16th annual SVAFF Program Booklet

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Table of contents

03 05 10 13 19 27 35

From Our Festival Director

SVAFF Honored Guest

Featured Filmmaker

Animation

Documentary Short

Narrative Short

04 06 11 17 23 34

Tribute to Suleyman Cissé

Ubuntu Awards

Opening Night Film

Documentary Feature

Narrative Feature

Team SVAFF

Sponsors & Partners

AFRICAN MARKET

OCT 10–12 | 10AM | FRONT LAWN

FASHION SHOW

SAT. OCT 11 | 4:00 PM Featured Fashion Designer: Marie Kaba, Prisca’s Art, Mali

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Table of contents

From Our Festival Director It is with great joy that I welcome you to the 16th Annual Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) as we gather once again to experience the vibrant storytelling, culture, and artistry that define African and diaspora cinema. We dedicate this year’s festival to the life and legacy of one of the father’s of African filmmaking, SVAFF 2024 Cultural Icon Award recipient, the legendary, Pa Souleymane Cissé (1940-1925). Souleymane Cissé honored us with his electrifying presence in October 2024 and touched our hearts with his humility, grace and generosity.

SVAFF 2025 is set to be an unforgettable celebration of creativity, dialogue, and community with a brilliant line-up of 92 films from 32 countries, all sharing the true stories, hopes and dreams of Africa and its diaspora. From gripping dramas to heartwarming documentaries by seasoned and emerging filmmakers, our film festival is a testament to the incredible talent that resides within the African continent and its diaspora.

Our Opening Night feature film, The Fisherman, directed by the talented Zoey Martinson, is Ghana’s entry in the festival and will make its regional premiere at SVAFF with film director, Zoe Martinson, in attendance for a post-screening talkback. The delightful feature film will follow our spirited Opening Night traditions of libation ceremony and live performances - a stirring start to a weekend of bold films and meaningful connections.

I am especially excited about our Centerpiece Film Screening and Community Town-Hall on Saturday, October 11 at 2PM, featuring Beyond the Headlines: The NABJ Journey. The film chronicles the 50-year journey of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and shines the light on the struggle for representation in America’s newsrooms. This screening will be followed by a community town hall exploring themes of resilience, representation, and cultural legacy.

Another highlight is our Fashion Show on the Front Lawn, a showcase of African creativity in design, music, and performance. Our Closing ceremony and Awards Night will be held on Sunday, October 12 at 6PM at the Hammer Theater. In addition to the red carpet, live entertainment, flag parade and film awards, will be the presentation of Ubuntu Awards to some distinguished servant leaders in our community - a fitting finale to three days of extraordinary cinema and cultural exchange.

My heartfelt thanks go to our sponsors, partners, volunteers, and staff who make this celebration possible. Special thanks to our filmmakers for sharing the gift of their stories with us. Together, we shine a light on African and diaspora stories and ensure their resonance here in Silicon Valley and beyond.

Warm regards, Chike C. Nwoffiah Founding Director, Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) From Our Festival Director

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Tribute to Souleymane Cissé (1940 – 2025) Souleymane Cissé, legendary Malian filmmaker, visionary artist, and recipient of the 2024 Silicon Valley African Film Festival Cultural Icon Award. His passing marks the end of an era, but his films and spirit will live on forever.

Cissé has long been celebrated as one of Africa’s greatest filmmakers, with critics often calling him “Africa’s greatest living filmmaker.” His masterpiece Yeelen is widely regarded as “conceivably the greatest African film ever made” — a cinematic achievement that continues to inspire generations. His work redefined African cinema, bringing African stories to the world with depth, dignity, and an uncompromisingly authentic lens.

When we welcomed him to SVAFF in 2024, he touched us all with his brilliance, humility, grace, generosity, and warm presence. His laughter, wisdom, and gentle spirit left an indelible mark on our festival community and on everyone who had the privilege of meeting him.

Dear Souleymane Cissé, Thank you for telling African stories through the African lens — on our own terms, with truth and vision — and for sharing them with the entire world. Thank you for reminding us that cinema is not just entertainment, but a mirror of our culture, history, and humanity.

You inspired us, guided us, and blessed us with your artistry. As you take your eternal rest, know that we will honor you by carrying your spirit forward and ensuring your work lives on. We remain forever grateful.

May God grant your beautiful soul eternal rest.

FADE OUT. 4

Tribute to Souleymane Cissé (1940 – 2025)

SVAFF Honored Guest

Hon. Dr. Litha Musyimi-Ogana

African Union Commissioner on Human and Peoples’ Rights

Honorable Commissioner Litha Musyimi-Ogana was elected and appointed as a member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights by the Executive Council of the African Union at its 41st Ordinary Session in July 2022, and sworn into office on 21 October 2022. She is the Chairperson of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities and Minorities in Africa and Chairperson of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of People Living with HIV and those at Risk, Vulnerable to and Affected by HIV in Africa.

In her capacity as the Chairperson of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities and Minorities in Africa and Chairperson of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of People Living with HIV and those at Risk, Vulnerable to and Affected

by HIV in Africa, she is leading a study on the nexus between COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS and its impact on indigenous peoples. She is also championing the creation of an App for the protection of people living with HIV/AIDS. Honorable Musyimi-Ogana is a seasoned African diplomat with over three decades of experience at senior executive level. She has made tremendous contribution in the transformation of a number of organs of the African Union such as the Women, Gender and Development Directorate of the African Union Commission, the African Peer Review Mechanism, the African Union Development Agency - NEPAD and the Pan African Parliament. Her work in women’s rights advocacy, in particular, has seen great strides being made in placing issues of concern to women at the forefront of the discourse on governance and development on the continent.

The recipient of numerous awards, including a 2013 Presidential Award of “Women Achievers” from President Joyce Banda of Malawi and the African Women of Excellence Award in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2020, Honorable Musyimi-Ogana was nominated, among 1,000 Peace Women globally, for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2005.

Honorable Litha Musyimi-Ogana holds a PhD in Economic Governance and Development Aid.

SVAFF Honored Guest

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UBUNTU AWARDS Thank you for uplifting the lives of African and African ancestry people in our region!

Pastor Paul Bains is a community leader, acclaimed speaker, and the co-founder of WeHOPE and United Hope Builders. He has been working with his community for over two decades to make it a better place for marginalized individuals and families. Since 1999, he has been leading the congregation of Saint Samuel Church in East Palo Alto. He has served on the board or advisory board of many Bay Area nonprofit organizations, including LISC Housing Development Corp., Eden Housing Development, Second Harvest Food Bank of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto Community Foundation, City Team, Able Works, and is a former board member of LifeMoves. Apart from his work, Pastor Paul Bains enjoys Golden State Warriors games, reading, family-friendly activities, and traveling with his wife, Cheryl, and spending time with their three adult children and two grandchildren.

Pastor Paul Bains

President & Co-founder, WeHope | Chairman, United Hope Builders | Pastor, Saint Samuel COGIC

disproportionately impacting African Ancestry communities.

Beginning his career in high-tech, building and leading high-performance teams before founding Unity Care Group, Inc. in 1993. Over nearly three decades as CEO, he grew Unity Care from a startup into a $20M enterprise, serving more than 65,000 youth and families across nine Northern California counties with housing, education, employment, and mental health services.

André V. Chapman President & CEO Fostering Promise

André V. Chapman is a purpose-driven founder, CEO, and board advisor with more than 30 years of leadership across private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Recognized as a social innovator, he has built sustainable enterprises that address society’s most complex challenges, particularly those

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UBUNTU AWARDS

Beyond Unity Care, André has launched transformative coalitions, including the Silicon Valley Black Leadership Kitchen Cabinet, a network uniting community, corporate and government partners to tackle systemic inequities, and Covid19Black, a statewide health initiative that mobilized 1,000+ partners — including the NFL and California’s Surgeon General — to reduce health disparities in African Ancestry communities.

Today, André leads his most audacious endeavor as Founder and CEO of Fostering Promise Advocates-4-Change, working at the intersection of housing, child welfare and technology to ensure that Not Even One young person ages out of foster care into homelessness.

