The New York African Film Festival is set to return for its 33rd edition, bringing a month-long celebration of African and diasporic cinema to New York City beginning May 1.
The festival will officially kick off with a Town Hall event at The Africa Center before heading to Film at Lincoln Center for its Opening Night on May 6. This year’s opener is Promised Sky, the latest feature from French-Tunisian filmmaker Erige Sehiri.
READ: New York African Film Festival Announces Full Lineup for Its 33rd Edition
The film, making its New York premiere, stars Aïssa Maïga, Deborah Christelle Lobe Naney, and Laetitia Ky. The story follows an Ivorian pastor living in Tunisia who creates a makeshift home for young women navigating displacement, forming a powerful portrait of migration and chosen family.
Promised Sky arrives with notable international acclaim, having opened the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025. Maïga and Ky are expected to attend the Opening Night screening.
Presented by African Film Festival Inc. in partnership with Film at Lincoln Center, this year’s NYAFF will feature more than 14 feature films and 25 shorts at Lincoln Center, with over 100 films screening across the festival’s full run.
Following its opening week, the festival will continue at Maysles Documentary Center from May 15–17 and at Brooklyn Academy of Music under its “FilmAfrica” banner from May 22–28 as part of DanceAfrica. The festival will conclude with an outdoor screening at St. Nicholas Park on May 30.
In addition to screenings, NYAFF will host a wide range of filmmakers, actors, and cultural figures, including Zainab Jah and Xoliswa Sithole, alongside emerging directors from across the continent and diaspora.
Now in its 33rd year, the New York African Film Festival remains a vital platform for global Black storytelling, spotlighting diverse narratives and connecting audiences to filmmakers shaping the future of cinema.
READ: New York African Film Festival Announces Full Lineup for Its 33rd Edition