The Downtown Festival: Karishika

30th Anniversary Screening
Presented by Nolly Babes
Video Intro by Producer Ifeanyi Ikpoenyi

Karishika stands as a definitive milestone in African horror cinema. The film follows a young, astonishingly beautiful girl sent directly from the pit of hell on a demonic assignment to turn humanity away from God. Mandated by Satan himself, her primary target is the spiritual bedrock of society: men of God. Operating in the physical world, she uses the very things humans value more than their faith—limitless money, high fashion, luxury cars, mansions, and seduction—to cause absolute havoc and draw souls to hellfire. While she pushes society to the brink of spiritual collapse and almost succeeds, a powerful question remains: what divine intervention or human resistance will stop her from achieving total victory?

Screening followed by a conversation between Nolly Babes’ Ebele and Tochi Anueyiagu and SPECIAL GUEST

About Nolly Babes:

Nolly Babes is a living archive of Nollywood, curated by sisters Ebele and Tochi Anueyiagu. The duo works across film, art, and music.

ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN FESTIVAL:
The Downtown Festival is a multidisciplinary celebration of independent film, music, art, and culture held across Lower Manhattan each October. Founded and directed by filmmaker Rebekah Sherman-Myntti, the festival brings together artists across disciplines and generations through film premieres, anniversary screenings, live music performances, artist talks, and special one-night-only events. Programming is led by Sherman-Myntti and Associate Director Briana Bursten, with a focus on discovery, experimentation, community, and genuine artist-to-artist exchange. The festival’s film program runs October 9-18 at Roxy Cinema, with additional programming and special events taking place all over downtown.