Since 2022, his leadership has been honored with the Community Service Award (Housing Industry Foundation), the Champion for Youth Award (E.O.Y.D.C.), the Patricia Gardner Changemaker Award (SVCN), the Greg Ranstrom Network Leadership Award (ALF-SV), and recognition as one of the 15 Most Influential Black Leaders of Silicon Valley by Spotlight Media. He is also the author of Roses in Concrete: Giving Foster Children the Future They Deserve, a husband, and a proud father of six.

unincorporated community of North Fair Oaks.

Inspired by her daughter, Supervisor Gauthier began her journey into public service in 2012 when she was elected to the East Palo Alto City Council. She has held the positions of Vice Mayor in 2014, 2018, and 2022, and Mayor in 2015, 2019, and 2023. During her tenure, she led the city through significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and major storms.

Her leadership during these crises is among her proudest achievements.

Supervisor Lisa Gauthier San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, District 4

Supervisor Lisa Gauthier was elected to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors in November 2024. She represents District 4, which includes the cities of Redwood City, East Palo Alto, the areas within Menlo Park east of El Camino Real and including the Belle Haven neighborhood, and the

In addition to her roles in city government, Supervisor Gauthier served as the Senior Vice President of Inclusion & Belonging at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. In this capacity, she led policy areas including Workforce/Education, Racial Justice & Equity, and Healthcare.

Mateo County Office of Emergency Services, San Mateo County’s One Shoreline Agency and a regional area director for BWOPA (Black Women Organized for Political Action) to name a few.

Her contributions have been recognized through several awards including being named one of Silicon Valley’s 100 Women of Influence by the Silicon Valley Business Journal in 2020, and receiving the Woman of the Year Award from Assemblymember Marc Berman in 2022. Supervisor Gauthier is committed to addressing the key challenges facing San Mateo County through a focus on safety, equity, opportunity, and collaboration.

Supervisor Gauthier’s dedication extends to various boards and organizations. She is an active board member of the City/County Association of Governments (CCAG), San

Pastors Sean and Lorianna Gardere serve as co-pastors of Bible Way Christian Center in San Jose, CA. College sweethearts from San Jose State University, they share a passion for faith, service, and community, building on the legacy of Lorianna’s parents, Bishop Oscar and Pastor Janice Dace.

Together, they lead with authenticity and compassion, focusing on mentorship, outreach to the unhoused, reentry support, and youth and family programs. Beyond the church, they are active in social justice efforts, serving on Black leadership committees and partnering with community and civic leaders to drive positive change.

As devoted parents of four, they model faith, love, and service, carrying forward a legacy of leadership and compassion for future generations.

Pastors Sean & Lorianna Gardere Pastors, Bible Way Christian Center

UBUNTU AWARDS

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Rev. Dr. James Okafor is a priest of the Diocese of San Jose and the Pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Church, San Jose. He earned his M.A. in Pastoral Ministry from Santa Clara University and a Doctorate in Catholic Education from the University of San Francisco. He also serves as an adjunct lecturer in the Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries at Santa Clara University.

Rev. Dr. James Okafor

Pastor, Saint Frances Cabrini Catholic Church

Fr. James has ministered closely with Nigerian communities in the San Francisco Bay Area and currently serves as Chaplain of the Nigerian Igbo Catholic Community of San Jose, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. He also helped to establish the Catholics of African Descent,

first Silicon Valley Chief of Protocol in May, 2014.

A dedicated protocol professional since 1994, Ms. Tryon is a frequent contributor to publications regarding protocol. Her early written work on orders of precedence for state and local government officials is regarded as foundational work in the field of sub-national diplomacy. She has lectured on protocol, etiquette, business etiquette and cultural sensitivity at local universities, including Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and San Jose State’s Department of Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management.

Deana Tryon

Chief of Protocol Silicon Valley Office of Protocol

Silicon Valley Chief of Protocol Deanna Tryon was born in San Francisco, and raised in Los Altos Hills, California. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Government from the University of San Francisco and her Master’s Degree from Harvard University.

She worked for the British ConsulateGeneral in Los Angeles, and for both the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Protocol and the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development.

She worked for the Los Angeles County Office of Protocol for many years before returning to the Bay Area to serve as the 8

UBUNTU AWARDS

Diocese of San Jose (CADDSJ)—a faithbased group that brings together people of African descent (African Americans, African immigrants, and Caribbean communities) to collaborate in faith and mutual support.

In addition, Fr. James has led workshops that promote intercultural knowledge, skills, and attitudes to foster effective and inclusive leadership.

Ms. Tryon was instrumental in the formation of the Silicon Valley Office of Protocol, which formed in partnership with the United States Department of State in 2013. Her office is the only regional protocol office in the United States and has, for the past decade, provided services to 54 cities and 5 counties in the Silicon Valley region outside of San Francisco. The activities of the Silicon Valley Office of Protocol are funded by a group of wellknown and influential Silicon Valley leaders, the 50-person Silicon Valley Host Committee.

Ms. Tryon has welcomed almost every foreign Head of State/Head of Government visiting Silicon Valley since 2014. She has also made productive introductions between the Silicon Valley business community and high-level international delegations. Ms. Tryon has prepared briefing papers for numerous Silicon Valley business leaders and elected officials traveling internationally and those greeting delegations locally. As Silicon Valley’s “Connector in Chief ”, Ms. Tryon and her office have been responsible for elevating the level of investment in Silicon Valley businesses, large and small, by billions of dollars in provable foreign direct investment.

Ms. Tryon was instrumental in bringing the Summit between President Xi and President Biden to Silicon Valley during APEC 2023.

Her work in helping facilitate contracts between foreign nations and the United States Government, along with her decadeslong service to Silicon Valley, California and the United States, has resulted in her formal recognition from the White House, during multiple administrations. She has also been recognized by the United States Department of State and the California State Assembly.

celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2025!

She earned her BA in Theatre and Sociology from Towson University in Baltimore, and her MA in Theatre from San Jose State.

Viera is a Director, Actor, Poet, Educator, Administrator, and HR Professional. She has numerous stage, film, and commercial credits. Viera proudly invested in the Broadway productions of Piano Lessons and Thoughts of A Colored Man helping to include BIPOC as Broadway Producers.

Viera Whye

Artistic Director, Tabia African American Theatre Ensemble

Viera Whye is Co-Founder and has been the Producing Artistic Director for Tabia African American Theatre Ensemble and San Jose Multicultural Artists Guild since its inception in 1985, she is excited to

Viera currently serves as Associate Director of Community Engagement at American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. She successfully combines art and technology as a Diversity and Inclusion Specialist most recently at Intel. Prior to Intel she was employed as a Telecommunications professional for 30+ years at Siemens Communications. Viera is very active in the San Jose community and a member of several organizations that advocate for equity of health, education, and economic

community partners throughout the local area. He has been with SJSU since 2014 and previously held positions as the Program Director of the Black Leadership and Opportunity Center (BLOC), and as one of the Assistant Directors at Peer Connections, the campus hub for tutoring and mentoring.

Jahmal C. Williams

Director of DEI Partnerships and UniversityCommunity Liaison | Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | San José State University

Jahmal Williams currently serves as the Director of Partnerships and UniversityCommunity Liaison at Jose State University.

In this position he is tasked with developing a strategic approach to the University’s efforts to intentionally collaborate with

Since January 2020, Jahmal has also served as the chair of the Black Leadership Kitchen Cabinet of Silicon Valley, a communitybased organization out of San Jose, California that provides critical leadership development and training, grassroots organizing, and advocacy on issues of civil rights, racial equity, and economic justice across Santa Clara County and the region.

empowerment for women and BIPOC. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Links of San Jose, The National Coalition of 100 Black Women-Silicon Valley Chapter, and the National Council of Negro Women.

Viera has received extensive recognition and awards, among them a Santa Clara County Lifetime Achievement Award, and DEI Community Leader Award from the SC Women’s Network in 2024, she was one of the inaugural Silicon Valley Black Legends Award recipients in 2015 (and the Whye-Piper Arts award is presented each year in her and David Piper’s name). She was selected as one of Silicon Valley Biz Journals’ 2020 100 Women of Influence.

She is proud mom to two handsome and witty adult sons Copeland Bryan and Courtney Bryan.

he gets from his family and friends. His wife, Regina is a constant source of motivation as she works to change housing policy for the south Bay Area as the Executive Director of Silicon Valley at Home. Jahmal and his wife have learned how to successfully take orders from their two daughters, Noelle and Corinne, who consistently keep them on their toes.

Jahmal is a native of the metro Detroit area in Michigan. He holds his Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from Michigan State University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Women’s Studies from the University of Michigan.

