The Kunie Foundation is proud to announce that its short film anthology, “Echoes From the Shadows,” has been officially selected for screening at the 2025 Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF), scheduled to take place from November 6 to 11, 2025.
Echoes From the Shadows tells deeply human stories from Iva Valley in Enugu, a community often left on the margins of public attention. Through a blend of documentary-style realism and narrative storytelling, the film captures the lived experiences of women, children, and youth who confront poverty, gender inequality, and social exclusion, yet hold on to resilience, hope, and the will to not just survive but to create positive change in society.
The film was developed as part of the Kunie Foundation’s broader mission to promote social inclusion, gender equity, and socio-economic transformation through data-driven advocacy and convening partnerships for action. Produced in collaboration with Afrochives Studio, Echoes From the Shadows humanises data and transforms statistics about deprivation and inequality into faces, voices, and emotions that policymakers and citizens can connect with. The three short films are conversation starters that explore masculinity and gender-based violence, the impact of poverty on aspiration, and how fragile health systems and social exclusion deepen inequality.
Speaking on the selection, Damilola Oyewusi, Executive Director of Kunie Foundation, described the recognition as “a reminder that stories can be powerful policy tools.”
“Storytelling helps us confront uncomfortable truths with empathy. ‘Echoes From the Shadows’ gives voice to people who are too often spoken about but rarely listened to. We have to listen, and platforms like AIFF help us move these experiences from the margins to the centre of development conversations. We want these stories to spark new conversations and inspire real action around poverty, gender, and social inclusion in Nigeria.”
For the Kunie Foundation, storytelling goes beyond awareness; it is a strategy for systemic change.
Now in its 22nd edition, the Abuja International Film Festival remains one of Africa’s most respected platforms for showcasing films that inspire dialogue and drive social impact. Kunie Foundation’s participation underscores its growing commitment to using creative media as a tool for advocacy, empathy, and transformation.
Founded by Frank Nweke II, the Foundation is guided by his commitment to systemic change and inclusive development, advancing innovative approaches to economic empowerment, gender equity, and social transformation.
Media Contact:
Uchenna Igboeme
Communications & Partnership Manager,
Kunie Foundation – www.kunie.org
[email protected]
+234(0)8160340985