The acclaimed African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF) returns to its Chicago home at FACETS Film Forum (1517 W. Fullerton Ave.) for its 22nd annual edition, running from June 13 to 15, 2025. Presented in collaboration with FACETS, ADIFF Chicago continues its vital mission to amplify diverse voices spotlighting the human experience of people of color all over the world and share powerful stories of resistance, identity, and resilience from across the globe with Chicago audiences.
Founded in Harlem in 1993, ADIFF has brought films to Chicago, and the 2025 Chicago edition continues this legacy with a compelling program of international cinema that explores themes of identity, ancestral memory, resistance, and community healing.
This year’s curated selection features 12 impactful films from 12 countries, showcasing award-winning cinema and thought-provoking new works from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The Festival offers Chicagoans a unique window into the human experience of people of color all over the world.
“We are thrilled to bring ADIFF back to Chicago and to once again partner with FACETS, a cornerstone of the city’s film culture, as well as with the DuSable Heritage Association, a longtime supporter of ADIFF Chicago,” says ADIFF Co-Founder and Co-Director Dr. Reinaldo Barroso-Spech. “This year’s lineup offers stories we believe will deeply resonate with Chicago’s diverse communities.”
Festival Highlights:
Opening Night Discovery – “Siddis: Blacks of India” (Friday, June 13): The Festival opens with a fascinating exploration of India’s African-origin Siddi community. The evening includes the joyous musical journey “All the World’s a Stage,” followed by a reception, and the U.S. Premiere of “Rhythm of Dammam,” a moving drama about ancestral healing. Director Jayan Cherian will be present for a post-screening Q&A.
Women-Centered Stories: Powerful narratives include “Village Keeper” (TIFF Official Selection 2024), exploring grief and resilience in Toronto’s Caribbean community and “Brides” (Sundance 2025), a poignant UK drama.
Reframing History: Numerous Chicago premieres challenge colonial legacies and traditional histories:
“Selling a Colonial War”: An exposé on Dutch tactics in Indonesia.
“Legacy: The Decolonized History of South Africa”: Winner, ADIFF NY’s Best Film Directed by a Woman of Color award. Dir. Tara Moore. Three decades after apartheid, inequality persists. This documentary explores the psychological and systemic legacies through a rare lens: the grandson of apartheid’s architect. Winner. Chicago Premiere.
“The Man Died”: Based on “The Man Died: Prison Notes of Wole Soyinka” by Nigerian literary giant and 1986 Nobel Laureate in Literature, Wole Soyinka, who recounts his harrowing experience during the Nigerian Civil War. This film is a stirring testament to the power of conscience under tyranny. Chicago Premiere.
Family Films: Inspiring stories for all ages include “Breaking Boundaries,” following the only Black rhythmic gymnast on Team USA, Nastasya Generalova, who aspires to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, while navigating identity, ambition, and a complex relationship with her mother. Chicago Premiere. Live Zoom Q&A with Nastasya Generalova; and “The Wall Street Boy, Kipkemboi,” about a Kenyan teen financial prodigy.
Here is a snapshot of some of the other films. The full program is available at chicago.eventive.org.
Friday, June 13, 3:30 p.m.– “Mother Suriname;” Dir. Tessa Leuwsha. A passionate teacher in Brussels uses literature to inspire her students, while facing backlash for challenging societal expectations. A sensitive portrait of courage and the transformative power of education. Chicago Premiere
6:00 p.m.– “All the World’s a Stage;” Dir. Nirmal Chander, India. This documentary celebrates SIDI GOMA, a performance group comprised of Black Indians descended from East African ancestors. A story of struggle and celebration through dance and music. Chicago Premiere.
7:00 p.m.– Opening Night Reception
Saturday, June 14; 3:00 p.m.– “Village Keeper;” Dir. Karen Chapman, Canada/Jamaica. A Jamaican mother in Toronto battles grief and social pressures while preserving family bonds in a vibrant Jamaican Diaspora community. TIFF 2024 Official Selection. Chicago Premiere.
6:30 p.m.– Haitian Cultural Reception (Presented with DuSable Heritage Association)
7:30 p.m.– “1804: The Hidden History of Haiti;” Dir. Tariq Nasheed. This explosive film traces Haiti’s victorious revolution—the world’s first successful slave rebellion—and its far-reaching consequences on global Black liberation. Chicago Premiere; Reception follows.
1:30 p.m.– “The Wall Street Boy, Kipkemboi;” Dir. Charles Uwagbai, Canada/Kenya. How could a Kenyan farm boy outwit global finance? This gripping thriller traces a teen’s meteoric rise, his arrest, and the lengths the establishment will go to silence him. NAACP Award Nominee. Chicago Premiere.
6:00 p.m.– “San Juan Hill: Manhattan’s Lost Neighborhood” (Presented with Palenque LSNA);
Dir. Stanley Nelson, USA. The forgotten history of San Juan Hill, a once-thriving Black and Latino neighborhood in Manhattan destroyed to make space for Lincoln Center, is brought back to life through archival footage and interviews. Chicago Premiere. Panel with producer Rita Coburn and guests. Closing Night Reception.
TICKETS AND PASSES;
• $13 General Admission
• $10 Students, Seniors, FACETS Members
• $25 Double Bill Opening Night (2 films + Q&A + Reception)
• $20 Opening & Closing Night Programs (film + Q&A or panel + Reception)
• $15 Haitian Program Screening + Reception (1804)
• $65 All-Access Festival Pass
• $30 Day Pass – Friday
• $40 Day Passes – Saturday & Sunday
Purchase tickets and explore the full Chicago lineup at https://chicago.eventive.org/schedule.
Founded in 1993 and based in Harlem, the African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF) is a minority-led nonprofit that brings global Black experiences to the forefront through transformative cinema.
Founded in 1975, FACETS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting people to independent ideas through film.
The ADIFF Chicago is made possible thanks to the generous support of FACETS Film Forum, ArtMattan Productions, Palenque LSNA and the DuSable Heritage Association.
Elaine Hegwood Bowen, M.S.J., is the Entertainment Editor for the Chicago Crusader. She is a National Newspaper Publishers Association Entertainment Writing’ award winner, contributor to “Rust Belt Chicago” and the author of “Old School Adventures from Englewood: South Side of Chicago.” For info, Old School Adventures from Englewood-South Side of Chicago (lulu.com)