2025 Award Winners

Africa’s directors, storytellers and filmmakers were in the spotlight at the FAME Shorts Film Festival Awards on 3 September 2025 at the Radisson Red in Cape Town. The ceremony was a much-anticipated prelude to the official FAME Shorts Film Festival which runs from 4 September until 6 September at The Labia Cinema, Cape Town’s oldest independent cinema as part of FAME Week Africa.

The winners were selected from the programme of 31 short films that explore themes of identity, freedom, and resistance. From horror to comedy, documentary to sci-fi, the FAME Shorts Film Festival is a short-form cinema format that enables film makers to make independent work – a kind of calling card for their talent and storytelling abilities.

This year’s films were curated into four themes: Night Terrors, In Family We Trust, Here for the Underdog and Tender Riot. FAME Shorts Film Festival has reaffirmed its commitment to elevating African perspectives and pushing the boundaries of independent filmmaking and the awards ceremony recognised creatives who were taking the initiative.

Speaking to the Awards, Lerato Bokako, the Creative Director of the FAME Shorts Film Festival congratulated the winners by urging the public to come and have a taste of the talent that is coming out of Africa.

The 2025 FAME Shorts Film Festival Award Winners are:

• Best Screenplay: Belinda – Isaac Kasende (Director)
• Best Score/song: Ecstatic Exit – James Matthes and Keith Kavayi (Composers)
• Best Make-up and hair styling: JIMBI – Ester Nakaziba (Hair and Make-up Stylist)
• Best Production Design: The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Sèyí Àjàyí – Christelle Matou (Production Designer)
• Best Director: King George – Ari Kruger (Director)
• Best Actor: King George – Brent Palmer as George (Actor)
• Best Actress: Belinda – Muadi Ilung (Actress)
• Best Supporting Actor: Punter – Tiago Marques (Actor)
• Best Supporting Actress: Belinda – Annie Robinson Grealy (Actress)
• Best Costume Design: The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Sèyí Àjàyí – Yety Akinola (Costume Designer)
• Best LGBTQ+ Film: Blind Spots – Miselwa “Missy” Ngamlana (Director)
• Best Student Film: V’S SECRET – Bassma Farah Nancy (Director)
• Best Documentary: Onthou vi Fredo? – Cleveland Hopp (Writer and Director)
• Best Short Film: The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Sèyí Àjàyí – Abbesi Akhamie (Director)
• Best Animation: Pal – Isaac Kannigan (Director)

Vivian Machuene Chuene, TikTok Content Partnerships Lead (Sub-Saharan Africa), presented the Outstanding Contribution to African Cinema Award, a new category celebrating filmmakers who have done groundbreaking work in the short film space. The award went to Cindy Lee.

Director Abbesi Akhamie, winner of the Best Short Film at FAME Shorts, celebrated the recognition as a milestone, marking her first award after the film’s premiere across multiple international festivals.

“It feels very special to be recognized by FAME Week,” she shared. “This win is for Africa! FAME Shorts is carving a space for loud and unapologetic African voices to be heard globally. Whether through fashion, hair or film, the African continent is the hotspot of filmmaking and we are proving it. Our team worked hard to create this film and we are proud to walk away with these accolades.”

The 2025 FAME Shorts Film Festival takes place at The Labia Theatre from 4 – 6 September and audiences can expect a reel of bold African stories. This year’s award-winning films reflect the power of complex narratives resonating with many and underscoring the continent’s growing influence in global storytelling.

FAME Shorts Film Festival is open to the public and tickets can be purchased for R50 per session on Quicket and at The Labia Theatre.