African Film Press (AFP), an alliance of independent Africa-focused film platforms, has launched the AFP Critics Prize.
Taking inspiration from the long-running FIPRESCI award, created by the International Federation of Film Critics in 1930, the new prize is part of AFP’s drive to support critics and filmmakers across the African continent.
The inaugural award will debut in Lagos, Nigeria in December at the Surreal16 Film Festival (S16), the pan-African arthouse event founded by Nigerian filmmakers Abba T. Makama, C.J. “Fiery” Obasi, and Michael Omonua in 2021, following their collaboration on the Locarno-selected anthology film Juju Stories.
AFP announced the new prize at a meeting in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Friday.
“We see the AFP Critics Prize as an important step in centering African critical voices in festival culture, while also creating visibility and recognition for filmmakers on the continent,” said AFP co-founder Tambay Obenson.
“Surreal16 was the natural place to begin. The timing aligned, and their focus on bold, independent storytelling made it the right partner for launching the prize.”
AFP was founded in 2024 and brings together three established platforms — Akoroko (pan-African and global industry focus), Sinema Focus (Kenya and East Africa), and What Kept Me Up (Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa).
Additional regional partners are set to join in the coming months, including a new platform focused on Southern Africa which launches in September.
The creation of AFP was supported by funding from German development agency, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) as well as early-stage investment from private backers.
The initiative is building a pan-African network of film journalists and critics dedicated to covering and analyzing Africa’s screen industries, and to elevating public discourse around African cinema from within.
The first recipient of the new prize will be selected by AFP’s three founding editors, Tambay Obenson (Akoroko), Jennifer Ochieng (Sinema Focus), and Ikeade Oriade (What Kept Me Up), with the aim of extending editions to a wider pool of African and diaspora critics.
The award will include a cash prize, a trophy, and a certificate.
“We’re excited the inaugural AFP Critics Prize will be presented at Surreal16. From the beginning, our festival has been about creating space for risk-taking and originality, and partnering with African Film Press ensures African critics are part of shaping that conversation,” said Obasi, whose credits include Sundance Title ‘Mami Wata’, which was Nigeria’s submission to the 2023 Oscars.
The partnership with Surreal16 will be the first of several planned collaborations, with AFP planning to award the prize at four African festivals annually.