Jahmal is inspired by the love and support UBUNTU AWARDS

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Featured Filmmaker

Dr. Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, fondly known as “Omosexy,” is one of Africa’s most iconic screen legends and cultural ambassadors. With a career spanning three decades, she has appeared in over 300 films, captivating audiences across Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond. From her breakout role in Mortal Inheritance at just 18, to box-office hits like Ije and Last Flight to Abuja, Omotola has earned her place as Africa’s “Cinema Queen.”

Her influence extends far beyond film. In 2013, she was named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World, and in 2019, the City of Los Angeles honoured her as a leading Black figure in cinema. A committed humanitarian, she founded the Omotola Youth Empowerment Programme, has served as a UN World Food Programme ambassador, and is a passionate Amnesty International activist.

Dr. Omotola Jalade Ekeinde SVAFF 2025 Trailblazer Award Recipient

Now also a director and producer, Omotola continues to blaze new trails in storytelling, championing African voices on the global stage.

Mother’s Love Omotola Jalade Ekeinde Nigeria / 01:42:00 October 11 / 7PM / Theatre

Mother’s Love exposes the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, unresolved grief, and the struggle for individuality. A young woman experiences freedom, for the first time, after her college graduation and embarks on a journey of self discovery and love in the arms of a young man who challenges her perspectives on life. As she begins to find her voice and assert her independence, her father’s wrath looms large. Her docile mom must summon an uncommon strength to confront the secrets and lies that have defined their family’s dynamics in order to protect her daughter.

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Featured Filmmaker

OPENING NIGHT FILM

The Fisherman Friday, October 9, 2025 8PM Theatre

The Fisherman Zoey Martinson Ghana / 01:45:00 / Narrative Feature October 10 / 8PM / Theatre

When retired fisherman Atta Oko befriends a cheeky talking fish, his quiet life turns upside down. With three quirky “Associates,” he ventures through Accra chasing the dream of owning a boat. The Fisherman is a magical, funny, and heartwarming story of resilience, family, and Ghanaian spirit.

Zoey Martinson Director, The Fisherman

OpeningNight Film

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OpeningNight Film

ANIMATION

FILM TITLE

DATE

TIME

ROOM

Ancestral Intervention

Oct 11

11AM

Theatre

Starry Paths

Oct 11

11AM

Theatre

The Black Raven

Oct 11

11AM

Theatre

Reach for the Stars

Oct 11

11AM

Theatre

Black People’s Thing

Oct 11

12PM

Studio 2

Lore

Oct 11

5:10PM

Studio 2

The Big Sad Nairobi

Oct 11

9PM

Studio 2

Blinded By The Lights

Oct 11

9PM

Studio 2

One Way of Another

Oct 12

2PM

Studio 2

Nwavu, the Blind Man

Oct 12

3:30PM

Studio 2

Animation

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Ancestral Intervention

Black People’s Thing

Michelle Muli

Pâmela Peregrino

Kenya / 00:03:00

Brazil / 00:06:31

October 11 / 11AM / Theatre

October 11 / 12PM / Studio 3

Packed with humor and heart, ancestral intervention follows the story of malaika as she tries to enjoy a date with her boyfriend despite the constant meddling of the ghost of her strong-willed, traditional grandmother. With a clash of old vs. New, this vibrant story delivers laughs, warmth, and a fresh take on generational values.

The film seeks to deconstruct the pejorative meaning of the expression, presenting a set of positive actions about what is black things, denouncing the working conditions, religious demonization, and historical and cultural expropriation of afro-brazilians. It presents to the public references of black men and women who collaborate with the scientific and intellectual advances of our country.

Blinded By The Lights

Lore

Francis Y. Brown Ghana / 00:13:30

Mary Wanjiku Waweru

October 11 / 9PM / Studio 3

Kenya / 00:10:00 October 11 / 5:10PM / Studio 2

A powerful and visually striking allegory, blinded by the lights explores the insatiable greed of the african leader and the devastating cost of betrayal. Set against the backdrop of a nation trapped in the cycle of neocolonialism, the film unpacks the illusions of power, the corruption that festers behind closed doors, and the silent suffering of a people forgotten by those meant to lead.

A young angry boy struggling to come to terms with the untimely death of his father refuses to speak his fathers story at the funeral, risking the return of his father as an evil vengeful spirit.

One Way Or Another Nwavu, The Blind Man

Benny Seals United States / 00:01:56

João Petit Graça

October 12 / 2PM / Theatre

Portugal / 00:12:05 October 12 / 3:30PM / Studio 3

In a village from Mozambique folk tales, Nwavu, and old blind man, is running out of time to leave a descendant. With the help of the venerable Wizard, he plans to marry the young Djamilah, who is caught by the imposition of traditions and has her freedom at risk. But Nwavu’s acts will open the doors to the spirit world, where the laws of reality don?t apply in the same way. When the plan backfires, Nwavu will have a taste of his own medicine.

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Animation

A determined romantic races to meet their partner at the train station, but encounters a number of obstacles along the way.

Reach For The Stars

Starry Paths

Silas Ese Abada

Olav Babi

Nigeria / 00:05:17

Benin / 00:01:38

October 11 / 11AM / Studio 2

October 11 / 11AM / Studio 2

A story about a little bot who woke up and found himself in a strange planet. After scanning his environment, he knew he was lost and far from home. He decided to try all available means to get back home.

After a catastrophe in space, the crew of the aquarius bn-438 chooses cryonics, hoping that one day someone will come to save them. Centuries pass, but no one answers their call. The sole survivor, a crew member, drifts in the vastness of the cosmos. When everything seems to condemn him to wander, fate brings him to a distant planet where, ironically, he must offer the help he hoped to receive..

The Big Sad Nairobi Gift Kyansimire Oroni Kenya / 00:10:00

The Black Raven

October 11 / 9PM / Studio 3 Menna El-Atroush

A short animated follows a goat who stumbles through nairobi-esque daily life while exploring humanness.he traversing through the city while diving into questions about the meaning of life, but not in a pretentious way, rather questioning the meaning of life through mundane things such as waiting for a matatu (bus). This film is based on an instagram comic created by kyansimire oroni (zord_files).

Egypt / 00:03:00 October 11 / 11AM / Studio 2

Everyday, a young raven has to face his dissatisfaction with his dark gloomy feathers and unappealing features. One day as he stares back at his reflection in the water, he sees the most colorful and extravagant feathers wrap around his reflection. His innocence and naiveness, makes him think theyre his. He turns around with excitement only to see his short black feathered tail exactly as he...

Animation

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Meredith “Mer” Curry Nuñez Owner & Principal Consultant AdvancED Consulting, LLC mer@advancedconsulting.org /meredithdcurry

Advancing the Missions of Nonprofits & Entrepreneurs Team Training.

Coaching.

Special Projects.

Looking for speakers for inperson, online, or hybrid workshops? Our topics include Supporting Good Trouble with Good Facilitation, Intersectionality at School and Work, and Meaningful Meetings Matter.

Are you working to solve real-world issues in meaningful ways? We can help tackle your biggest opportunities and challenges around operations, data, strategy, and more.

Not enough hands to tackle the projects you have prioritized? Let us fill a gap in your capacity! We support special projects including event planning, designing team retreats, and more.

Resources Families Should Know About!

CalKIDS.org California’s FREE College Savings Account All children born in California on or after July 1, 2022 have a CalKIDS Scholarship waiting for them ($25-100), regardless of income.

There are two groups of low-income California public-school students who may be eligible for a CalKIDS Scholarship ($500-1,500): #1 Public school students enrolled in grades 1-12 during the 2021-2022 academic year, and #2 Public school students enrolled in the 1st grade during the 2022-2023 academic year and every school year thereafter.

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Animation

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DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

FILM TITLE

DATE

TIME

ROOM

Disrupting Dayton

Oct 11

11AM

Studio 2

58 Years Later (Voices of Today)

Oct 11

5:10PM

Studio 2

Loot and the Lost Kingdoms of Africa

Oct 11

7PM

Studio 2

Beware!

Oct 11

9PM

Studio 2

Unfinished Business: Sunshine Anderson Documentary

Oct 12

11:30AM

Studio 2

L’Arbre de l’Authenticité

Oct 12

2PM

Studio 2

Documentary Feature

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58 Years Later

Janto!

