About RIyo Films
RIyo Films is a bespoke, full-service production company based in Africa, uniting a collective of creative filmmakers, storytellers, and visionaries from across the region. Driven by passion and fueled by creativity, our team possesses extensive experience in collaborating with development partners to articulate the powerful stories of their beneficiaries. We are also dedicated to supporting projects that promote peace, cultural heritage, and conflict resolution through compelling visual content.
Our deep-rooted African heritage provides a distinct sense of purpose and an intrinsic cultural understanding. This offers unique perspectives that profoundly inform and guide our work. Consequently, our productions are highly regarded for their exceptional quality, depth, and nuanced storytelling.
We are your premier partner for all production needs throughout the Horn of Africa and the wider Eastern African region.
Our works
Last Hijack (2014)
In 2014, Riyo Films collaborated with Submarine too film on the award-winning documentary Last Hijack, a hybrid film about a Somali pirate’s life. The project received international recognition, winning the Prix Europe for Best Online Project, as well as the Reflet d'Or and the Youth Jury Award for Best Transmedia Work at the Geneva International Film Festival Tous Écrans. It was also nominated for the Japan Prize and the Sheffield Doc/Fest Award for Best Interactive Film in 2014.
Ayaanle (2022)
Produced by Riyo Films and written and directed by Ahmed Farah, Ayaanle tells the story of a young Somali man navigating identity and stereotypes in Nairobi. The film won several awards, including the Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) 2022 and the Klasha Film Award, and was officially selected for the New York African Film Festival. Ayaanle was later distributed on Netflix.
Will My Parents Come to See Me (2022)
Riyo Films produced on Will My Parents Come to See Me, directed and written by Mo Harawe. The short film won the Austrian Short Film Award for Best Austrian Short Film at the Vienna Shorts Festival, and was nominated for the European Film Award for Best Short Film.
The film has screened at numerous international festivals, including the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), Vienna Shorts (Austria), IndieLisboa (Portugal), Glasgow Short Film Festival, Go Short Film Festival (Nijmegen), and FESCAAAL (Milan).
The Village Next to Paradise (2024)
In collaboration with FreibeuterFilm and Maanmaal ACC, Riyo Films participated in the production of The Village Next to Paradise, directed and written by Mo Harawe.
The film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival 2024, and was later screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, Marrakech International Film Festival, Viennale (Austria), Sevilla Film Festival, and the Chennai International Film Festival.
At the Austrian Film Awards 2025, it won multiple top honors, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Casting, and Best Cinematography.
The Earth Has Ears (Dhulku Dhago 2025)
Riyo Films also produced The Earth Has Ears, a short film directed by Khadar Ayderus Ahmed. The film was featured in the “New Finnish Short Films” program at the Midnight Sun Film Festival (Sodankylä, Finland), and later screened as part of the “R&A Shorts: African Express” selection at the Helsinki International Film Festival 2025.
Surviving Black Hawk Down( 2025)
Riyofilm team worked with Ridley Scott Associates to film part of Netflix mini-series Surviving Black Hawk Down directed :Jack MacInnes and Sam Hobkinson.
Whispers of a Burning Scent,
Recently, we co-produced Whispers of a Burning Scent, a short film directed by Mo Harawe. The project was made possible through funding support from Cate Blanchett and had its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) in 2026, where it was presented to an international audience of filmmakers, critics, and industry professionals.
In production
Currently, we are collaborating with the Austrian production company FreibeuterFilm, with MUBI as co-producer, on the upcoming film Empire of Sentiment, directed by Sebastian Meise. The film explores the life and death of David Livingstone.