The feature and documentary films that we show, the majority of which were made by African directors, celebrate Africa’s achievements, expose Africa’s failures, and reveal the possibilities for a more hopeful future. They show us pictures of Africa through the eyes of Africans, rather than a vision of Africa that is packaged primarily for western viewers. The films represent African concerns that are political, historical, and social. This year’s films cover a wide range of themes and topics, including African identity, liberation, emigration, displacement, dictatorship, racism and war, issues of trauma, conflict and reconciliation, peace, truth, justice, forgiveness, and the position of women.

The Astoria/LIC has been dubbed The United Nations of New York City: according to newspapers, with people from 120 different countries living and working in these diverse and eccentric New York neighborhood. Astoria/LIC makes a terrific host for this new tradition, on par with such established art locales as the Village, SoHo or Williamsburg.
We have every intention of making the festival successful and memorable for years to come.

UNAFF celebrates the power of films dealing with human rights, environmental themes, population, migration, women’s issues, refugees, homelessness, racism, health, universal education, war and peace. UNAFF has screened some of the most awarded and talked about documentaries in the industry including five that went on to win Academy Awards and seventeen that were nominated.