Robert Asimba Ngoge, Ras Mutabaruka

Soussaba Cissé

Botswana / 01:00:00

Mali / 01:30:00

October 11 / 5:10PM / Theatre

October 11 / 9PM / Theatre

58 Years Later: Voices of Today’s Botswana follows three young leaders under 40 during the historic 2024 elections that ended the Botswana Democratic Party’s 58-year rule. Through their campaigns and struggles, the film captures the hopes, challenges, and urgent demand for new leadership in Africa’s youngest yet oldest-led continent.

“I Jantô !” traces Mali’s crisis since 2012, moving beyond simplified ethnic narratives to reveal its political, economic, and social roots. Through testimonies of survivors, displaced families, and peacebuilders, the film exposes both the devastating toll of violence and the fragile yet persistent efforts to reconcile communities and sustain peace..

Beyond The Headlines: The NABJ Journey

Disrupting Dayton Kenan Moos, Kiyoshi Taylor

James Franklin Blue III

United States / 00:45:11

United States / 00:40:00

October 11 / 11AM / Theatre

October 11 / 2PM / Theatre (Centerpiece & town hall)

In 2025, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) will commemorate its 50th anniversary. This milestone presents an opportune moment for the organization to share its illustrious history and vision for the future through a documentary titled “Beyond the Headlines: The NABJ Journey.”

Disrupting Dayton uncovers the human stories of the 1966 Dayton Riots, a struggle not only for change, but survival. Through memories of segregation, community beauty, and injustice, the film offers a raw, intimate portrait of resilience.

More than history, it reflects struggles that still echo in Dayton today.

L’Arbre de l’Authenticité

Loot and the Lost kingdoms of Africa

Sammy Baloji Congo, DRC / 01:27:00

Bibi Shasore

October 12 / 2PM / Studio 3

Nigeria / 01:38:16 October 11 / 7PM / Studio 3

In the depths of the Congo rainforest, the ruins of a colonial-era tropical agriculture research center resurface. These remnants uncover the heavy legacy of exploitation and its enduring ties to today’s climate crisis, exposing how histories of extraction continue to shape environmental struggles and the fight for ecological justice.

A documentary that expands on the rich history of the stolen artefacts from across African nations, honing in on the present-day state of affairs in Nigeria. Utilising archive footage and recordings, and giving a voice to those who are campaigning to raise awareness today, we see the timeline unfurl and the facts laid bare.

Unfinished Business: Sunshine Anderson Documentary Tequoia Urbina United States / 00:42:47 October 12 / 11:30AM / Theatre

Unfinished Business is a powerful and emotionally charged documentary that delves into the journey of R&B singer Sunshine Anderson as she navigates the highs and lows of the music industry. This film explores the challenges, sacrifices, and triumphs she faced while pursuing her dreams, offering an intimate look at the realities behind fame. Through raw storytelling, personal accounts, and never-before-seen footage, Unfinished Business unveils the resilience and determination that define Anderson’s career, making it a must-watch for music lovers and fans of inspiring true stories.

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Documentary Feature

DOCUMENTARY SHORT

FILM TITLE

DATE

TIME

ROOM

Masaka to Toronto

Oct 10

4:40PM

Theatre

Beyond Olympic Glory

Oct 10

4:40PM

Theatre

Saddari

Oct 10

4:40PM

Theatre

Sikia (Listen)

Oct 10

4:40PM

Studio 2

A Divine Journey

Oct 11

12PM

Studio 2

African Creative Class

Oct 11

5:10PM

Studio 2

Our Memory Skin

Oct 11

7PM

Studio 2

Umhlaba Wokhokho – Land of my Ancestors

Oct 11

9PM

Studio 2

Ghetto Mama

Oct 12

11:30AM

Studio 2

I Can’t

Oct 12

11:30AM

Studio 2

Lapo Chapé

Oct 12

11:30AM

Studio 2

Zero Violência e o Bullying

Oct 12

11:30AM

Studio 2

Taxi to the Stars

Oct 12

11:30AM

Studio 2

House of Aama: Threads of Legacy

Oct 12

3:30PM

Studio 2

Documentary Short

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A Divine Journey

A Film Called Black: King’s Speech

Ivanovitch Ingabire, Annette M. King

Cam Be

Kenya / 00:24:00

United States / 00:19:20

October 11 / 12PM / Theatre

October 11 / 9PM / Studio 2

A Divine Journey profiles a Rwandan refugee, Divine Mugisha, striving to overcome the hardships of living at a refugee camp all her life. The story follows her heroic journey as she sets out to study psychology in the United States to treat depression and prevent suicides in her refugee community in Malawi.

‘a film called black’ is an evolving cinematic conversation on Blackness, shifting with every screening. Within it, the short ‘King’s Speech’ explores identity, fatherhood, and legacy—asking what it means to be a king. Interwoven are Chicago artists Cam Be & Neak’s creation of the song, crowned by Simone Yael’s artistry.

African Creative Class: Ghana

Beyond Olympic Glory

Amarachi Nwosu

Shedrack Salami

Ghana / 00:27:16

Nigeria / 00:20:00

October 11 / 5:10PM / Studio 2

October 10 / 4:40PM / Studio 3

“African Creative Class” is a vibrant documentary series diving deep into the wave of innovation and impact across Africa’s creative landscape, from fashion to music.

Hosted by Amarachi Nwosu, the series launches in Ghana, offering a visually stunning exploration of the continent’s rising talents and the transformative cultural shifts shaping its creative future.

Beyond Olympic Glory follows Nigerian boxer Cynthia Ogunsemilore’s fight from the slums of Bariga to the Paris 2024 Olympics. When a doping allegation shatters her dream, she confronts heartbreak, public scrutiny, and systemic failures.

Choosing resilience, she rebuilds her career in the U.S., proving hope and determination can transcend crushing setbacks.

Children of The diaspora

Death to Life (Refugee/migrants story)

Sabrina Onana France / 00:08:40

Peter Okojie

October 12 / 3:30PM / Studio 2

Uganda, United States / 00:10:50 October 12 / 11:30AM / Theatre

Through the intimate monologue of an immigrant’s child, “Children of the Diaspora” poetically explores Afro-descendant identity, memory, and belonging. Director Sabrina Onana weaves pride, wounds, and healing into a cinematic journey, urging diasporic youth to embrace their Africanness while navigating cross-cultural heritage, postcolonial legacies, and universal human questions of existence.

20

Documentary Short

Amid civil war, a young man journeys with his family from Congo and Uganda in search of safety in America. Confronting death, displacement, and hardship, he learns resilience in a new land.

Transforming pain into purpose, he builds an NGO to empower refugees, offering hope across borders and generations.

From Rodeo to Polo: The First HBCU Polo Team

Ghetto Mama Onyutta Brenda

Kendi King

Uganda / 00:11:34

United States / 00:09:25

October 12 / 11:30AM / Studio 2

October 11 / 2PM / Theatre

The first Black collegiate polo team at Morehouse College chases national USPA certification, training a rag-tag team of charismatic cowboys into pioneering polo stars.

This story follows a compassionate young creative whose deep desire to uplift ghetto children drives him to use the performing arts as a tool for hope, self-expression, and transformation. Through resilience and vision, he sparks possibility in marginalized lives, proving that creativity can inspire change where it’s needed most.

House of Aama: Threads of Legacy Jamal Ademola

I Can’t

Ghana, United States / 00:15:00 October 12 / 3:30PM / Theatre

Yomna Magdy Egypt / 00:15:00

After her father’s passing, designer Akua Shabaka and her mother, Rebecca Henry, channel grief into creativity through their label, House of Aama. Inspired by Free Jazz and ancestral lineage from the Caribbean to Ghana, Sun Records debuts at New York Fashion Week—an intimate portrait of resilience, memory, and renewal.

October 12 / 11:30AM / Studio 2

On the brink of losing funding, young filmmaker Nadine must cast the lead for her short film. Actors refuse the role over a controversial kiss scene, leaving her torn between artistic vision and societal pressure. When one actor manipulates her doubts, Nadine finds resolve—choosing integrity, and reclaiming her creative power.

Lapo Chapé Mélissandre Monatus

Masaka to Toronto

France / 00:30:55 October 12 / 11:30AM / Studio 2

Walta Gabriel Busulwa Canada, Uganda / 00:18:00

Derived from Martinican Creole, “Lapo Chapé” means “the skin color that escapes the status of a slave.”

