants from over 12 countries, further strengthening its role as a key platform for indigenous African filmmaking.
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KILAF has grown into a truly pan-African platform,” Muhammad said.
“We look forward to welcoming filmmakers, scholars, and culture lovers to Kano this November.”
