African Film Festival

About the festival

Warm greetings from Kabale district, the home of the African Film Festival! It is here, nestled in the towering hills and early morning mist, that Winston Churchill beheld the beauty of the land and christened it ‘The Switzerland of Africa ‘.

The African Film Festival focuses on films made by Africans and those in the African Diaspora. Additionally, we showcase films shot in Kabale, Uganda – an exciting birth of local stories being told through the medium of film.

Our first festival was opened by the RT. Honourable Prime Minister of Uganda, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, and the Governor of Kisumu Kenya, his Excellence Professor Peter Nyong'o. We also welcomed the Ugandan High Commissioner to Canada, Kisumu's Minister of Arts, Culture and Tourism, and filmmakers from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, the UK, Canada, and the US. Since then, we have continued to welcome filmmakers and film lovers from around the world!

In 2019, we were excited to open the festival with Bed of Thorns, Uganda's first movie made with an all-female crew, and to welcome Artist in Residence Giggs Kgonamotse Kgole, one of the Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 young South Africans, whose work “God Ke Mama” was the catalogue cover of the 10th Anniversary Young Masters Art Prize in London.

Given our focus on filmmakers, each submission is watched by at least two judges. If they disagree, a third judge will review the film. Then, the top scoring films are considered by the programming team as a whole. Our goal is to be as fair as possible, giving every submission a reasonable opportunity to be selected.

Thanks to the support of our partner Bridge to Health Medical and Dental, we will be offering a $250 USD prize for the Best Film with a Public Health Message!

Additionally, prizes for Best Film will be awarded in each category.

About

Thanks to the support of our partner Bridge to Health Medical and Dental, we will be offering a $250 USD prize for the Best Film with a Public Health Message!

Additionally, prizes for Best Film will be awarded in each category.

Terms and rules

Your film must be eligible for the category within which it has been submitted. All movies submitted must have been completed no earlier than July 1, 2019.

Travel support will be provided to filmmakers based in Uganda, Kenya & Rwanda, with support for filmmakers from other countries considered on a case-by-case basis.

Ratings & Reviews

Categories and fees

East African Cinema

Entry fees

Early Bird (1st June, 2020) $3

Regular (1st September, 2020) $5

Late (1st October, 2020) $7

Description

All films must be - at least partially - filmed in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, South Sudan, or Kenya. Special exceptions may be made at the festival's discretion for films written and directed by citizens of Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, South Sudan, or Kenya who have filmed in a foreign country. We are happy to accept films of any genre, style or length. We're simply looking to showcase East African film talent! Each film will be watched by at least two different programmers.

Pan-African Cinema

Entry fees

Early Bird (1st June, 2020) $15

Regular (1st September, 2020) $20

Late (1st October, 2020) $25

Description

All films must be - at least partially - filmed in Africa. Special exceptions may be made at the staff's discretion for films written and directed by citizens of Africa who have filmed in a foreign country. We are happy to accept films of any genre, style or length. We're simply looking to showcase African film talent! Each film will be watched by at least two different programmers.

African Diaspora Cinema

Entry fees

Early Bird (1st June, 2020) $20

Regular (1st September, 2020) $25

Late (1st October, 2020) $30

Description

We leave it to you to determine whether you/your fit within this African Diaspora category. We are happy to accept films of any genre, style or length. Each film will be watched by at least two different programmers.

Non-African Cinema

Entry fees

Early Bird (1st June, 2020) $20

Regular (1st September, 2020) $25

Late (1st October, 2020) $30

Description

Any film that doesn't fit into one of the African or African Diaspora categories! Each film will be watched by at least two different programmers.

African Screenplay Competition - Short Films

Entry fees

Early Bird (1st June, 2020) $750

Regular (1st September, 2020) $10

Late (1st October, 2020) $15

Description

This category is open to you if you identify as African or consider your screenplay to be African. We will be awarding prizes for: Best Feature Film Screenplay, Runner-up and Second Runner-up. The judges include people whom have judges scripts for the Slamdance Film Festival Screenplay Competition and whom have read scripts for various LA-based production companies. Basic comments from the judges will be provided following the competition, if requested. Each script will be read by at least two different people.

African Screenplay Competition - Feature Films

Entry fees

Early Bird (1st June, 2020) $25

Regular (1st September, 2020) $30

Late (1st October, 2020) $35

Description

This category is open to you if you identify as African or consider your screenplay to be African. We will be awarding prizes for: Best Feature Film Screenplay, Runner-up, and Second Runner-up. The judges include people whom have judges scripts for the Slamdance Film Festival Screenplay Competition and whom have read scripts for various LA-based production companies. Basic comments from the judges will be provided following the competition, if requested. Each script will be read by at least two different people.