This documentary explores the complex intersections of skin color and mixed heritage through intimate testimonies. It reveals how invisible legacies of history shape identity, challenge representation, and continue to echo in today’s world.

October 10 / 4:40PM / Studio 2

Masaka to Toronto” traces the journey of matooke, Uganda’s beloved staple food, from lush fields in Masaka to bustling Canadian kitchens. Alongside this humble dish, the film uncovers stories of migration, resilience, and belonging, revealing how the Ugandan diaspora preserves cultural identity while navigating the challenges and hopes of a new life.

Our Memory Skin Edmundo U. Galicia Mexico / 00:10:00 October 11 / 7PM / Studio 2

Our Memory Skin is an audiovisual journey into Chinantec culture, weaving identity, memory, and spirituality through nature, mythology, and daily life. Set in the lush Chinantec jungle, the film blurs reality and symbolism, inviting viewers into a world where ancestral memory breathes through landscape and story.

Documentary Short

21

Saddari

Sikia (Listen)

Timeaa Mohamed Ahmed

Michael Lolly Munyore, Austin James Peck

Sudan / 00:23:00

Kenya / 00:29:30

October 10 / 4:40PM / Studio 3

October 10 / 4:40PM / Studio 2

Three young bikers, Falsafa, Muzamil, and Abdulsalam, set out on a journey to explore Sudan after Dissolving the sit-in of the Sudanese revolution, they start with the idea of hitting the road to a nearby state by their Worn-out bikes, but they end up taking an unplanned dangerous bike trip across all of the country.

Peter Waweru was 10 years old when he suddenly lost his ability to hear. Through this event, he also lost his connection to the life he knew- his friends, family, school and childhood. Two years later, “Sikia” (Listen) is the story about how a heroic team of Kenyan doctors at Nairobi Hospital help him get it all back.

Taxi to the stars

Umhlaba Wokhokho – Land of My Ancestors

Mlingane Dube South Africa / 00:17:00

Nondumiso Masache

October 12 / 11:30AM / Studio 3

South Africa / 00:17:16 October 11 / 9PM / Studio 2

From trauma to triumph, Cyril’s journey defies expectation. Once an uneducated metred taxi operator scarred by his father’s murder, violence, and drug abuse, he found salvation in writing. Now 70, he celebrates the launch of his third novel—proof that resilience can transform pain into purpose, and struggle into legacy.

Zero Violência e o Bullying Moisés Panzu Zuane Angola / 00:12:54 October 12 / 11:30AM / Studio 3

Zero Violência e o Bullying, retrata a importância da diversidade no dia a dia como oportunidade de aprendizagem e prática de habilidades diferenciadas através de jogos que proporcionam experiências vitais como integração, paz, confiança, união e autenticidade por via de jogo de xadrez e puzzle no combate ao bullying.

22

Documentary Short

Fueled by a prophetic vision, iNkosi Mabaso, known as Zwelihle, “Beautiful Land”, sets out to reclaim and preserve his ancestral home in eMgundeni, a rural South African village. His journey becomes a powerful testament to heritage, resilience, and the unyielding bond between people and the land that defines their identity.

NARRATIVE FEATURE

FILM TITLE

DATE

TIME

ROOM

Nyanga

Oct 10

3PM

Studio 1

The ReWrite

Oct 10

3PM

Studio 2

Lights Out

Oct 11

12PM

Studio 2

Kimote

Oct 11

12PM

Studio 2

Megnot – Two Hearts

Oct 11

12PM

Studio 3

Lottery Love

Oct 11

5:10PM

Studio 2

Osamede

Oct 11

5:10PM

Studio 3

Mother’s Love

Oct 11

7PM

Theatre

Soft Love

Oct 11

7PM

Studio 2

Narrative Feature

23

Dance With Me

Kimote

Romanuse Lindelani Langa

Hassan Mageye

South Africa / 01:19:27

Uganda / 01:04:06

October 12 / 2PM / Studio 2

October 11 / 12PM / Theatre

Seventeen-year-old Phindi Mtungwa escapes an abusive past to pursue her dream of dance at Glebelands hostel. Joining a gumboots crew, she faces poverty, rivalry, and buried trauma. With resilience, healing, and courage, Phindi rises above her struggles to triumph in the Annual Dance Competition, earning victory, recognition, and a life-changing scholarship.

In a community where backcloth is reserved only for burial rites, a young backcloth maker’s son dreams of redefining its purpose. Determined to transform the fabric from a shroud of death into living attire, he challenges tradition, confronting resistance while weaving a story of heritage, resilience, and cultural rebirth.

Lights Out

Lottery Love

Enah Johnscott

Mlungisi Mhlanga

Cameroon / 02:00:00

South Africa / 01:13:00

October 11 / 12PM / Studio 2

October 11 / 5:10PM / Studio 2

LIGHTS OUT is a mind-bending psychological thriller that distorts the fabric of reality. Retired security man Lucas is captured and taken into a dementia care facility while searching for his missing daughter. A suspenseful journey where nothing is as it seems, and the darkest secrets are buried superficially.

In the vibrant heart of KwaMashu, KwaZulu Natal, feisty Buhle becomes the unwitting key to her persistent ex’s lottery jackpot win and, driven by a mix of selfishness and desperation, embarks on a daring journey to snatch the winning ticket from Xolani, risking friendships and love in a high-stakes game.

Megnot

Mother’s Love

Abel Tekele Regasa

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde

Ethiopia / 01:37:22

Nigeria / 01:42:00

October 11 / 12PM / Studio 3

October 11 / 7PM / Theatre

Megnot is a poignant drama set between Arba Minch’s landscapes and Addis Ababa’s vibrant streets. It follows a young woman resisting a forced marriage, torn between tradition and modernity. A chance encounter with a stranger on his healing journey ignites love, courage, and resilience, redefining identity and the pursuit of freedom.

24

Narrative Feature

Mother’s Love exposes the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, unresolved grief, and the struggle for individuality. A young woman experiences freedom, for the first time, after her college graduation and embarks on a journey of self discovery and love in the arms of a young man who challenges her perspectives on life. As she begins to find her voice and assert her independence, her father’s wrath looms large. Her docile mom must summon an uncommon strength to confront the secrets and lies that have defined their family’s dynamics in order to protect her daughter.

Nyanga

Osamede

Eddie Ndhlovu, Jakov Dakovic

James Kalu Omokwe

Zimbabwe / 01:32:00

Nigeria / 01:53:00

October 10 / 3PM / Studio 2

October 11 / 5:10PM / Studio 3

The drama is set during the Covid pandemic time. It follows Panganayi, a man who loses his wife to the condition. A dedicated ranger, he, along with his ill-equipped team, has to fight off poachers who target the beloved rhinos he has dedicated his life towards protecting.

OSAMEDE follows a young orphan in colonized Benin Kingdom whose life changes when an attack awakens her hidden superhuman powers. Gifted with the legendary Aruosa stone’s strength, Osamede must uncover her true origins and embrace her destiny—becoming the hero her people need in a world of politics, mystery, and magic.

Soft Love

The Fisherman

Holmes Okechukwu Awa

Zoey Martinson

Nigeria / 01:53:58

Ghana / 01:45:00

October 11 / 7PM / Studio 3

October 10 / 8PM / Theatre (Opening Night Film)

A South African love guru loses faith in love after suffering the humiliation of being dumped on her wedding day. However, she meets a Nigerian photographer who is running away from his own love woes. Will he be the one to restore her faith in love and how far is she willing to keep the new love she’s found?

When retired fisherman Atta Oko befriends a cheeky talking fish, his quiet life turns upside down. With three quirky “Associates,” he ventures through Accra chasing the dream of owning a boat. The Fisherman is a magical, funny, and heartwarming story of resilience, family, and Ghanaian spirit.

The Rewrite Terry Dawson United States / 01:35:00 October 10 / 3PM / Studio 3

A struggling screenwriter, obsessed with portraying Black Excellence and authenticity, is forced to do a rewrite of his latest draft in order to save his career. But when he revisits the characters in his script in real life, he soon realizes that his own world is short on authenticity and anything but excellent.

Congratulations on your 16th Annual Silicon Valley African Film Festival

Narrative Feature

25

Community is at the heart of all we do.

Bringing people together for the greater good — that’s where transformation happens.

