Now for its second version, the Inclusive Lens Awards, a strong celebration of filmmakers, creators, and storytellers who’re pushing boundaries and reshaping views via movie and tv, have revealed its finalists for the 2025 version.
Offered by Bronx Colours, knowledgeable make-up model rooted in range and daring self-expression, the Inclusive Lens Awards highlight African tales that replicate the continent’s wealthy cultural material and amplify voices too typically unnoticed of the body.
The Inclusive Lens Awards shines a light-weight on daring, genuine works that problem the established order and champion illustration.
The 2025 awards ceremony will happen on 2 September 2025, at Fame Week Africa in Cape City, uniting finalists from throughout the African diaspora with world trade leaders attending Africa’s movie and tv gathering.
“As conversations round range develop more difficult globally, Africa should lead in reframing a story that honours the multitude of voices on this continent,” says Martin Hiller, portfolio director of Fame Week Africa.
This yr’s ceremony will characteristic a keynote deal with by award-winning social innovator and incapacity inclusion advocate Tarryn Tomlinson and can honour excellent fiction and non-fiction works throughout three classes: Range in Youngsters’ Programming, Illustration of Incapacity, and Illustration of LGBTQIA+.
These awards rejoice the tales that ignite change, problem assumptions, and redefine Africa’s place in world storytelling.
The 2025 Inclusive Lens Awards finalists
Range in Child’s Programming
These kids’s exhibits middle African id, values, and creativity via participating storytelling.
Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes (South Africa, Canada, France) contains a courageous Black woman and her mates defending their neighborhood with coronary heart and tech.
Kunda and Buddies (United Kingdom) gently explores journey and character-building in an inclusive African setting.
In the meantime, Waka Waka Moo (Namibia) blends puppetry and reside motion to show life expertise utilizing native languages and playful, culturally grounded narratives.
In Iwájú (Nigeria), Tola and Kole navigate a high-tech Lagos, unearthing hidden societal truths.
Iyanu (Nigeria), follows a brave orphan discovering magical powers in a Yoruba-inspired realm as she rises to guard her homeland.
In Supa Workforce 4 (South Africa & United Kingdom), 4 teenage women from Lusaka stability faculty and superhero missions beneath the mentorship of a retired spy.
These animated collection are celebrated for his or her Afro-futuristic fashion and Black woman heroes, cultural mythology, and urgent social themes formed by genuine African voices.
Illustration of Incapacity
This compelling trio of tales highlights perseverance, inclusion and energy.
Caleb: Past the Chunk (South Africa) follows shark assault survivor Caleb Swanepoel as he bravely returns to the ocean, embracing therapeutic and renewal.
Dealing with Ahead (South Africa) captures para surfers making ready for Para Surf 2024, revealing how sport transforms lives.
Regular To Me (South Africa) gives heartfelt perception into the every day experiences of adults with particular wants working at a protecting workshop in Fish Hoek.
The narrative lineup options deeply private journeys similar to dwelling with a incapacity, discovering your autonomy and maternal love.
All people Loves Touda (Morocco, France, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway) follows a Moroccan singer striving for a greater life for herself and her deaf son.
In Particular (Nigeria), a person with autism, begins to heal via the care of a form companion.
Ume (Breathe) (Nigeria) presents a strong sibling reckoning as a paralyzed lady seeks assisted demise, igniting a deeply emotional response from her sister.
In Diepe Waters (South Africa), the Swarts household run a aggressive swimming membership the place Olympic goals collide with secrets and techniques and rivalries, that includes an empowering portrayal of incapacity via a in a different way abled swimmer competing on equal footing. The collection can also be recognised for its inclusive illustration of Angie, a younger woman with albinism who breaks obstacles in South African tv.
In the meantime, One Weeks (South Africa) gives comedian aid as Fana, a highschool dropout relationship a high lawyer, navigates life with stunning knowledge from her precocious 10-year-old daughter.
Illustration of LGBTQIA+
The Non-Scripted Movies slate showcases numerous LGBTQ+, fame and Black narratives throughout Africa.
Highlights embody private journeys in Black Ladies and Intercourse (South Africa), crime and legacy in Onthou Vi Fredo? (South Africa), and queer creativity in Younger, Gifted & Queer (South Africa).
Queer identities are being reimagined within the realm of scripted movies.
Blind Spot (South Africa) gives a nuanced portrayal of queer Black girls as they navigate love and vulnerability.
Within the genre-defying sci-fi dance movie Ecstatic Exit (South Africa), two intergalactic vacationers reconnect by journeying via totally different dimensions.
Nyame Mma (Ghana) employs magical realism to discover themes of rejection, heartbreak, and societal stress skilled by a homosexual Ghanaian man who returns house.
South African talk-show aptitude comes alive in Die Tollie & Manila Present, whereas reality-based storytelling shines in This Physique Works For Me and The G Checklist (South Africa), follows the lives of three queer personalities — Kyle Clarke, Lula Odiba, and Mthaux — as they navigate fame, id, ambition, and relationships in eGoli’s queer scene.
Daring and daring narratives are seen in She, He, They (Nigeria), which is recognised for its groundbreaking portrayal of LGBTQ+ lives in — a context the place visibility is each radical and dangerous.
Smoke & Mirrors (South Africa) provides suspense with a salon-owning protagonist and Youngins (South Africa) explores id via teenage friendships.
Judges
The 2025 Inclusive Lens Awards judging panel brings collectively a powerhouse of artistic leaders, teachers, and advocates for inclusive critiquing.
They embody filmmaker and lecturer Dylan Valley, Reel Tales founder Esther Pearl, queer cinema scholar Gibson Ncube, author Karen Jeynes and leisure veterans like Lala Tuku, Maganthrie Pillay, and Keymanna Paulas.
They’re joined by trade consultants in storytelling, distribution and inclusion; Graeme Swanepoel, Jason Fiddler, Louise Callcott-Stevens, Tarha McKenzie and Tongai Furusa.
For occasion particulars and finalist profiles, go to the Inclusive Lens Awards page.
