AFP Dispatch

"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

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

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

Baka Ngwane: The Birth of a Nation Premieres on Eswatini TV

Now airing as a 12-episode series on Eswatini TV, Baka Ngwane: The Birth of a Nation chronicles the founding of the Swati nation — from the migration of the Nguni people to the emergence of the Kingdom of Eswatini under King Matalatala.

A still from the Baka Ngwane: The Birth of a Nation trailer — warriors with torches under a moonlit sky

Afrotopia: Gabonese Debut Feature Heads to New York African Film Festival

David Mboussou's debut fiction feature Afrotopia — following a young Gabonese artist navigating creative, spiritual, and colonial pressures — makes its New York premiere at the 33rd New York African Film Festival (Film at Lincoln Center, May 6–12).

Title card from Afrotopia — a film by David Mboussou

Television

“Addis Fikir”: Ethiopian Anthology Series Earns AMVCA Nominations and INPUT 2026 Selection

“Addis Fikir” (“Addis Love”), an Ethiopian anthology television series airing on Abol TV, has been nominated for two awards at the 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and selected for INPUT 2026 in Bogotá.

A still from the Addis Fikir trailer — Ethiopian anthology series on Abol TV

Festival

Behind the Scenes: Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo's 'Ben’Imana' Heads to Cannes 2026

A behind-the-scenes look at 'Ben’Imana,' the Rwandan debut feature by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo, which will world premiere in Un Certain Regard at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.

April 9, 2026

Festival

Cannes 2026: Rwanda, Central African Republic, and Morocco Represented in Un Certain Regard

The Festival de Cannes unveiled its 2026 Official Selection on April 9, placing three African films in Un Certain Regard: Ben'Imana by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo, Congo Boy by Rafiki Fariala, and La Más Dulce by Laïla Marrakchi.

April 9, 2026

Cannes 2026 Un Certain Regard — La Más Dulce and Ben'Imana official selection posters

April 6, 2026

FESTIVALS

Women in Film Africa to Present Five Producers at Marché du Film 2026

Women in Film Africa will present five producers at the Marché du Film Producers Network session on May 14, 2026, in Cannes.

April 6, 2026

Women in Film Africa Producers Under the Spotlight at Marché du Film 2026

Industry

Nigerian Government Announces Another Creative Sector Fund

Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture announced €100 million for the creative sector. A review of the official record finds the picture more complicated than the Instagram post suggested.

Nigerian Ministry of Arts and Culture €100 million creative sector funding announcement

FILM

Trailer: "Asad," Mohamed Diab's Epic About the Largest Slave Revolt in Islamic History

"Asad" (Lion) — one of the most anticipated Arabic-language films of 2026 — opens in Egypt on May 14 and across the Arab world on May 21. Directed by Mohamed Diab and starring Mohamed Ramadan.

April 3, 2026

FESTIVALS

Andrew Mohsen Named Artistic Director of Egypt's El Gouna Film Festival

Egyptian film critic Andrew Mohsen has been appointed the new artistic director of the El Gouna Film Festival, with six months to shape the festival's 9th edition.

April 3, 2026

INDUSTRY

palmtrees Announces Development Partnership with NEON for Inaugural Screenplay Incubator

palmtrees, a screenplay development incubator for writers from Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and Oceania, has partnered with NEON for its first cohort.

TELEVISION

Manon Bresch Leads HBO Max French Original "Privilèges," Now Streaming

Manon Bresch leads Privilèges, a six-episode HBO Original mini-series that launched March 27, 2026 on HBO Max. The series, created by Marie Monge and Vladimir de Fontenay, competed at Séries Mania 2026 and won the Prize for Best Original Music.

March 31, 2026