We are proud to support the Silicon Valley African Film Festival.

Together, we can help create a more equitable community.

svcf.org

26

Narrative Feature

NARRATIVE SHORT FILM TITLE

DATE

TIME

ROOM

Another Chooseday

Oct 10

3PM

Theatre

Courage

Oct 10

3PM

Theatre

I’m Whitty

Oct 10

3PM

Studio 1

Sikia (Listen)

Oct 10

4:40PM

Studio 2

Insanity

Oct 10

4:40PM

Studio 2

The Girl Who Turned Pain into Power

Oct 11

11AM

Theatre

The Girl Who Wanted to Fly

Oct 11

11AM

Theatre

Boys and Girls

Oct 11

12PM

Studio 2

The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Sèyí Àjàyí

Oct 11

5:10PM

Theatre

What Happens Now?

Oct 11

5:10PM

Theatre

In Her Shoes

Oct 11

7PM

Studio 2

Mr. Advocate

Oct 11

9PM

Theatre

The Brittle Little Ones

Oct 11

9PM

Studio 2

Will The Sun Rise?

Oct 11

9PM

Studio 2

Urefu Wa Kamba

Oct 11

9PM

Studio 2

My Distress

Oct 12

11:30AM

Studio 2

The Night of Abed

Oct 12

11:30AM

Studio 2

Berhane “The Light”

Oct 12

11:30AM

Studio 2

Belief

Oct 12

11:30AM

Studio 2

Ekun Omi – Tears of Desert Water

Oct 12

11:30AM

Studio 2

Time is Money

Oct 12

1PM

Studio 2

Saturday

Oct 12

1PM

Studio 2

Till Death

Oct 12

1PM

Studio 2

Inheritance

Oct 12

1PM

Studio 2

I Can Smell A Rat

Oct 12

1PM

Studio 2

The Perfect Ball

Oct 12

1PM

Studio 2

Bella Is Dying Maybe Next Week

Oct 12

1PM

Studio 2

Bougainvillea

Oct 12

1PM

Studio 2

Back to the Theater Vox

Oct 12

1PM

Studio 2

What’s Your Dream?

Oct 12

2PM

Studio 2

The General’s Son

Oct 12

2PM

Studio 2

Torn

Oct 12

2PM

Studio 2

The Thing

Oct 12

2PM

Studio 2

8 Candles

Oct 12

2PM

Studio 2

?Enough!

Oct 12

3:30PM

Theatre

Food For The Soul

Oct 12

3:30PM

Theatre

Children of Diaspora

Oct 12

3:30PM

Studio 2

Mfuko the Duffle Bag

Oct 12

3:30PM

Studio 2

Dear Lia

Oct 12

3:30PM

Studio 2

The One-Minute Series: When Art Isn’t Life

Oct 12

3:30PM

Studio 2

We Are in Need of Cosmic Help

Oct 12

3:30PM

Studio 2

Unspoken

Oct 12

3:30PM

Studio 2

Stop Starring

Oct 12

3:30PM

Studio 2

The Last Message

Oct 12

3:30PM

Studio 2

The Routine

Oct 12

3:30PM

Studio 2

Narrative Short

27

?Enough!

8 Candles

Dap Paxton

Seif Ali

United States / 00:14:00

Egypt / 00:07:12

October 12 / 3:30PM / Theatre

October 12 / 2PM / Studio 2

Fear, worry, doubt, and Imposter Syndrome attempt to take root in the careers and creative processes of Artists. Individually, they suffer an agonizing, lonely existence.

Embarrassment and shame emerge as a mountainous alliance, standing in the way of their desire to seek help. Is there any hope, or will they ultimately be consumed by these seismic forces of negativity?

Another Chooseday

In the summer of 1998, eight-year-old Mostafa discovers his love for cinema through VHS nights with his father.

A birthday trip to the cinema and a gifted video camera sparks dream of filmmaking. But when tragedy strikes, Mostafa clings to film to preserve memories, battling grief and his mother’s disapproval.

Back To The Theater Vox Amina Awa Niang

Courage Tariro Matanda

Senegal / 00:22:11

Zimbabwe / 00:08:14

October 12 / 1PM / Studio 3

October 10 / 3PM / Studio 2

When Mbuso returns home unannounced, he walks into his worst nightmare, his wife in bed with his own brother. Shattered and desperate for answers, he holds them hostage, forcing hidden truths into the open. What begins as a plea for closure spirals into a brutal confrontation, leaving no one unchanged.

Belief

Mamadou and Junior could be inseparable friends—if not for the feud between their grandfathers, once close collaborators, now estranged over an unfinished film. With their families divided by bitterness, Junior hatches a daring plan: to find the lost film and finish it themselves, rekindling friendship across generations.

Bella Is Dying Maybe Next Week Abigail Arunga, Mkaiwawi Mwakaba

Christian Loubek

Kenya / 00:20:15

United States / 00:13:58

October 12 / 1:00PM / Studio 2

October 12 / 11:30AM / Studio 3

Alongside his wife and daughter, Lennox joyously unpacks their new home but is left speechless when he finds a letter in a moving box labelled ‘mom’ that predestines a different life for him – it’s not as he remembers.

Bella’s morning starts with a broken plate, and the rest of her day goes downhill after that when she realizes that she might be dying, possibly as soon as next week. This short film is a story about misinformation, generational gaps, and the courage to have honest conversations.

Berhane “The Light”

Bougainvillea

Gebar Gebremiche, Mahelet Gezachew

Yasir Faiz

United States / 00:07:10

Sudan / 00:17:00

October 12 / 11:30AM / Studio 3

October 12 / 1PM / Studio 3

Told through the eyes of 12-year-old Adonai, this poignant story unfolds in Asmara, Eritrea, as he witnesses his father’s battle with mental illness. Through innocence and resilience, Adonai navigates love, fear, and confusion, offering a tender perspective on family, fragility, and the unspoken struggles that shape their lives.

Amidst Sudan’s popular revolution in December 2018, a group of six women found themselves ensnared within the confines of oppression. Through their journey, a powerful narrative unfolds, revealing the transformative power of determination and the enduring hope that resides within the human spirit.

28

Narrative Short

Boys & Girls

Dear Lia

Andrew Boateng

Anthony Relisa

United Kingdom / 00:06:02

Madagascar / 00:11:47

October 11 / 12PM / Studio 3

October 12 / 3:30PM / Studio 2

Boys & Girls is a dialogue-driven short film set in Enfield Island Village. It explores tension and misunderstanding that can arise between men and women in urban spaces, especially against the backdrop of modern-day gender politics, stereotypes, and social expectations.

A lonely recluse, unable to find love, invents his ideal companion through a voice born from his imagination.

What begins as comfort transforms into dangerous dependence, blurring reality and fantasy. Forced to confront his obsession, he discovers that the woman he created may be his greatest undoing.

Ekun Omi Tears of desert water

Food for the Soul

Femi Bajulaye, Emmanuel Oluwaseyi Bajulaye

Chisom Chieke

United Kingdom / 00:24:20

United States / 00:18:00

October 12 / 11:30AM / Studio 3

October 12 / 3:30PM / Theatre

Ekun Omi traces Agboogun’s sorrowful recollections, haunted by heartbreak and existential dread as he wrestles with the burden of migration and fractured identity.

Guided by two apparitions, his journey intertwines with Lagbaja and Omotola, who must confront love, sacrifice, and the haunting question of what truly defines belonging.

As cultures clash and insufferable parents meddle, a first generation Nigerian American and her Black American boyfriend must decide between being true to themselves or trying to live up to their families’ expectations…a risk to their happily ever after.

I Can Smell a Rat

I’m a Whity

Antonious George Bassily

Rajaoarison Oswald

Egypt / 00:16:54

France / 00:02:40

October 12 / 1PM / Studio 2

October 10 / 3PM / Studio 3

In a luminous art gallery, visitors are transfixed by a mysterious centerpiece. Their reactions, ranging from awe to horror, grow increasingly intense, yet the artwork itself is never revealed. The story unfolds through...

White people want to get rid of foreigners invading their country.

Inheritance In Her Shoes

Khaliyesa Barbara Minishi Kenya / 00:11:37

Ella Ogechi Chikezie

October 12 / 1PM / Studio 2

Nigeria / 00:17:55 October 11 / 7PM / Studio 3

Twelve-year-old Halima, an autistic girl unseen by her mother, finds her voice through football, forcing her father to confront his silence and fight for his daughter’s right to be herself.

