The first AfryKamera Film Festival was organized by FilmGramm Foundation in cooperation with the South African Embassy during the months of April-June 2006 under the guidance of the erstwhile Ambassador Febe Potgieter-Gqubule. It aimed to use cinematography to bring Africa to the attention of the Polish public. The 1st AfryKamera premiered in Warsaw and also ran in Krakow, Poznan, Lodz, Torun and Konin. The unbelievable media interest and good ticket sales during the first festival in 2006 confirmed our belief that African culture and history is of immense interest to a growing number of people. Since the very 1st edition, AfryKamera has been well covered in the Polish media, which confirms the great marketing potential of such an event for African filmmakers, artists and curators, as well as, for sponsors and patrons.

As it stands AfryKamera is the first African Film Festival in Central and Eastern Europe as well as the largest African-themed event in Poland and the wider region.

AfryKamera has managed to occupy a niche in the film festival market – although there are many international film festivals, they generally show a limited range of African films. AfryKamera is therefore the only festival in Poland dedicated purely to films from the continent and the diaspora. In the past few years the festival has decided to explore new avenues not only in the art of cinematography, but also in the presentation of other African art forms, music, and culture.

The main events of the African Film Festival AfryKamera take place in Warsaw, Poland, traditionally in the capital city's premier arthouse cinemas.

In 2022 Ramat S. Musa - actress, producer and film curator - joined the festival as an artistic director and has thus changed the course of the event. Under Ramat's artistic curation the festival aims to create radical spaces where by means of film, art and culture, through decolonial and afrofuturistic perspective, we disrupt the current prevailing status quo.

The 2024 event will last 6 days, from November 29th till December 4th, and present 12 feature films (including documentaries) as well as some 8 short films from around the continent and from the African diaspora. The 2024 motto of the festival is "African Gaze: Queer", as the focus is put on African/Black queerness and stories that discover and challenge the predominant perspective on femininity and masculinity.

Therefore for the XIXth edition we ask for movies that centre African and Black queer stories, people and experiences . We welcome stories that courageously explore the beautiful multilayered and complex African/Black queer identity and experience in the world that we live in.
We encourage in particular African/Black filmmakers who identify as LGBTQIA+ to submit their work.

Awards & Prizes

There will be two Audience Awards, one for Best Feature film and one for Best short film.
The selection committee will also present a Special Mention for one film.

Rules & Terms

SECTIONS

AfryKamera plans to organize the following sections:

I. AfroSelekta - narrative or documentary features from Africa and the African diaspora (with regards to awards the festival will not differentiate between narrative or documentary)

II. AfroShorts - up to 40 minutes – both narrative and documentaries

In order for movies to be selected films must satisfy the below conditions:
- the film must be set in Africa and must centre African experience and people
- the film can be set outside of the African continent (African/Black diaspora) and must centre African/Black experience and people
- the director of the film must be of African origin (this includes members of the African diaspora);
- the film must relate to issues, which directly or indirectly concern the historical or current social, economic or cultural situation of the queer or LGBTQIA+ community in Africa or the African diaspora.

• Films must not have been screened in previous editions of AfryKamera.
• Production dates for the movie are no older than 1st January 2023.
• Films should be submitted via link or downloadable file for preview screening. Preferred final screening formats are DCP, BLURAY or HD files (.mov, etc.). Other formats can be accepted after prior agreement.

SCHEDULING OF SCREENINGS

Scheduling the screening of films is the responsibility of the festival management. The dates, times and venues of exhibition of films shall be at the discretion of the festival under prior consultation as to print copy availability dates with the distributor. No film, once programmed, may be withdrawn from the festival.

DISPATCH AND RETURN OF COPIES

Dispatch of prints to and from the festival and related expenses are the responsibility of organisers. However should a screening product come from another festival, the prior festival should be responsible for shipping and/or postal expenses.

Any potential preview or viewing copies will be archived by the Festival. This does not mean that the transfer any copyrights of the films. Any future screenings must be therefore agreed upon with the legal owner of each copy.

ACCEPTANCE OF REGULATIONS

The party responsible for sending the application form will be the sole negotiator during future contacts, unless the mentioned party explicitly states otherwise.

Entry and participation of films will be taken as acceptance of the above regulations.

ENQUIRIES

For all enquiries (English):
selection@afrykamera.pl
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  • Hoji Fortuna

    I was unable to attend the festival this year but I'm happy to have had my first short film, A Lisbon Affair, selected. Hopefully will be able to attend in future editions.

    November 2022
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  • Yohan Malka

    Wonderfull festival / Great experience after the screening and the Q & A. Thanks again AfryKamera !

    October 2022
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  • Tarek El Sherbeny

    Never imagined my film would be selected as I knew when I submitted the film that the competition is fierce!
    But here we are, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity; It's an honor.

    October 2022
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  • Suzannah Mirghani

    The festival organizers care about the films and filmmakers and my AL-SIT was made to feel part of the program, even though I attended virtually. Thank you for highlighting Sudanese film!

    January 2022
    Helpful
  • Sélim Harbi

    Very solid program, and great visual work!

    December 2020
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