5 Unmissable Highlights to Expect From This Year’s NBO Film Festival

NBO Film Festival returns for its sixth edition this October, turning venues across Nairobi into cinemas for bold African storytelling, community screenings, and industry conversations. 

This year, twenty-six films from 15 countries anchor a program built with audiences in mind. “Our hopes and dreams are very simple: good times and vibes,” artistic director Mbithi Masya tells OkayAfrica. “I just want people to really enjoy the films. I am looking forward to seeing the films on the big screen with everyone.” 

If you are plotting your to-do and watchlist, here are five must-see experiences at NBO Film Festival 2025.

Kenyan Stories Take Center Stage

The festival opens with How to Build a Library, a Sundance-approved documentary chronicling the restoration of Nairobi’s historic McMillan Library. Directed by Maia Lekow and Christopher King, the film sets the tone for a strong Kenyan presence throughout the program. You can watch OkayAfrica’s interview with the directors here. 

In addition to the opener, local standouts include Zippy Kimundu’s Widow Champion, which follows a woman who becomes a leader and mentor to other widows fighting to reclaim their land and dignity; Sayari by Omar Hamza, a comedy about a struggling bed-and-breakfast manager tasked with getting a runaway groom to the altar; It’s A Free Country by John “JJ” Jumbo, where a small-time street gang teams up with a mysterious young woman while evading a powerful political figure; and The People Shall by Nick Wambugu and Mark Maina, a cinematic homage to Kenya’s Gen Z-led protests and the spirit of collective resistance.

A Chance to Meet the Minds Behind the Films

One of the most rewarding parts of the NBO Film Festival is its intimacy. The filmmakers are not just names on a screen; they’re present in the room. Many of this year’s screenings will be followed by Q&A sessions with directors, offering audiences a chance to dive deeper into the creative process, cultural context, and real-life stories that shaped each film. Whether you’re a fellow filmmaker, an aspiring storyteller, or just a curious fan, this direct engagement with the people behind the work is a bonus.

Five Films Go Head-to-Head in the First-Ever Competition Section

This year marks the introduction of an In-Competition section, showcasing five standout titles from across the continent, selected for their artistic power and thematic boldness. Competing films include Baker Karim’s The Dog, Damien Hauser’s Memory of Princess Mumbi, Akinola Davies’ My Father’s Shadow, Erige Sehiri’s Promised Sky, and Zoey Martinson’s The Fisherman. A jury led by Rafiki director Wanuri Kahiu will decide the winner.

Shorts, Shorts and Shots: A Festival Favorite Returns

This beloved event returns with this year’s edition, blending short films with a social vibe. Attendees are invited to wear their best “shorts,” sip on curated “shots,” and experience a mix of experimental and narrative shorts ( films) in a hybrid beach-party-style setting.

A Cross-Continental Showcase of African Stories

The festival’s international slate offers a wide-ranging look at the stories and styles shaping African cinema today. Featured titles include Aisha Can’t Fly Away by Morad Mostafa (Tunisia/Egypt/ France), The Weekend by Daniel Oriahi (Nigeria), Mothers of Chibok by Joel Kachi Benson (Nigeria), Mother City by Miki Redelinghuys and Pearlie Joubert (South Africa), Memories of Love Returned by Nate Guam Mbaho Mwine (Ugandan), and Matabeleland by Nyasha Kadandara (Zimbabwe), who previously spoke to OkayAfrica about the film.

Bonus: A New Lens on Afro-Diasporic and Afro-Latin Cinema

This year introduces a thematic focus on Afro-Latin American and diaspora stories, drawing connections between African narratives and their echoes across the Atlantic. This selection is best showcased by films like Black Orpheus, set against the vibrant, doomed love unfolding during Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival, and Kuote Vwa, where a young boy in French Guiana begins to understand the tragedy that fractured his family. These stories bring the diaspora into dialogue with the continent, expanding the definition of what African cinema can be.

The Nairobi Film Festival runs from October 16 to 26, 2025, with screenings across Nairobi. For the full program, venues, and ticket info, visit nbofilmfest.com.