Alexander Scott is back with another debrief from the trenches of New York's independent film festivals. This installment comes straight from the first week of The 32nd African Film Festival in New York City, hosted by Film at Lincoln Center.

Feature films cited:

• Freedom Way (2024, dir. Afolabi Olalekan)

• Mwezé (2019, dir. David-Pierre Fila)

• Identity Pieces (1998, dir. Mwezé Ngangura)

• Memories of Love Returned (2025, dir. Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine)

• Tree of Authenticity (2025, dir. Sammy Baloji)

Short films cited:

• Grandma (2024, dir. Ahmed Samir)

• Nwa (Black) (2024. dir. Hans Augustave)

• Sister Salad Days (2024, dir. Adesola Thomas)

• Where Are You From? (2025, dir. Devin Powell)

• Green Bay (2024, dir. Shawn Antoine II)

• Run Like We (2024, dir. Rhys Aaron Lewis)

• Blinded By the Lights (2025, dir. Francis Y. Brown)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yourtownisnext.substack.com

Reporting in the past from New Directors New Films in New York, it's a new side project for Alex Scott!

This is an unscripted, unadorned outlet for various observations from the many film festivals I attend each year. NDNF seemed as good a place to start as any, and it has "New" in the title. Expect inconsistent, sporadic updates throughout the year.

Films mentioned:

Familiar Touch

Lost Chapters (Los capítulos perdidos)

Drowning Dry

Kyuka Before Summer's End

Two Times João Liberada

No Sleep Till

Holy Electricity

Shorts: "Landscapes of Longing," "You Can't See It From Here," "In Retrospect," "The Inhabitants"

Follow Alexander Scott on BlueSky @WittiestManAlive

Follow your town is next. Media on BlueSky, Twitter and Instagram @yourtownisnext

Subscribe to the your town is next. Substack for essays, podcasts, videos and more

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yourtownisnext.substack.com