At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where global cinematic powerhouses converge to chart the future of storytelling, Chioma Ude’s name resonates loudly in African cinema. The visionary founder of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) has been officially named to the Deadline Hollywood Class of Disruptors, a prestigious list honouring individuals who are boldly redefining the entertainment industry’s landscape.
In an exclusive feature penned by Deadline’s Diana Lodderhose, Ude is recognised for her transformative work in spotlighting African cinema and building vital infrastructure for film education, access, and global visibility. Her journey began in 2010 with the founding of AFRIFF, a festival born out of a desire to create space for authentic African stories and to bridge the systemic gaps that have historically excluded African filmmakers from global conversations.
“70% of Africans are under the age of 30,” Ude explains in the feature, underscoring the urgency and potential of Africa’s youthful population. “The creative sector is the trigger to propel people further.” Through AFRIFF, Ude has nurtured that trigger into a force, attracting over 45,000 annual attendees, including filmmakers, policy leaders, and Hollywood stakeholders.
AFRIFF’s impact extends far beyond festival screenings. Under Ude’s leadership, the festival has become a cultural movement—investing in training programmes, international exchange, and economic empowerment for young creatives. Collaborations with major institutions such as the Motion Picture Association of America and the U.S. Consulate have positioned AFRIFF as a key diplomatic and cultural bridge between Africa and the West.
The Disruptors honour places Ude among a select group of global changemakers who are not only disrupting the status quo but also creating new systems where inclusion, innovation, and authenticity can thrive. Her work is particularly resonant at a time when the film industry is being urged to look beyond traditional markets and narratives.
“I think more towards strengthening local and universal stories in Nigeria, but also how to interface with the West,” Ude said, emphasising the importance of dual vision rooted in cultural specificity, yet expansive in global ambition.
This moment also reflects a broader shift in how Africa is positioned within the global entertainment ecosystem. No longer viewed solely as a region of emerging potential, the continent, through leaders like Ude, is asserting itself as an epicentre of creative excellence, market growth, and cultural influence.
As AFRIFF prepares for its next edition and deepens its international partnerships, Ude’s recognition at Cannes is more than a personal milestone; it’s a symbol of an industry in transition and a continent coming into full creative bloom.
“We’re not trying to play catch-up anymore,” she said. “We’re showing up with stories that matter, stories that sell, and stories that shift the culture.”
With this milestone, Chioma Ude not only joins the ranks of the 2025 Deadline Disruptors but also asserts her position as one of the most important cultural architects of African cinema.
