AFP Dispatch

Cannes 2026: Africa's Festival Selection and Marché Conference Presence

Africa accounts for six titles at Cannes 2026 — three in Un Certain Regard, one feature and two shorts in Directors' Fortnight — while Bénin and Guinea exhibit at the Marché for the first time.

Palais des Festivals, Cannes — aerial view of the main venue

Trailer: "Congo Boy," Rafiki Fariala's Cannes Un Certain Regard 2026 Selection

Trailer premiere for Cannes Un Certain Regard 2026 selection "Congo Boy." Rafiki Fariala's fiction follow-up to 2022's "We, Students!" centers on 17-year-old Robert, a Congolese refugee in Bangui holding onto his dream of a music career.

Congo Boy — Cannes Un Certain Regard 2026, directed by Rafiki Fariala

May 11, 2026

15 Restored African Classics Land on TV5MONDE as France and Kenya Open Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi

Fifteen restored African films are now free to stream worldwide as TV5MONDE+ launches a Cinémathèque Afrique section on its global streaming platform, timed to the opening day of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi.

May 11, 2026

May 9, 2026

"Caméra d'Afrique" Screens in 2K Restoration at NYAFF

Férid Boughedir's landmark 1983 documentary on African cinema screens in 2K restoration at the 33rd New York African Film Festival on Saturday, May 9, at noon.

May 9, 2026

"My Father & Qaddafi" (NYAFF Review): Tracing Dictatorship, Exile, and Memory in Libya

Jihan Kikhia's documentary reconstructs the life and disappearance of her father, Libyan diplomat and dissident Mansur Rashid Kikhia, who was abducted in Cairo in 1993 and whose body was discovered after Qaddafi's fall in 2011.

My Father and Qaddafi — official film poster, Venice Film Festival 2025 Official Selection

Film, Television

SICA 2026 Sets November Dates as Côte d'Ivoire Pushes Audiovisual Expansion

The fourth edition of SICA — the Salon international du contenu audiovisuel — will take place from 26–28 November 2026 in Abidjan, with a theme centred on content economy and cultural diplomacy.

Cannes Classics 2026 to Screen 4K Restoration of Idrissa Ouédraogo's "Tilaï"

A new 4K restoration of Burkinabé filmmaker Idrissa Ouédraogo's most recognized work, "Tilaï" (1990), is set to screen as a Cannes Classics 2026 selection.

Still from Tilaï (1990), directed by Idrissa Ouédraogo

intelligence

Africa Streaming & Infrastructure Watch — May Update

The tracker and map have been updated as May gets underway. Seven new events have been added since the April update, bringing the total to 41 events across 54 African countries.

Africa Streaming & Infrastructure Watch — Q1 2025–Q2 2026, Last Updated: May 2026

May 1, 2026

Awards

Oscars Add a Festival-Winner Path for Non-English-Language Films

The Academy releases rules for the 99th Oscars, introducing a festival-winner pathway for non-English-language films and new restrictions on AI in acting and screenwriting categories.

May 1, 2026

Awards Rules and Campaign Promotional Regulations Approved for 99th Oscars — Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

April 29, 2026

industry

Funding Pressures Push Durban FilmMart to Crowded Q4 Calendar

The Durban FilmMart Institute has moved its 17th edition from July to 9–12 October 2026, citing funding challenges — joining an increasingly crowded late-year calendar for African industry events.

April 29, 2026

17th Durban FilmMart — Shifting Worlds: Turning Towards Ourselves, 9–12 October 2026

April 28, 2026

Festival

Lagos Heads to Cannes with Five Works-in-Progress

The Marché du Film confirms the full AFRIFF “Goes to Cannes” 2026 selection — five Nigerian and South African works-in-progress to be presented on May 16 at the Palais des Festivals.

April 28, 2026

April 26, 2026

Distribution

Bigger Motion and Kaze Productions Launch CinemaWave Africa Community Screening Initiative

Bigger Motion, the distribution arm of Kenya's LBx Africa, and Kigali-based Kaze Productions have launched CinemaWave Africa, a community-screening initiative for African film, with a debut event at Machakos Social Hall on Sunday, April 19.

April 26, 2026

Audience at Machakos Social Hall watching a Bigger Motion screening of Supa Modo

April 21, 2026

Documentary

Ntare Mwine on the Road With "Memories of Love Returned"

Ugandan-American actor and filmmaker Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine has been touring his documentary across Uganda and internationally — from a dusty parking lot in Mbirizi to Century Cinemax in Kampala, LACMA in Los Angeles, and the New York African Film Festival.

April 21, 2026

Audience at the Mbirizi Premiere, February 2026

April 20, 2026

Festivals

"APART" — Animated Short by Pola Maneli, Written by Spike Lee, to World Premiere at Tribeca 2026

South African artist Pola Maneli's animated short "APART," co-written by Spike Lee, will world premiere at the 2026 Tribeca Festival, June 3–14 in New York City.

April 20, 2026

APART — official animated short film poster, directed by Pola Maneli

TV5MONDE Sets May Rollout for Cameroonian Series "Monkam"

TV5MONDE will launch "Monkam," a Cameroonian psychological thriller series directed by Narcisse Wandji, on TV5MONDE+ on 6 May 2026.

Monkam — official series poster, une série de Narcisse Wandji

Trailer: "Mata" — Eye Haïdara Stars in French Espionage Thriller, in Cinemas May 27

Eye Haïdara stars in "Mata," a French espionage thriller directed by Rachel Lang, scheduled for theatrical release in France on May 27, 2026.

Last Taxi to Kawempe: Ugandan-Canadian Film to World Premiere at New York African Film Festival

"Last Taxi to Kawempe," a new film from Ugandan-Canadian filmmaker Walta Gabriel Busulwa, will have its world premiere at the 33rd New York African Film Festival.

Last Taxi to Kawempe — still from the film

Festivals

Thomas Ngijol Named Festival Ambassador for NollywoodWeek Paris 2026

Thomas Ngijol — French-Cameroonian comedian, actor, and filmmaker — has been named Festival Ambassador for the 13th edition of NollywoodWeek Paris 2026.

Thomas Ngijol — Festival Ambassador for NollywoodWeek Paris 2026

Festivals

Cannes 2026: "Clarissa," "Nothing Happens After Your Absence," and "À La Recherche De L'Oiseau Gris Aux Rayures Vertes" Head to Directors' Fortnight

The 58th Directors' Fortnight announced its 2026 Cannes selection with three African titles — Clarissa (Nigeria), Nothing Happens After Your Absence (Sudan), and À La Recherche De L'Oiseau Gris Aux Rayures Vertes (Morocco).

Quinzaine des Cinéastes — Cannes 2026 selection poster

April 11, 2026