The 32nd annual African Diaspora International Film Festival returns to New York City with 62 films from 32 countries, including 31 premieres and 5 gala screenings!

Opening Night – Death of a Whistleblower

This political thriller from South Africa, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, will have its New York Premiere on November 29 at Teachers College, Columbia University. The film follows investigative journalist Luyanda Masinda, who risks her life to uncover the truth behind her friend and fellow reporter’s murder amidst a wave of government corruption. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker and a catered reception.

Closing Night – Selling a Colonial War

This documentary explores how the Dutch government reframed its military aggression in Indonesia as a “domestic affair” to avoid accountability for war crimes. Filmmaker In-Soo Radstake examines the revision of colonial history in the Netherlands through rare archival footage and expert interviews. The screening will be followed by a Q&A and a catered reception.

More Highlights

Caribbean Leaders

• Barrow, Freedom Fighter (Dec 3): A docudrama exploring Errol Barrow’s fight against colonialism in Barbados and his vision of economic self-reliance.

• Frantz Fanon: His Life, His Work, His Struggle (Dec 3): A documentary on the revolutionary psychiatrist and anti-colonial activist Frantz Fanon, who dedicated his life to liberation struggles in Algeria and beyond.

• Walter Rodney: What They Don’t Want You To Know (Dec 3): A documentary uncovering the life and legacy of Walter Rodney, a historian and activist whose murder and activism resonate with current movements against imperialism and surveillance.

Parisian Tales at Thalia

On December 7 at Symphony Space, Thalia, watch three films followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Rokhaya Diallo:

• Paris Noir: African Americans in the City of Lights: A documentary highlighting the achievements of African Americans who thrived in Paris from the 1920s to the 1950s.

• Night of Destiny: A drama about an Algerian Muslim in France who, after witnessing a murder, finds himself entangled in cultural and religious challenges.

• The Parisienne Uncovered: Diallo explores and challenges the stereotypical image of the Parisian woman by showcasing the diversity of modern Paris.

An Evening with Billy Woodberry

On December 13, join legendary filmmaker Billy Woodberry for screenings of his restored classic Bless Their Little Hearts, about a struggling family in Watts, Los Angeles, and his latest film Mario, which examines the life of Angolan revolutionary Mário Pinto de Andrade.

South Africa: 1994 – 2024, a Conversation

On December 13, experience the US Premiere of Legacy: A Decolonized History of South Africa, followed by Nothing but the Truth and Death of a Whistleblower. A panel discussion will follow with directors Tara Moore (Legacy) and Naledi Bogacwi (Banned).