As we approach the close of the first quarter of 2025, this report captures the distribution outcomes of films telling African stories / African films that premiered at *major* international film festivals of the season: Sundance, IFFR, and Berlinale.
Why these festivals? Their global reach and prestige make them key hubs for industry professionals and distribution deals—especially Sundance and Berlinale. While IFFR may have a smaller commercial impact, it still holds global influence, securing world premieres of top-tier films and serving as a notable platform for diverse artistic works entering the international market.
Notably, FESPACO is absent from this coverage, as its 2025 lineup predominantly featured films from 2023 and 2024—which have already been tracked—as a result of its biennial cycle.
That said, I will take a closer look at the festival separately as I did with my previous coverage of it. With Sundance, IFFR, and Berlinale officially behind us, we shift focus to the sales and distribution deals secured, as a snapshot of the current market for independent and international African cinema.
Additionally, my “View From 30,000 ft” analysis is included in the newsletter which is brought to you by African Screen Intelligence (ASI), the most comprehensive market intelligence tool tracking Africa’s presence in global film, television, and digital media markets.
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