Film Africa is the Royal African Society’s biennial London festival, celebrating the best African and African diaspora cinema from across the continent. Now in its twelfth year, Film Africa has become a key platform for African film in London and the UK.

Film Africa 2026 will run from 23 October - 1November, presenting another high quality and wide-ranging film programme to venues across London. This will be accompanied by a vibrant series of events, including director Q&As, talks and discussions; professional workshops and master classes; school screenings and family activities; parties and more.

Film Africa also recognises and supports new film-making talent through the Baobab Award for Best Short Film and the Audience Award for Best Feature Film.

In 2025 Film Africa hosted screenings at 10 venues across London -the BFI Southbank, the Riverside Studios, the Ritzy, the Ritzy Picture house, the School of Oriental and African Studies, the University of East Anglia.

In addition to our core film programme, we hosted a series of virtual events with filmmakers and talent from the continent and the diaspora to present their work, network with other film professionals, and bring the programme to life through Q&As, talks and panel discussions.

Awards & Prizes

BAOBAB AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM

Established in 2011, the Film Africa Baobab Award for Best Short Film exists to recognise and support filmmaking in Africa and to find new voices emerging from the continent. The Award consists of a £1,000 cash prize and is judged by a panel of filmmakers and industry professionals.

FILM AFRICA AUDIENCE AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE FILM

Established in 2015, the Film Africa Audience Award is selected by our audience at eligible screenings throughout the festival. The winning filmmaker receives a prize of £1,000.

Criteria:
1. Films that have been made by African and African diaspora filmmakers only.
2. Films that have been completed in the last two years only.
3. Both Awards cover works of fiction only (including experimental). Documentaries will be considered for the main programme but will not be eligible for the Awards.

HOW TO APPLY FOR OUR AWARDS:

The submission process for our Awards is the same as for the main programme - please follow the instructions set out below in our Rules & Terms. Film Africa will automatically consider all submitted films that comply with our Awards criteria.

Rules & Terms

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING IN FULL BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR FILM:

ELIGIBILITY

1. Film Africa accepts films of all lengths and genres, including fiction, documentary, shorts and experimental.

2. Year of production must be 2025 or after - any films made before this will not be considered.

3. Our main objective is to represent a wide range of films and filmmakers stemming from Africa and the African diaspora. We only accept submissions from African and African diaspora filmmakers.

4. English subtitles must be provided where necessary or your film will be deemed ineligible.

5. Applicants may enter as many eligible films as they wish. A separate entry form, upload and additional entry fee is required for each film submission.

6. Films submitted to previous editions of Film Africa will not be considered. If substantial changes have been made to the film since a previous submission, please contact info@filmafrica.org.uk to discuss your entry.

7. Film Africa does not have the capacity to apply refunds. Please ensure your film meets the eligibility criteria before submitting.

SUBMITTING YOUR FILM

1. There is a submission fee to enter your film. Feature length submissions (over 40 minutes) are charged 20 USD. Short film submissions (under 40 minutes) are charged at 10 USD.

2. The submission fee may be waived for single entries if you would like to submit a student film or in certain mitigating circumstances. Please email info@filmafrica.org.uk to request a fee waiver, although we stress that this will only be available in mitigating circumstances.

3. Discounts for multiple submissions must be sought before the films have been submitted. Multiple discounts cannot be applied retrospectively after the films have already been submitted. To arrange this discount please contact info@filmafrica.org.uk.

5. Please note that copies submitted by post will not be returned.

DATA PROTECTION

1. Film Africa respects filmmakers' copyright and will take all precautions to ensure that your film remains safe from piracy and will never publicly screen a film for which permission has not been granted.

2. Screening links for all submitted films will be made available to press in order to ensure maximum coverage for your film. Screening links will only be provided to legitimate press contacts known to Film Africa.

SUBMISSIONS AGREEMENT

1. At the point of payment you will be asked if you have read and agreed with the festival’s regulations. By agreeing to proceed with your submission you are agreeing to these regulations and your application can then be processed. Entry of a film is binding and implies acceptance of these regulations.

2. In the event of disagreement concerning the interpretation of the regulations, the interpretation of the festival will take precedence.

3. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in the submission being disqualified.

We look forward to receiving your submissions!
9 Reviews
Overall Rating
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  • Nnamdi Kanaga

    My project was selected and I received an email via filmfreeway. After that, the festival went silent. No communication, nothing. I saw other projects being promoted at the festival but mine was nowhere to be found. It was very unfair how this festival neglected me despite being officially selected.

    December 2025
    Helpful
  • Russell Oru

    My worst festival experience ever. My film was selected and later removed without any explanation from the festival. I sent over a dozen emails and never got a reply. It's really sad that this is the story of many filmmakers.

    November 2025
    Helpful
  • Charlie Vundla

    Absolutely appalling. Film Africa “accepted” my short film through FilmFreeway, then vanished without a trace. Not a single response across multiple platforms. For a festival to treat filmmakers—people who pour every cent, every hour, every ounce of themselves into their work—with this level of disregard is disgraceful. Shame on them. Festivals like this have no business being on FilmFreeway, and I sincerely hope the platform removes them. This kind of behavior is unacceptable and deeply disrespectful to the filmmaking community.

    November 2025
    Helpful
  • Timeea Mohamed

    They selected my film through FilmFreeway, but then they completely ghosted me. I communicated with them on IG, and they gave me the same programming email that I had already communicated. All I got were 0 responses despite the multiple reminders that I've sent. Even if they've changed their decision, I don't mind, but it's disrespectful to ignore a filmmaker in this way.

    November 2025
    Helpful
  • Arthur Musah

    Unprofessional. Selected our film for 2025 edition, we sent deliverables. They included clip of our film in their trailer, asked for an invoice for their feature screening fee, then both email contacts ghosted us, and never programmed our film. Do better Film Africa.

    November 2025
    Helpful