International Images Film Festival for Women 2026 call for films.

A call for bold, compelling films that center women’s voices, leadership and lived experiences.

The International Images Film Festival for Women (IIFF), hosted by the Institute of Creative Arts for Progress in Africa (ICAPA) Trust invites filmmakers to submit their films for its 2026 edition.
IIFF is calling for long fiction, documentaries and short films in all genres and durations for the main competition as well as non-competition and special competition categories. To be eligible, films must feature a female in a leading role or a male in a leading role as a gender champion for women.

Under the theme Women In Focus, the festival celebrates women who are boldly claiming their space in the creative and economic leadership, using film as a tool to challenge inequality, amplify voices and inspire change.

The festival takes place in Harare, Zimbabwe from 27-29 August 2026.

Awards & Prizes

Trophies and certificates

Rules & Terms

Entry Requirements

• Completed entry form.
Download the entry form here https://www.icapatrust.org/

• A password protected preview of the film (Vimeo link or Dropbox).

• Digital press kit.
The press kit should include three high resolution colour stills, full cast/crew list, directors statement, film synopsis. Posters are welcome but cannot be substituted for stills.
Please email all materials to awfh@icapatrust.org or upload them on FilmFreeway. Be sure to activate your press kit on FilmFreeway.

• Films must not be available on public domain e.g. YouTube.

• Films should not have been premiered or screened in Zimbabwe 6 months prior to the festival.

• Films must have been produced between January 2023 and August 2026.

• All non-English language films must have legible English subtitles.

• You may submit through FilmFreeway or submit a completed submission form to awfh@icapatrust.org.

• Non-refundable entry fee to be paid via PayPal (olaf@nyeraifilms.com) with submission :
Non-African Films US$ 20, African Films US$10, Zimbabwean Films do not require an entry fee.
7 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Tanaka Chiriga

    So honored to be included this year. A good selection of films and a great effort to expose local and international films alike. Lovely experience!

    September 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for trusting us with showcasing your film at IIFF. It was great to have it as part of our selection.

  • Billy Kabasa

    We definitely need more festivals like IIFF.

    September 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much! We enjoyed having you at the festival and look forward to more films from you!

  • Sihle Hlophe

    Great festival. They had multiple screenings of our film and really managed to help us reach Zimbabwean audiences.

    December 2023
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for the review and submitting such a powerful telling of a rich African cultural heritage.

  • Lulu Keating

    This is an amazing festival! Enter it! Attend it! I was so impressed with the devoted, inspired way these women have been conducting workshops and bringing films into the community to appreciative audiences. Their selection of films was consistently excellent. I highly recommend this festival.

    September 2018
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    We will always be grateful to you Lulu for coming and being a part of a vision that we hope reaches many people all over the world.

  • Tafadzwa Chiriga

    Really proud to have been part of this festival. Keep up the great work.

    September 2018
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Tafadzwa.
    BHIZAUTARE RA ARTHUR is a great film - thanks for submitting it to IIFF 2018. We look forward to seeing more of your films in the future.