Open call: CANEX Shorts 2025 for young African filmmakers

18 Jun 2025 - 13:18

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

The Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX), an initiative of the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank), has announced the third edition of its short film competition, CANEX Shorts. The competition aims to spotlight and celebrate emerging African filmmaking talent, both on the continent and across the diaspora.

Each winning filmmaker will receive a cash prize of $2 000. In the photo: 2024 CANEX Shorts winners.

Who can apply?

Young filmmakers aged 18 to 35, based in Africa, the diaspora, or the Caribbean, are invited to submit a short film of no more than five minutes. Submissions are open in three categories:

Best Fiction
Best Documentary
Best Animation

Each winning filmmaker will receive a cash prize of $2 000, and have the chance to showcase their work at CANEX during the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025), set to take place in Algiers, Algeria, from 4 to 10 September 2025.

Eligibility criteria:

Films must have been produced in 2023 or later.
Submissions can be in any language.
Only one film per filmmaker is permitted.
Filmmakers must own full rights to the submitted work.

How to submit:

Entries must be submitted via FilmFreeway. A selection committee will shortlist 30 films — ten per category — to be judged by a panel of respected film experts from across Africa.

Deadline: Early application is encouraged. Finalists and winners will be announced and screened at CANEX @ IATF2025.

Why enter?

Beyond the cash award, winning filmmakers will gain:

International exposure for their work.
A screening opportunity at one of the largest gatherings of creatives on the continent.
Direct access to investors, producers, and creative industry leaders.

Previous winners:

At CANEX WKND 2024, standout films included:

Silent Screams by Esenaga Mbwe (Botswana) – Best Fiction
We Shall Not Forget by Brian Obra (Kenya) – Best Documentary
Room-5 by Francis Y. Brown (Ghana) – Best Animation

Special Mentions were awarded to Vodoun Nouminssin and Rain Is Not the Cloud’s Last Parade for exceptional quality.

“Africa’s film industry is valued at over $5 billion and bursting with potential,” executive vice President for Intra-African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank Kanayo Awani said. “CANEX Shorts is part of our mission to elevate African storytelling and bring our cultural narratives to a global stage.”

Register to attend CANEX at IATF2025 for free.

CANEX