Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX), an initiative by the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank), has announced the third edition of CANEX Shorts—a short film competition aimed at spotlighting the best of African and Diaspora filmmaking talent.
Targeting young creatives, the competition offers a $2,000 prize in each of its three categories: Best Fiction, Best Documentary, and Best Animation. Besides the cash prize, CANEX Shorts winners will also get an opportunity to participate and have their films screened at CANEX at IATF2025, which will take place in Algiers, Algeria, from 4 – 10 September 2025.
Eligibility criteria:
- Applicants must be aged between 18 and 35.
- Must be African and residing in Africa, the diaspora, or the Caribbean.
- Each filmmaker may submit only one film.
- The filmmaker must hold all rights to the film submitted.
- Films must have been produced in 2023 or later.
- Films can be in any language.
- Submissions must not exceed five minutes in length
- Entries must be submitted via Film Freeway: https://FilmFreeway.com/CANEXShorts.
A selection committee will shortlist 30 films (10 per category) for final jury evaluation. Winners will be unveiled during CANEX at IATF2025, which will host a vibrant gathering of creatives, investors, policymakers, and cultural leaders from across the continent and the diaspora.
“Africa’s film industry, estimated at over $5 billion, is thriving and brimming with untapped potential,” adding, “At Afreximbank, we are committed to unlocking this immense value by supporting platforms like CANEX Shorts that aim to propel African storytelling to the global stage. By investing in our creatives, we are not only creating jobs and economic opportunities; we’re actively ensuring Africa’s vibrant culture and talents gain global recognition,” commented Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank.
2024 winners 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: Vodoun Nouminssin and Rain Is Not the Cloud’s Last Parade
CANEX at IATF2025, where the winners will be unveiled, will provide a unique platform for nurturing business, investment opportunities, collaboration, partnerships and inspiration amongst the creatives fraternity across value chains of diverse creative and cultural industries from film, music, and fashion to culinary arts, sports, and visual arts amongst others.
The event participants will include creatives, policymakers, financial institutions, business and political leaders, development partners, thought leaders, as well as some of the most respected names in the Creative and Cultural Industries from across the continent and the diaspora.
To enter the 2025 CANEX Shorts competition, please visit FilmFreeway: https://FilmFreeway.com/CANEXShorts.
