Accra Indie Filmfest (AiF) Wins British Council’s Festival Connect Grant To Organise AiF Edinburgh Connect In Scotland (UK)

Accra Indie Filmfest (AiF) has been awarded a British Council’s Festival Connect Grant 2025, a milestone achievement that will enable the festival to expand its global footprint through the creation of AiF Edinburgh Connect.

This initiative will be launched as part of the 2nd edition of the Napier Student Film Festival (NSFF), taking place from 5th to 7th November 2025 at theEdinburgh Napier University’s Merchiston and Craiglockhart Campus, in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Founded in 2019, Accra Indie Filmfest (AiF) has become one of Africa’s fastest-growing festivals for emerging filmmakers, showcasing independent short films while fostering cross-cultural collaborations. AiF has consistently provided a space where creativity thrives and where stories from Ghana and Africa are celebrated alongside global narratives.

The Napier Student Film Festival (NSFF), organisedannually by Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association (ENSA), is dedicated to championing student creativity and storytelling. Its mission is to connect local and international student filmmakers through screenings, workshops, and networking opportunities.

 With the support of the British Council’s Festival Connect Grant, AiF Edinburgh Connect will serve as a cultural bridge between Ghana and the UK. This special programme will spotlight African and diaspora filmmakers, facilitate academic and industry collaborations, and create avenues for knowledge exchange. By embedding AiF within NSFF, the project will open new opportunities for Ghanaian filmmakers to engage international audiences, build networks, and strengthen cultural diplomacy through film.

AiF Edinburgh Connect is part of the festival’s international outreach initiative called AiF International Connect and this seeks to create the opportunities that will amplify African stories globally while deepening ties between the Ghanaian film industry and the international film community.

“This grant recognises the power of festivals to create meaningful global connections, and we are super excited to be at the forefront of it all” said Evan Eghan, Founder of Accra Indie Filmfest.

For the Ghanaian film industry, this partnership represents a groundbreaking step in expanding distribution, collaboration and visibility for emerging talent. It signals the growing recognition of Ghana as a hub of creativity and a vital player in the global creative economy.

The collaboration between AiF and NSFF, powered by the British Council’s Festival Connect programme, highlights the shared belief that film is a universal language that can bridge cultures, inspire conversations and shape the future of creative industries worldwide.