PHOTOS | 16th Silicon Valley African Film Festival Opening Night Ceremony

Event: Silicon Valley African Film Festival Opening Night Ceremony
Date: October 9-12, 2025
Location: Historic Hoover Theater, San Jose
Photos: Andrew Caulfield and Natalie Schrik for Drew Altizer Photography

From October 10-12, filmmakers representing 30 countries from the African diaspora visited San Jose for the Silicon Valley African Film Festival to share their visions of creativity over the span of three days through screenings, dialogues, and live performances.

Over the weekend, attendees experienced a variety of themes, formats, and engagements. Filmmakers engaged in post-screening dialogues to discuss their creative processes and inspiration with audiences. Showcasing a total of 90 films, the SVAFF demonstrates the power of storytelling and building cross-cultural connections.

Founder of the SVAFF, Chike Nwoffiah, said of this year’s celebrations, “All the filmmakers and their creative teams are very gratified by the increasing interest and enormous support of the growing international audiences.” Nwoffiah, a filmmaker himself, started the program sixteen years ago to connect a growing film industry to new audiences.

Silicon Valley Chief of Protocol, Deanna Tryon, who was awarded the UBUNTU Award for her service to the community, shared, “It is in our DNA at the Silicon Valley Office of Protocol to help unite international cultures through excellent shared activities such as the highly-acclaimed Silicon Valley African Film Festival in San Jose” stated Chief of Protocol Deanna Tryon. “It is an honor and privilege to help showcase the creative talent of the African continent to a wider audience.”

The SVAFF highlights a burgeoning film industry in Africa. According to a 2022 UNESCO report, it is estimated that the sector currently accounts for US$5 billion and employs five million people. The Pan African Federation of Filmmakers estimates the sector has the potential for US$20 billion and 20 million jobs.

​Notable attendees
Chike Nwoffiah – Founder, SVAFF, Deanna Tryon – Silicon Valley Chief of Protocol, Awardee, State Assemblymember Ash Kalra – 27th Assembly District, Supervisor Lisa Gauthier – San Mateo County, Councilmember Webster Lincoln – East Palo Alto