NBO Film Festival 2025 Returns to Nairobi, Celebrating African Storytelling and Global Connections

The NBO Film Festival proudly announces its 7th edition, taking place from 16th to 26th October 2025 across Nairobi. Since its founding in 2017, NBO has become a cultural cornerstone in East Africa, spotlighting Kenyan cinema, amplifying African voices, and connecting audiences with bold new films from across the continent and its diaspora.

This year’s festival will showcase over 26 films from over 15 countries, featuring world premieres, African debuts, and celebrated international titles.

This year, the program includes an In-Competition section with five outstanding films selected to be viewed by an independent Jury; dynamic short film showcases, and a special focus on Afro-Latin American cinema.

Audiences can also look forward to headline events, such as the Opening Night Gala, Closing Night Ceremony, and Wrap Party, as well as community screenings in Nairobi neighbourhoods, ensuring the magic of cinema continues to reach diverse audiences.
Alongside screenings, the festival’s industry program will feature workshops, artist-to-artist conversations, and pitching sessions with international buyers and distributors, creating pathways for Kenyan and African filmmakers to share their stories with a global audience.

“For East Africans, storytelling has always been the cornerstone of our cultural practice — and we are increasingly seeing how that translates into the kinds of films we want to make today,” said Sheba Hirst, Festival Director.

“The NBO Film Festival exists to amplify those voices to the rest of the world and to bring them into dialogue with storytellers globally.”

The festival’s opening film is ‘How To Build A Library‘ directed by Maia Lekow and Christopher King.

Tickets for the NBO Film Festival 2025 will be available soon.