17th Annual Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF)
Celebrating 17 years of Connecting Communities, Cultures and Continents!
Set in Silicon Valley, California, the high-tech capital of the world, SVAFF is a highly respected destination event that draws hundreds of out of state and international guests. SVAFF is exclusively focused on films made by filmmakers from Africa and its diaspora. The festival has built a substantial following and has become an annual destination film event that draws out of state and international guests to Silicon Valley.
Aptly themed “Africa through the African lenses”, the mission of the Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) is to promote an understanding and appreciation of Africa and Africans through moving images. In fulfillment of its mission, SVAFF:
1.) Curates a world-class festival of African films and provides our audience access to the richness, diversity and vitality of Africa’s creative expressions.
2.) Promotes cultural literacy by hosting post-screening dialogues so our audience can engage and interact with African filmmakers on issues of personal, local and global significance.
3.) Promotes ideas exchange and collaborations between American and African film industry and allied services practitioners.
From our red carpet reception to film screenings, visual arts exhibit, panel discussions, live performances, African food, Fashion show, African market, etc., the entire festival weekend offers unique social and artistic visions that engage our audience in thought-provoking dialogue, and offer film artists and film lovers alike an opportunity to connect.
Filmmakers also visit key Silicon Valley tech companies and interact with their staff and products.
Join us as we celebrate 17 years of creating a global community of African ancestry storytellers!
The 16th Silicon Valley African Film Festival will take place on October 8–11, 2026.
Awards in all categories are presented during the Closing / Awards Ceremony and all films shortlisted films automatically qualify for awards:
Narrative Feature
Narrative Short
Documentary full length
Documentary Short length
Animation
Special Awards may be given at the discretion of the festival board of directors and jury, including:
Emerging Filmmaker Award
Cultural Icon Award
Special Recognition Awards for directing, acting, cinematography, sound design, editing, etc.
All filmmakers receive official certificates of participation and those in attendance receive "goody bags" with lots of treats inside.
The Board can also choose to honor a filmmaker, patron or friend of the festival with an award not listed.
