“Beyond Olympic Glory” Wins Grand Chess Prize at TAFM 2025

Beyond Olympic Glory,  a  documentary by Shedrack Salami, has won the Grand Chess Prize for Best Film/Documentary at the 2025 edition of The Annual Film Mischief (TAFM), which concluded on October 19 in Lagos.

The four-day festival, held from October 16 to 19, celebrated storytelling in an intimate setting and honored outstanding works across several categories.

Cheyi Okoaye’s Case, Effect and Maybe received the Audience Chess Prize, while Yugoslavian filmmaker Mirko Rucnor’s Farewell to the Wind won the Jury Chess Prize.

Speaking at the event, Salami reflected on the award’s significance, saying, “I have been working on this film, coming from the slums of Bariga to tell Cynthia’s story. It was something that means so much to me.”

Beyond Olympic Glory follows Cynthia Ogunsemilore, a boxer from Bariga, as she overcomes poverty and hardship to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics—becoming only the second Nigerian female boxer to earn a spot in the Games.

Throughout its run, the festival featured screenings and discussions led by industry professionals and clinical psychologists. Festival director Precious Iroagachi convened a roster of notable filmmakers, including Orire Nwani, Josh Olaoluwa, Myde Glover, and Shimataver Igbawua, for the celebration of African cinema.

TAFM will continue its regional screenings in Ghana, Tanzania, and Kenya, extending its reach beyond Lagos.