African Film Press founders. From L-R: Tambay Obenson (Akoroko), Jennifer Ochieng (Sinema Focus), Ikeade Oriade (What Kept Me Up). [Courtesy]
African Film Press (AFP), the alliance behind Akoroko, Sinema Focus and What Kept Me Up, has partnered with the 2026 edition of the Locarno Open Doors programme and will present the AFP Critics Prize to one selected project.
The award includes a $500 cash prize (about Sh64,700), a certificate and continued editorial coverage across AFP's media platforms.
AFP launched the prize in December 2025 at the S16 Film Festival in Lagos, where Nigerian filmmaker Dika Ofoma won the inaugural award for his short film Obi Is a Boy.
Ofoma was also part of the 2025 Open Doors Projects lineup with his feature project Kachifo (Till the Morning Comes), which secured three awards.
