ADIFFPresenting International Cinema to Local Theaters


New York, NY –  The African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF NYC) is proud to announce its return to New York City this fall, running November 28–December 14, 2025 at distinguished venues including Cinema Village, Symphony Space at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater, The Forum, and Teachers College.


Now in its 33rd year, ADIFF will once again showcase a bold and diverse lineup of stories from across the African diaspora and around the globe. The 2025 program will feature films that challenge stereotypes, celebrate resilience, and shine a light on urgent social issues within America, United Kingdom, India, the Caribbean, and more. During the festival, audiences will have the opportunity to engage directly with the filmmakers and gain insight into the creative and cultural inspirations behind select films. 


Highlights include: 


  • Brides (United Kingdom, 2025) –  A Sundance 2025 selection, this acclaimed debut from director, Nadia Fall,  about two Muslim teens in the UK lured by ISIS was praised by Variety and Roger Ebert for its star-making performances and heartbreaking storytelling.

  • Village Keeper (Canada, 2024) –  A TIFF 2024 world premiere and Canadian Screen Award nominee (including Best Picture), this powerful debut follows a Jamaican-Canadian widow confronting violence, trauma, and resilience in Toronto’s Lawrence Heights apartment complex. 

  • Sugar Island (Dominican Republic, 2024) – Set in the sugarcane fields of the Dominican Republic, this Afrofuturistic film explores the legacy of colonial exploitation through the story of Makenya, a Dominican-Haitian teenager confronting labor, identity, and survival.

  • Rhythm of Dammam (United States/India, 2024) – A vibrant narrative about twelve-year-old Jayaram Siddi, who is haunted by the spirit of his late grandfather. As he begins to lose touch with reality, his family turns to tribal rituals and the healing power of Dammam music to help him find balance and confront intergenerational trauma. 


The African Diaspora International Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In addition to its theatrical screenings, ADIFF continues to make films accessible to diverse audiences through special outreach initiatives:


  • Films in the Classroom Program – Held at The Forum at Columbia University, ADIFF offers special screenings free of charge to students, with teachers invited to bring their classes to experience world cinema in an educational setting.

    Senior Program – Seniors across New York City will have the opportunity to attend a select screening free of charge, expanding accessibility to cultural experiences

  • ADIFF Mini Virtual Festival – For audiences who cannot attend in person, ADIFF will host a Mini Virtual Festival, featuring twelve films from the festival lineup available to stream worldwide.


The 33rd Annual New York African Diaspora International Film Festival is made possible thanks to the support of institutions and individuals dedicated to the arts and cultural equity, including ArtMattan Films, New York State Council on the Arts, The Harlem Community Development Corporation, The New York City Council in the Arts, West Harlem Development Corporation, The Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation administered by LMCC, The Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Community Affairs and The George Clement Bond Center for African Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, The International Organization of La Francophonie New York, The Netherlands Consulate-General in New York, Villa Albertine and the French Embassy in the United States. The festival is funded in part by a grant from the New York City Tourism Foundation. 


“One of the highlights of this year’s festival is a celebration of current Caribbean creativity and artistry within the African diaspora. Films like Sugar Island and Village Keeper give audiences a taste of strong flavor, bringing the spirit of the Caribbean to the global stage,”  says ADIFF Co-Director, Dr. Reinaldo B. Spech.


Tickets for ADIFF are affordably priced to ensure broad access to international cinema. General admission is $15, while VIP and gala screenings with receptions range from $30-40. Seniors (65+) and students with valid ID can attend for $13, with tickets and festival passes available at www.nyadiff.org


ABOUT THE AFRICAN DIASPORA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 


Established in 1993, the African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF) is a Harlem-based, minority-led non-profit international film festival. Its mission is to present, interpret, and educate about films that explore the human experience of people of color worldwide. ADIFF aims to inspire imaginations, disrupt stereotypes, and help transform attitudes that perpetuate injustice. The festival expands traditional views and perceptions of the Black experience by showcasing award-winning, socially relevant documentary and fiction films about people of color, from Peru to Zimbabwe, and from the USA to Belgium and New Zealand to Jamaica. www.nyadiff.org


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