Rapport Festival is an international African diaspora (BLACK) arts festival thats purpose is to redefine the artistic and cultural landscape of the UK.

By placing the spotlight on work created by Sub-Saharan African diaspora practitioners and artists from multiple genres and art disciplines, Rapport Festival offers a unique platform that celebrates and elevates African diaspora artistic expression from across the international diaspora.

Rapport Festival is multi-disciplinary. We embrace African diaspora ARTISTS across art forms: visual artists, musicians, dancers, DJs, spoken word & live performance artists, filmmakers, theatre makers, innovative creatives, agitators and all round movers & shakers.

For the Rapport Festival of Film we’re looking for films that touch upon the hybrid nature of the Black/African diaspora/African Heritage experience throughout the world. We're particularly interested in submissions from Sub-Saharan African diaspora filmmakers from: UK, Caribbean, Ireland, Europe, South America, Canada, Asia, Egypt, Australasia and the Middle East.

Focus:

Narrative Fiction
Documentary
Animation
Films for children
Black Love
Music Video
Dance Video
Visual Arts
Environmental focus

To qualify for consideration films must have at least one Sub-Saharan African diaspora member in a key role of: Director, Producer, Animator, DoP, Lead Actor/Protagonist, or Writer. All films must reflect the African diaspora experience or how we relate/engage with film.

Rapport Festival of Film 2026 will be delivered at Ritzy/Picturehouse in Brixton, between 27-29 March 2026.

Awards & Prizes

All selected films win Rapport Festival selection laurels.

Rules & Terms

Legal Rights & Copyright

You must have the legal right to submit the work and all supporting materials. By submitting, you:

Confirm you hold all necessary rights, including music, archival footage, and third-party content. (Need help clearing music/archives? See our guide for free & low-cost solutions: https://rapportfestival.com/music-resources/)

Grant Rapport Festival permission to screen the work and use supporting materials in our programme, website, social media, and promotions.

Acknowledge sole responsibility for copyright violations and agree to indemnify Rapport Festival CIC against related claims.

Rapport Festival of Film is presented by Rapport Festival.

Programming decisions are made at the discretion of the Rapport Festival programming team.

No selected film may be withdrawn after programme publication.

Waiver requests are not accepted. Submission fees are a standard requirement for all entries.

Submission fees are charged but no screening fees are paid.

Non-English films require English subtitles (unless dialogue is unnecessary).

No cuts/changes will be made by Rapport Festival.

Physical materials (DVDs) cannot be returned.

Submission constitutes agreement with these regulations.

The Festival Director resolves cases not covered herein.

No feedback is provided for unselected films.

38 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Exodia Demosthene

    Thank you for selecting our film HAIRDOO to be included in the Random Shorts Block! It was a pleasure engaging with the audience and meeting fellow filmmakers :)

    After traveling for twenty plus hours from home to attend, my guest and I were forced to advocate so I could be included in the panel discussion. It was disappointing and explained as due to lack of attentive communication from the organizer.

    Thankfully the venue was able to accommodate by adding an extra seat on the panel. As the only woman filmmaker present that evening, I felt my presence was an afterthought.

    I hope there was more care and attention for local filmmakers. Overall, very difficult experience for anyone travelling from abroad.

    April 2026
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  • Kwesi Awotwi

    It was a pleasure showcasing our short film at the festival thanks for having us, great q&a talk as well.

    April 2026
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  • Marton Olympio

    We are truly honored and happy to have our film be part of the Rapport Festival. It’s a meaningful platform that celebrates Black voices and stories with care and visibility.

    Having our work showcased and shared with such an engaged audience is incredibly important to us as independent filmmakers. Festivals like this help our stories travel, connect, and resonate beyond borders.

    Thank you for the opportunity and for the beautiful work you do. We hope for many more encounters like this in the future.

    April 2026
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  • Yomi Ayeni

    Thanks for selecting Age of Quorum for the Sunday screening. It was an honour to show the film at the Ritzy in Brixton. To be honest, there isn't a more appropriate place to show a film by a Black director, featuring a Black protagonist. Location was perfect, and the films in the block were on point. This has been a great experience for me. Thanks so much.

    March 2026
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  • Gabriyèl Barlatier

    Wonderful experience! My film 'Fou' played in the Black Love block which was so well curated. I flew in from NY and the trip was so worth it. The audience was amazing, full of black African & Caribbean folk and families, and they were so engaged with the films. My only wish is that the festival was longer, and I wish I went to other days beside my block, but I'm sure in time the festival will grow. Lara is doing such a phenomenal job. I had no idea she was the main programmer, I commend her for her hard work to pull this off.

    May 2025
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