Creative Africa Nexus (Canex), an initiative of the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank), is thrilled to announce the launch of the third edition of its highly anticipated short film competition, Canex Shorts. This competition is designed to showcase and celebrate the talents of emerging filmmakers from Africa and the Diaspora.
Filmmakers aged between 18 and 35 years are invited to participate in the competition for a chance to win a cash prize of $2,000 in each of the three categories: Best Fiction, Best Documentary, and Best Animation. To be eligible, participants must be African individuals residing on the continent, in the diaspora, or in the Caribbean. Each filmmaker can submit only one film for consideration, for which they must hold all rights. The submitted films should have been produced in 2023 or later and can be in any language.
In addition to the cash prize, winners of Canex Shorts will have the opportunity to showcase their films at Canex at IATF2025, scheduled to take place in Algiers, Algeria from 4 – 10 September 2025. This platform will not only provide exposure for the filmmakers but also allow them to network with potential investors and partners at one of the largest gatherings of creatives on the continent.
To enter the competition, filmmakers are required to submit their films, which should not exceed five minutes in length, through the Film Freeway digital platform. A selection committee will curate a shortlist of 30 films – 10 per category – from all entries, which will then be submitted to a jury consisting of renowned film experts from across the continent. The jury will determine the winning film in each category during Canex at IATF2025.
Canex at IATF2025 serves as a unique platform for fostering business opportunities, collaboration, partnerships, and inspiration within the creative industry. Participants at the event will include creatives, policymakers, financial institutions, business leaders, development partners, and thought leaders from various creative and cultural industries such as film, music, fashion, culinary arts, sports, and visual arts.
Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President of Intra-African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank, emphasized the significance of platforms like Canex Shorts in promoting African storytelling globally. She stated, “Africa’s film industry, estimated at over $5 billion, is thriving and brimming with untapped potential. At Afreximbank, we are committed to unlocking this immense value by supporting initiatives like Canex Shorts that aim to propel African storytelling to the global stage.”
Filmmakers interested in entering the 2025 Canex Shorts competition can visit Film Freeway. To register to attend Canex at IATF for free, please visit canex.africa.
