The Accra Indie Filmfest (AiF) has been awarded a 2025 British Council Festival Connect Grant, marking a significant milestone in the festival’s international growth.
The grant will support the creation of AiF Edinburgh Connect, a cultural exchange initiative set to launch in Scotland this November.
The initiative will debut as part of the second edition of the Napier Student Film Festival (NSFF), scheduled from 5 to 7 November 2025 at Edinburgh Napier University’s Merchiston and Craiglockhart campuses.
Founded in 2019, the Accra Indie Filmfest has emerged as one of Africa’s fastest-growing platforms for independent short films, spotlighting emerging filmmakers and fostering global collaboration.
The festival provides a creative space where African stories are shared and celebrated alongside international narratives.
The NSFF, organised by the Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association, is dedicated to championing student creativity. It brings together local and international student filmmakers for screenings, workshops, and networking opportunities.
Through the British Council’s Festival Connect programme, *AiF Edinburgh Connect* will act as a cultural bridge between Ghana and the UK. The programme aims to highlight African and diaspora filmmakers, encourage academic and industry partnerships, and promote knowledge sharing between the two countries.
“AiF Edinburgh Connect is part of the festival’s international outreach initiative called ‘AiF International Connect.’ This seeks to create opportunities that will amplify African stories globally while deepening ties between the Ghanaian film industry and the international film community. This grant recognises the power of festivals to create meaningful global connections, and we are super excited to be at the forefront of it all,” said Evan Eghan, Founder of Accra Indie Filmfest.
The initiative signals a major boost for Ghana’s creative sector, opening doors for emerging talent to reach international audiences and build lasting partnerships. It also reinforces Ghana’s position as a rising hub in the global film and creative economy.
The collaboration between AiF and NSFF underlines a shared belief in the power of film as a universal language capable of bridging cultures, sparking conversations, and shaping the future of creative industries worldwide.
