The Cannes Film Festival, which will take place from May 13 to 24, will showcase films from around the world. Below are the premiere dates for the African films at what is generally regarded as the biggest film festival in the world. We have separated them by section.
Un Certain Regard
Promised Sky
In the Un Certain Regard section, three African films will make their world premieres. Promised Sky by Tunisian director Erige Sehiri will kick off the African film premieres on May 14.
My Father’s Shadow
The Nigeria-UK co-production My Father’s Shadow by Akinola Davies Jnr will premiere on May 18.
Aisha Can’t Fly Away
Aisha Can’t Fly Away by Morad Mostafa, a co-production between Tunisia, Qatar, and Egypt, will premiere on May 20.
Directors’ Fortnight
The Directors’ Fortnight section will feature two African films.
Enzo
Enzo by Moroccan-French director Robin Campillo will premiere on May 14.
Indomptables
Indomptables by Cameroonian-French director Thomas Ngijol will premiere on May 20.
Pavillon Afriques
Osamede
Furthermore, Nigerian film Osamede by James Omokwe will premiere on May 17 at the Pavillon Afriques, which will take place during the 2025 Cannes Film Market.
In addition to the selected films, Africa has also been represented among the juries at the Cannes Film Festival. French-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani and Congolese director, documentarian, and producer Dieudo Hamadi have joined the festival’s jury.
Furthermore, Congolese-Belgian actor Marc Zinga has been selected as a jury member for the 2025 L’Œil d’Or, a documentary prize established by the Cannes Film Festival. The Cannes Film Festival jury’s primary task is to award the best competing films at the festival.
Other films also competing at the Cannes Film Festival include The Mastermind by Kelly Reichardt, Mission: Impossible by Christopher McQuarrie, Eleanor the Great by Scarlett Johansson, Once Upon A Time In Gaza by Arab and Tarzan Nasser, Urchin by Harris Dickinson, Partir Un Jour by Amélie Bonnin, The Richest Woman In The World by Thierry Klifa, and A Simple Accident by Jafar Panahi, amongst others.
Held in Cannes, France, the Cannes Film Festival previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around the world. Founded in 1946, the festival is held annually at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès.
