The second edition of the Film in the Park (FLIP) festival is set to light up Freedom Park, Lagos Island, on Sunday, September 21, 2025, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., with an immersive blend of cinema, music, storytelling, and community engagement. With over ten film screenings scheduled, alongside live performances and interactive sessions, the event promises to be a spirited celebration of African storytelling and creative resilience.

Tomiwa Precious Otun, budding filmmaker and convener of FLIP, says this year’s edition—tagged “A Sabi Experience”—is poised to build on the remarkable success of its 2024 debut. “The Film in the Park festival was born out of a need to document and illuminate our life and times through the creativity of film,” she explains. “This year’s festival will be bigger, bolder, and even more impactful.”

The upcoming edition is designed to offer more than just a film-watching experience. It includes a meet-and-greet with filmmakers, networking opportunities for creative entrepreneurs, musical performances from rising artists, and engaging storytelling segments. Attendees can also expect a relaxed atmosphere with fun games and communal cinema moments under the open skies of Freedom Park.

For Otun, FLIP is not just about film—it is about creating a space for reflection, cultural memory, and social change. “Unlike music, which is another beloved form of artistic expression, films have a unique and lasting impact, etching themselves into our collective memories,” she says.

Reflecting on the nostalgia and wonder of the cinema experience, Otun recalls, “Remember the first time you went to the cinema? The flickering lights, the complete darkness, the awe you felt with other viewers around you... That feeling like you had just returned from another world? The Film in the Park 2.0 seeks to reignite that magic.”

The festival will serve as a platform for emerging African filmmakers to share stories that reflect the lived realities and creative energy of young Nigerians. “We want to celebrate diversity and resilience,” Otun adds. “‘A Sabi Experience’ is our tribute to the vibrant, creative spirit of young Nigerians—those who persist and thrive against the odds.”

She also highlighted the power of storytelling in shaping perception and culture. “Many people today have certain views about institutions like the police because of how they were portrayed in films. That’s how influential cinema can be,” Otun notes. “Some people grew up mimicking actors, their accents, their styles. The stories we tell today will shape the legacy we leave behind.”

With an expected attendance of over 200 film lovers, Film in the Park 2.0 is more than just a festival—it is an invitation to reimagine cinema as a communal experience, a memory-maker, and a cultural tool for transformation.

As September approaches, anticipation is already building for what promises to be an evening of compelling stories, shared emotions, and renewed appreciation for the art of film.