Kavaa has travelled upcountry to bury her grandfather who disowned her when she was born out of wedlock 22 years earlier. At that awkward family reunion, Kavaa finds acceptance with the village outlier, who catapults her into a liminal realm, where she can face-off with her grandfather and rise above his rejection to find new self-esteem.

Narrative Short

29

Insanity

Mfuko the duffle bag

Alisanyukirwa Joy Matovu

Donny Shadai, Kayongo Aloysius

Uganda / 00:07:00

Uganda / 00:10:37

October 10 / 4:40PM / Studio 3

October 12 / 3:30PM / Studio 2

After a tough breakup with Malaika, Mark turns to Uganda’s latest AI innovation for comfort. Instead, he gets Karen - a witty, adaptive assistant fluent in local dialects. Far from soothing, Karen delivers relentless roasts and unfiltered truths, dragging Mark on a hilarious, eye-opening journey of heartbreak, resilience, and self-discovery.

A young deaf and mute boy arrives in the city from the village in the city, searching for his uncle and a better life. but when a taxi conductor accidentally hands him the wrong duffle bag, he finds himself caught in the middle of a dangerous drug deal. he must survive using his instincts and courage.

Mr. Advocate

My Distress N’Dri Bénédicte Kouadio

Stacie Mcclam

Côte d’Ivoire / 00:12:00

United States / 00:05:59

October 12 / 11:30AM / Studio 2

October 11 / 9PM / Theatre

In an urban elementary school obsessed with test scores, a former corporate worker turned teacher clashes with his rigid principal as he fights to implement afternoon recess, believing unstructured play is key to improving both student wellbeing and academic performance.

Mouna, seeking refuge with her autistic son Axel, relocates far from the family and neighbours who once scorned them. But in their new community, ridicule resurfaces, deepening her despair. As rejection closes in from every side, Mouna is left broken and uncertain—until one dangerous decision alters everything.

Nangul

Stop Staring

Saffiatou Badjie, Rose Jatta, Fatoumatta Dibba

Elfaisal Badr

The Gambia / 00:07:00

Egypt / 00:09:14

October 11 / 12:00PM / Studio 2

October 12 / 3:30PM / Studio 3

A young woman battles with grief. Only is she able to find reckoning in a jarring truth with the help of a persistent friend. Life is 100% meant for the taking but, if we aren’t careful, we can easily let time (and reality) pass us by...

The General’s Son

Would you accept having children with someone who has a genetic birth defect? This question sparks a candid conversation between a couple in the intimacy of their bedroom, where the veil of shyness is lifted, and introspection begins.

Saturday

Angela Onuora Canada / 00:20:00

Razzaaq Boykin

October 12 / 2PM / Theatre

United States / 00:14:44 October 12 / 1PM / Theatre

The Generals son follows a corrupt military dictator in his twilight years, desperate to redeem his murderous son, Aida. Haunted by guilt and driven by legacy, he hatches a plan that unravels into betrayal and revelation. What begins as redemption becomes reckoning, as father and son confront the monsters within.

30

Narrative Short

An introverted teenager, struggling with repressed anger from his parents’ divorce, reluctantly spends the day with his father. An unplanned visit to his estranged grandfather forces him to confront buried emotions, leading to unexpected wisdom, reconciliation, and a transformative understanding of family, forgiveness, and the fragile bonds that shape identity.

Something About Tomorrow

The Brittle Little Ones

Carole Murphy Copeland

Jade Andrivon, Laura Cuvillier, Clémentine Damico,

United States / 00:28:00

Régis Raphaël Marton, Samuel Roussas

October 12 / 11:30AM / Theatre

France / 00:18:01 October 11 / 9PM / Studio 2

Linda Hamilton, a high-powered attorney has spent her life winning battles in the courtroom, but nothing prepares her for the fight that begins when her daughter, Sophie, nearly dies from a heroin overdose. Struggling to understand how her bright, talented child became an addict, Linda is consumed by guilt. Meanwhile, her ex-husband, Ray, sees an opportunity to take Sophie to live with him, claiming Linda’s career is to blame. Old wounds resurface, forcing Sophie, Linda and Ray to confront past hurts and actions.

Elisa is a somewhat eccentric middle school student who is a victim of bullying. She discovers that her only friend, Jessie, plans to run away with an adult. Determined to protect her, Elisa embarks on a desperate mission that reveals a world she never knew existed. This journey confronts her with a dilemma that will change her forever.

The girl who wanted to fly The Girl Who Turned Pain Into Power

Tais Amordivino Brazil / 00:20:00 October 11 / 11AM / Studio 2

Maria Julia Gonsalves Crecencio Brazil / 00:03:04 October 11 / 11AM / Studio 2

The Girl Who Turned Pain Into Power is a poetic short film starring Maju, a 12-year-old Black Brazilian girl who transforms pain into art. In an all-white room, she paints with her hands and words, unveiling a manifesto of courage, representation, and selfempowerment—speaking boldly when the world demands silence.

Lila, a dreamy girl on the outskirts of Salvador, loves creating and telling stories. Torn between her mother’s guidance and her brother’s restlessness, she wonders what she will become. Escaping into an enchanting fantasy, Lila soars through the skies, gliding like clouds, exploring a world shaped by dreams and imagination.

The Last Message The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Sèyí Àjàyí

Seif Madbouly Egypt / 00:10:00 October 12 / 3:30PM / Studio 3

Abbesi Akhamie Nigeria / 00:16:20 October 11 / 5:10PM / Theatre

In the whimsical pan-African utopia of Alkebulan, a brilliant young scholar’s world shatters when she learns her fiancé is secretly engaged to another woman—sparking a cunning plot for revenge that blurs the line between justice, love, and betrayal.

A mother believes she knows her son, but as memories resurface, cracks appear in her certainty. When the boy attempts to take his own life, his parents are devastated. Forced to confront painful truths and their own shortcomings, they face the heartbreaking reality of not truly knowing their child.

Narrative Short

31

The Night of Abed

The One Minutes Series: When Art Isn’t Life

Anis Djaad Algeria / 00:13:40

The Critics

October 12 / 11:30AM / Studio 2

Netherlands / 00:12:30 October 12 / 3:30PM / Studio 2

In a remote Algerian village, a young couple anxiously awaits the birth of their first child. But when complications arise, only medicine from the distant capital can save him. Their journey becomes a tense struggle against time, terrain, and fate, where hope and despair walk side by side.

The Perfect Ball

The Critics, a collective of young Nigerian filmmakers, present twelve One Minute films by artists from Belgium, Iceland, Nigeria, and the United States. Blurring the lines between art and life, the series asks: what is art if not life? Each filmmaker offers a distinct, personal answer.

The Routine

Michael Metaferia Ethiopia / 00:22:48

Bak’ Saunders

October 12 / 1PM / Studio 2

Trindad and Tobago / 00:01:54 October 12 / 3:30 PM / Studio 2

Helina, a young traveler, misses her train after Amar, a street kid, steals her camera. Stranded overnight in Dire Dawa, their uneasy encounter evolves into a heartfelt journey.

Through Amar’s quest for the “perfect ball,” both confront hidden wounds, discovering connection, empathy, and the quiet, healing power of human relationships.

The Thing

The Routine” portrays the suffocating cycle of a man trapped in repetition—balancing work, fatherhood, and survival. Told through a single fixed perspective, the film’s stark imagery and off-screen chaos immerse viewers in the quiet despair of a life lived over and over, where monotony becomes hauntingly unbearable.

Till Death

Fatim N’Diaye France / 3 mins

Yana Bille-Chung

October 12 / 2PM / Studio 2

United States / 00:20:00 October 12 / 1PM / Theatre

In a luminous gallery, a crowd gathers around a single artwork. Their emotions—shock, awe, fear, delight—erupt in extremes. Yet the object itself is never revealed. This enigmatic short film explores perception, projection, and the unsettling power of art that exists as much in the mind as in the eye.

When a kind young couple is offered the chance of a lifetime to purchase their dream house from an ailing octogenarian at a fraction of its asking price, they eagerly accept.

However, the deal comes with a significant catch: the older woman must live with them until her death, at which point the house will become theirs.

