The African Film Press (AFP) Critics Prize heads to Kenya this month, partnering with the Kilifi Creek Festival for its second edition from 23–31 October 2026.
The prize’s East African debut, Kilifi Creek is its third host, following presentations at Lagos’s S16 Film Festival (won by Dika Ofoma for "Obi Is a Boy") and Locarno Open Doors (awarded to Ariel Añez for "Submergido").
Founded in 2025 by Zippy Kimundu, Mumo Liku, and Saitabao Kaiyare, with Kevin Mwachiro as Festival Director, Kilifi Creek combines film screenings with workshops, industry sessions, performances, exhibitions and community events.
Its inaugural edition, held 11–18 October 2025, presented 33 films from 15 countries across 47 screenings and seven venues
For the 2026 edition of Kilifi Creek Festival, AFP will convene an independent critics jury to select the winning film from the festival slate.
Established to integrate African critics into festival award infrastructure, the prize also guarantees continuing editorial coverage across AFP’s founding outlets: Akoroko, Sinema Focus, and What Kept Me Up.