African cinema is evolving, connecting, and reaching a global stage. This year’s AMAA winners highlighted a continent in conversation with itself and with its diaspora, demonstrating that African storytelling can and should cross borders.
Collaboration across the continent was a key theme of the night. Burkina Faso’s Katanga: ‘Dance of The Scorpions’ took home Best Film and Best Director, while Nigeria’s ‘3 Cold Dishes’, co-produced by Burna Boy—starring actresses from English-speaking and francophone West Africa—won Best Nigerian Film and Achievement in Production Design. South Africa’s ‘The Heart is a Muscle’ earned awards for Cinematography and Editing.
These wins reflect a growing trend of intra-continental filmmaking, showing that African filmmakers can pool talent, share resources, and tell stories that resonate across multiple countries.
Beyond the trophies, this collaboration signals something deeper about where African cinema is headed. Shared histories, languages, and cultural touchpoints make it easier for filmmakers to work across borders, and in doing so, they strengthen a collective African identity.
It is a form of resistance against growing xenophobia and the constant gaze toward the West; instead of seeking validation abroad, filmmakers are finding creative power at home. Intra-continental storytelling pushes a vision of African cinema that is self-sustaining and proudly local yet globally ambitious, a cinema that doesn’t just represent Africa but connects it.
Africa’s engagement with its diaspora was equally notable. Jamaica’s ‘Romeo N Juliet 4EVA’ won Best Diaspora Narrative Feature, and the multinational animation ‘My Brother, My Brother’ (Egypt/France/Germany) took Best Animation. Documentaries like ‘Rediscovering Fenon’ (USA/Algeria/Martinique) further demonstrated that African stories are being told from outside the continent, connecting communities abroad. AMAA’s recognition of these films underscores that the diaspora is very much part of Africa’s cinematic conversation.
African cinema is reaching for the global stage. With films that blend local stories and universal themes, AMAA 2025 showed that the continent’s productions are no longer just for local audiences; they are ready for international recognition. From narrative features to documentaries and animation, the technical craft on display proves that African cinema is sophisticated, polished, and globally competitive.
AMAA as a platform for unity and storytelling remains crucial. By celebrating films from across Africa and the diaspora, the awards are shaping a shared cinematic identity, demonstrating that African cinema can be both diverse and connected. Intra-continental collaborations, diaspora engagement, and global ambition aren’t just trends; they’re the blueprint for the continent’s film industry to thrive in the years to come.