Time Is Money Duran Jones

Torn

United States / 00:11:39 October 12 / 1PM / Theatre

Tamala Baldwin United States / 00:11:39

Jace, a financially challenged writer/director and self-proclaimed graduate of the school of Mark Duplass, delivers packages to survive while struggling to secure funds for his first indie feature. A bonus for the top-ranked delivery driver could solve his problems.

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Narrative Short

October 12 / 2PM / Theatre

When her husband awakens after eight years in a coma, a young mother’s world unravels. She must choose between the man she once loved and the devoted boyfriend who helped her rebuild her life, confronting loyalty, grief, and the complicated truths of love and second chances.

Unspoken

Urefu Wa Kamba

Karanja Ng’Endo

Mageto Ndege

Kenya / 00:07:22

Kenya / 00:15:00

October 12 / 3:30PM / Studio 3

October 11 / 9PM / Studio 3

Unspoken follows Julia as she returns to her village to face her estranged mother and the secrets that divided them. Through painful truths, childhood memories, and reconnection, she confronts guilt and regret. This poignant short film explores the fragile bonds of mother-daughter relationships and the transformative power of honesty.

The Length of A Rope (Urefu Wa Kamba) follows three sisters on a haunting journey to escape their past, only to face the dark truths that could tear them apart.

What Happens Now? Imole J.O Ladipo

We are in need of cosmic help

United States / 00:18:00 October 11 / 5:10PM / Theatre

Ahmed Emad Egypt / 00:05:29 October 12 / 3:30PM / Studio 3

In the heat of an argument, a couple’s fight takes an unexpected turn when a tiny mosquito intrudes on their room. What begins as a small irritation grows into comic chaos, ultimately shifting their perspective. The mosquito, insignificant yet persistent, becomes the unlikely spark that mends their fractured bond.

Through a journey marked by solace, guilt, and loss, Francis and Edna are forced to confront the shadows of their past. Bound by heartbreak yet searching for redemption, they must navigate grief, forgiveness, and fragile hope, discovering whether healing is possible when love and pain are inseparably intertwined.

Will The Sun Rise?

Monia Khalid Ahmed Hassan, Mohmmad Jodh

What’s Your Dream?

Sudan / 00:13:30 October 11 / 9PM / Studio 3

Jasmine Ashanti, Ajima Cole United States / 00:10:38 October 12 / 2PM / Theatre

What’s Your Dream? is a tender short film celebrating the beauty of Black love. Through a poetic exchange, a couple shares their deepest dreams, uncovering admiration, devotion, and unwavering support. With soulful dialogue and intimate moments, their love emerges as both aspiration and anchor—proving that true dreams live within one another.

When war erupts in Sudan, Mona is trapped alone in her apartment as chaos consumes the city. Surrounded by gunfire and aircraft, she clings to her diary to preserve her sanity.

Alone and abandoned, her desperate fight for survival becomes a haunting meditation on war, memory, and fragile hope.

Wrong Address John Simmons United Statesn / 00:10:46 October 10 / 8PM / Theatre

Wrong Address follows Ahmadu, a young aspiring artist whose quiet evening takes a violent turn when a simple pizza delivery mistake places him in the crosshairs of police aggression. Inspired by real events, the film explores racial injustice, the fragility of safety, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Narrative Short

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Team SVAFF HEAD OF DIGITAL INNOVATION AND GROWTH Gabriel Nwoffiah

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE MANAGER Dr. Olabisi Victoria Adekoya

FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Chike C. Nwoffiah

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Deffria Bass

PRODUCTION MANAGER Lidia Doniz

AUDIO VISUALS Ken Davis, K-Style Productions

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING Maia Modeste

COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT Chinedu G. Nwoffiah

VIDEOGRAPHY Kee Vang

DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH & COMMUNITY RELATIONS Nia Miranda

LOGISTICS COORDINATORS Pakal Vargas | Marcellus Demer

PHOTOGRAPHY Asha Weal, Asha Alessandra Images for R.I.C.E Media LLC. Creations by Sam Drew Altizer Photography (Sponsored by Silicon Valley Office of Protocol)

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & PARTNERSHIPS Taylor Popoola DIRECTOR OF MEDIA PARTNERSHIPS Sahndra Fon Dufe DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION Tejiri Adjekpiyede

PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS Austin Osagie | Adedoyin Adeleye TRANSPORTATION UNIT Crystal McLaughlin | Roberto Martinez

LIVE MEDIA REPORTS Delrisha White

VENDOR COORDINATORS Shaka Bogolani | Amatula Jacobs

FEATURED FASHION DESIGNER Marie Kaba, Prisca’s Art, Mali

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS & PROTOCOL Deanna Tryon, Silicon Valley Office of Protocol

DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS Rejoice Abutsa FILMMAKER EXPERIENCE MANAGER Mmakgosi Anita Tau

EVENT HOSTS & TALKBACK FACILITATORS Taylor Leigh Popoola | Nia Miranda Maia Modeste

AUDIENCE EXPERIENCE & FASHION SHOW MANAGER Victoria Adjekpiyede

CHAIRMAN, SVAFF INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD Professor Jude Akudinobi (USA)

PROGRAM BOOKLET DESIGN Gabriel C. Nwoffiah, Rhesus Media Group T-SHIRTS / BAG DESIGN & PRINT Outbound Africa, Lagos, Nigeria TROPHIES Handmade in Uganda by Eric Rwakoma, RAC Studioz Kampala

VOLUNTEERS: Suha Abbas | Tamika Van Den Akker | Vyvry Ali | Karren Augustine | Micheal Bray | Roberta Brown | Kiptonui Chirchir | Jeanine Davis | Honesty Taniqua Cobb Emerole | Bukky Erogbogbo | Eva Everhard | Victor Harrison | Rosalynne Hernandez | Wangeci Gitonga | Jazlynn Jinnies | Julinda LeDee | Savaughnna Mccurtis | Zama Mncwango | Danielle Odigie | Amina Osagie | Efe Osagie | Osarugue Otebele | Maks Ramirez | Kelis Williams | Katherine Marshall Woods

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SAVE THE DATE

Team SVAFF

Join us next year for the 17th SVAFF

OCTOBER 8-11, 2026 S VA F F. O R G | ( 4 0 8 ) 8 8 6 - 0 0 4 9

Sponsors & Partners Thanks for making SVAFF 2025 a success: Assembly Member Ash Kalra, 25th Assembly District | Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer | Lisa Gauthier, San Mateo County Supervisor D4 | Matt Mahan, Mayor of San Jose | Carmen Montano, Mayor City of Milpitas | Mark Dinan, Vice Mayor City of East Palo Alto | Hon. Shane Hensinger, Consul of the Seychelles to California | City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs | Visit San Jose | Silicon Valley Community Foundation | Coco der Mer Fragrance Co | Alta Global Media | The Packard Foundation | SV Creates | Silicon Valley Office of Protocol | Adobe Black Employee Network (Adobe BEN ) | NCBW100-SVC | Ujima Adult & Family Services Inc. | Silicon Valley Black Leadership Kitchen Cabinet (BLKC) | Rhesus Media Group | Santa Clara Alliance of Black Educators (SCCABE) | San Jose Sharks | Echos TV | Fostering Promise | Advanced Consulting LLC | Jack and Jill of America, Inc San Jose Chapter | ALF-SV | Kadence Walker | Xavier Webb | Tamara Alvarado | Leon Beauchman | Pastor Sean Gardere | Yvonne Maxwell | Emmanuel Nado | Susan Rojas | Michael Sekoni | Kechy Eke | Walter Turner | Viera Whye | Jahmal Williams | Meredith Curry | Chuck Cantrell | André V. Chapman | Emmanuel Nado | Kahshanna Evans | Delrisha White | Awad Sherif | Steven Adams | Tim Patnode | Heather Vaughan | Diana C. Zollicoffer | Dr. Litha Ogana | Dr. Eileen Anyanwu Ututu | Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine | Jenny Niklaus | Jocelyn Dubin | Carl Davis, Jr. | Tambay Obenson | Wilfred Okiche

HOW TO SUPPORT OUR FESTIVAL VOLUN TEER

D O NAT E

SPONSOR Sponsors & Partners

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Crafted from Nature, Rooted in Legend The rare and iconic fragrance of Coco de Mer is now available in the U.S. This limited-edition perfume collection from the Seychelles is crafted for those who let their authenticity shine. cocodemerfragrances.com

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Team SVAFF