1 Sep

African Diaspora Film Festival Paris 2025

FIFDA 2025: Heritage and Memory of the African Diaspora on Screen

Why this article?

The International African Diaspora Film Festival (FIFDA) returns to Paris for its 15th edition, from September 5 to 7, 2025, at CGR Paris Lilas and Cinéma Saint-André des Arts. Since its creation in 2009, FIFDA has become a vital cultural space for dialogue.

This year’s theme – heritage and memory – questions what we inherit, embrace, or resist, through 11 films from 10 countries.

A committed and eclectic program

Opening: Breaking Boundaries (Dina Burlis, 2024) – portrait of gymnast Nastasya Generalova, the first Black American rhythmic gymnast to aim for the Olympic Games.
South Africa: Past & Present: Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba (Mika Kaurismäki, 2011) and Legacy: The Decolonized History of South Africa (Tara Moore, 2024).
Forgotten figures: Yambo Ouologuem, la blessure (Kalidou Sy, 2025).
Contemporary diaspora stories: La Fête des Pères (Ayana O’Shun, 2025), Debruya (Thaïzen Ringuet and Hector Pindard, 2024).
Closing: Les Fourmies (Yassine Fennane, 2025), a Moroccan drama about migration and solidarity.

Critical analysis

FIFDA 2025 blends aesthetic, political, and emotional perspectives. These films highlight the richness of the African diaspora through narratives of exile, resilience, and creativity. From the Harlem Renaissance (Zora Neale Hurston and Claude McKay) to Caribbean and Haitian stories, the festival amplifies voices often overlooked. It explores traditions like Chad’s “diya” and the lingering impact of apartheid in South Africa. Above all, it shows how cinema opens dialogue, challenges stereotypes, and fosters collective memory. This edition confirms that heritage is never static but constantly reshaped by new generations.