Cameroon Shines at SVAFF 16: Two Films, One Proud Nation
- Sahndra Fon Dufe
- Oct 30
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 1
By Sahndra Fon Dufe
Director of Media, Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF)
Festival Dates: October 10–13, 2025 Silicon Valley, California, USA
At this year’s Silicon Valley Film Festival, Cameroonian creatives took center stage by featuring two standout films from the Cameroonian talent pool, “Till Death” by Yana Billé-Chung and “Lights Out” by Enah John Scotteach. Each of these films reflected the nation’s cinematic evolution and growing international acclaim.
As both a Cameroonian and the festival’s Director of Media, I felt immense pride witnessing the vibrant storytelling, craftsmanship, and global relevance that these films brought to Silicon Valley’s big screen.
The first film is Till Death by Yana Billé-Chung. An elegant Tapestry of Love and Grief.
Till Death, directed and written by Yana Billé-Chung, is a short psychological drama produced by Constance Ejuma and Martina Mossell Lee, with Ndamo Damarise among its Cameroonian collaborators. The film follows a young couple who buy their dream home on the condition that the elderly owner stays with them until her death, but as she regains her vitality, unsettling secrets emerge. It stars Nancy Ma, Rosie Lee-Hooks, Kieran Roberts, Hanalei Roberts, and Audrey Drake, with cinematography by Jackie Moonves and editing by Sandrine Isambert. The 20-minute film has screened at SVAFF 16 and the Tokyo Short Film Festival, further establishing Billé-Chung as part of a new wave of Cameroonian filmmakers reshaping global African storytelling.
About the Writer:
Born in Yaoundé and raised between Cameroon and France, Yana Billé-Chung is a multilingual filmmaker now based in Los Angeles. Her career began under Oscar-nominated showrunner Michael Green (American Gods) and evolved as part of Netflix’s acclaimed animated series Blue Eye Samurai.
A graduate of the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, Yana’s work has screened at SXSW, Venice Circuit Off, and the Los Angeles Short Film Festival. Her upcoming feature documentary Father explores the hidden lives of children born to Catholic priests, a testament to her ongoing commitment to emotionally raw, socially resonant storytelling.
Through Till Death, she reaffirms her role as one of Cameroon’s most promising cinematic exports, merging cultural nuance with universal emotion.
Watch the trailer on FilmFreeway
The second Cameroon film is Lights Out, directed by award-winning Cameroonian filmmaker Enah John Scott, marks a bold new chapter in Cameroon’s evolving cinematic landscape. The film follows Wale Ojo as Lucas, a retired security guard searching for his missing daughter, who finds himself trapped in a dementia care facility where time, memory, and reality intertwine in haunting ways. The ensemble cast includes Shaffy Bello as Maria, Ngongang Elizabeth as Monica, Syndy Emade as Nurse Beri, and Libota MacDonald as Dr. Henry. Visually gripping and emotionally charged, Lights Out pushes the boundaries of psychological storytelling in African cinema, establishing Scott as one of Cameroon’s most daring directors.
The film was shot entirely in Cameroon, an unbelievable feat given the modest budget and the depth of its subject matter. At its heart lies a story about memory, love, and loss themes that mirror one of the fastest-rising health challenges across the continent.
In sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated 2.1 million people are living with dementia, a figure expected to triple by 2050 as life expectancy rises. In Cameroon alone, a community-based study in the Ntui Health District found dementia prevalence as high as 10.7 % among adults aged 60 and above, higher than many might imagine for a nation still building its geriatric care infrastructure.
For producer Carista, this story is deeply personal. She experienced the condition first-hand within her own family, watching the emotional and social toll it takes on both patients and caregivers. That lived experience grounds the film in compassion and authenticity — transforming what could have been a regional story into a universal meditation on love, aging, and the fragile beauty of the human mind.”
Lights Out combines haunting visuals with profound emotional depth. It was written by Buh Proxy Melvin and produced by Carista Asonganyi, both longtime collaborators with Scott on some of Cameroon’s famous cinematic projects like Half Heaven and The Fisherman’s Diary.
About the Director:
Enah John Scott, born in Wum, Cameroon, is one of the country’s most prolific directors, known for Decoded (2012), Whispers (2013), and the internationally acclaimed The Fisherman’s Diary (2020), which became Cameroon’s first-ever Oscar submission for Best International Feature. His later work Half Heaven (2022) earned him a Best Director nomination at the 2024 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).
An alumnus of the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa, Enah’s storytelling style merges realism, faith, and psychological intrigue making Lights Out a gripping and cerebral experience that lingers long after the credits roll.
Watch the trailer on FilmFreeway
The Women Powering Cameroon’s Cinematic Rise
One name that continues to shine in this movement is Carista Asonganyi , producer of Lights Out and founder of Check Sense Productions. Known for her work on Half Heaven (2023)the first Cameroonian film to screen in Nigerian cinemas, distributed by FilmOne EntertainmentCarista’s achievements represent a historic bridge between Cameroonian and Nigerian film industries.
Her film grossed over ₦14 million in seven weeks, marking a milestone for cross-border African cinema. Together with her creative partner Kang Quintus, Carista has helped propel Cameroonian films like The Fisherman’s Diary and Half Heaven toward global acclaim, bringing the country closer than ever to the Academy Awards shortlist.
A Growing Legacy for Cameroon
The presence of Cameroon at SVAFF 16 underscores the nation’s evolving cinematic voiceone marked by technical excellence, emotional authenticity, and global ambition.
From The Fisherman’s Diary to The Planter’s Plantation, Nganù, and Saving Mbango, Cameroonian films are increasingly finding homes in prestigious festivals across Africa, Europe, and North America. These works reveal a nation rich in stories and storytellers, eager to redefine how Africa is seen and heard on screen. As we look toward the next edition of SVAFF, one thing is clear: Cameroon is not just participating in global cinema, it's shaping it.
About the Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF)
Founded by Chike Nwoffiah, the Silicon Valley African Film Festival is the premier showcase of African cinema in the United States, celebrating authentic African stories and the voices behind them.
Now in its 16th year, the festival continues to provide a vibrant platform for filmmakers across the continent and the diaspora to connect with global audiences, educators, and industry stakeholders. The 2025 edition ran from October 10–13, 2025, in Silicon Valley, California, drawing filmmakers, dignitaries, and audiences from around the world.
Each year, SVAFF remains committed to its mission: “To celebrate the richness and diversity of African cinema, and to inspire a deeper understanding of Africa’s cultural heritage through film.”
As I often say, “We celebrate African stories, one frame at a time.”
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