In 2022, during a work and leisure trip to the Durban International Film Festival, we discovered an array of short films that showcased incredible quality and creativity. Despite some films having lesser technical quality, their charm and the creative processes of the directors captivated us. It was evident that significant and interesting cinematic work was happening in this part of the world, yet it was largely unknown.

While pursuing our master's degrees in Cultural Company Management, we conducted a research project on the status of short films and the film industry across Africa. Our research highlighted a significant lack of dedicated events showcasing short films on the continent. This prompted us to delve deeper into the cultural and structural challenges faced by African filmmakers in gaining global recognition.

One pivotal moment was meeting a young filmmaker from Kenya who shared his story. After studying arts in France, he returned to Nairobi to make films. Lacking opportunities to showcase his work at festivals or venues, he chose to promote his film on social media and premiere it on YouTube. This highlighted the real challenges emerging filmmakers face in getting their work seen and the crucial role festivals play in their careers.

In the following months, we interviewed several emerging artists. Some had won festival awards and had a concrete understanding of the festival circuit. These interviews gave us a clear overview of the film industry landscape across key regions of the continent. While countries like Nigeria offer better opportunities, others like Burundi offer almost none. Notably, the enthusiasm of each filmmaker we approached for interviews and shared our project with was inspiring.

By the end of 2023, we decided to engage directly with artists to gauge their interest in our initiative. In December, we launched a call for films and our website, aiming to measure public curiosity about African short films. We were pleasantly surprised by the substantial engagement we received, leading to insightful conversations with emerging filmmakers about their experiences and challenges.

Our call for films was successful, receiving nearly 100 submissions. We prepared our website to showcase our first batch of short films. Named the ASFO Showcase, this gallery featured 15 short films throughout May 2024. The initiative drew a large number of viewers and significant engagement for a first edition. The filmmakers appreciated the opportunity to have their films selected, generating substantial traffic and gratitude. The selected filmmakers had the opportunity to be featured in our screenings in London (UK), which for some of them was their first time being featured in such an event, especially outside their home country.

The consensus is clear: the short film medium presents challenges for all, but there is immense potential in elevating these artists and encouraging them to continue creating. This understanding fuels our commitment and underscores the importance of our mission to continue our work and give African short film a chance to be seen.