The festival fosters direct exchange between filmmakers, curators and cultural practitioners from Africa and Europe, strengthening professional networks and encouraging new collaborations. It is a platform for dialogue between African and diasporic film communities, using cinema as a space to explore identity, mobility, belonging, and exploring the wealth of artistic expression across Africa and Europe.

For decades, filmmakers of African descent have been working in European countries. Med Hondo, Sara Maldoror or Safi Faye were at the forefront with works such as “Soleil Ô” (1970), “Monangambee” (1968) or “Man sa yay” (1980), addressing the experience of colonization and immigration. With their films, they were contesting the self-perception of white Europeans with a perspective both from inside and from outside Europe. In the 1980ies and 1990ies, the Black Audio Film Collective was a key player in the UK. Today, the success of filmmakers such as Alice Diop (Grand Jury Prize for “Saint Omer” in Venice in 2022), Mati Diop (Golden Bear for “Dahomey” in Berlin in 2024), and veteran Steve McQueen speaks for itself. At the same time, lesser-known artists such as Oliver Hardt, Patricia Bbaale Bandak, Ines Johnson-Spain, or Jide Tom Akinleminu are producing outstanding work across the European continent, thus enriching the European film culture. However, this thickly woven tapestry of diasporic filmmaking is rarely seen and discussed on the continent.

The project will unfold in partnership with renowned stakeholders in the Kenyan film scene: the NBO Film Festival, Kilifi Creek Festival, Docubox, and Ateker International Filmfestival. In doing so, Afropean Cinema seeks to ensure that the films and the conversations reach diverse audiences, including communities outside major cultural centres. Among the invited guests are Ghanaian-German film programmer Jacquline Nsiah, member of the Berlinale’s selection committee, Ugandan-Danish filmmaker Patricia Bbaale Bandak, Nigerian-British filmmaker Tomisin Adepeju, and French-Senegalese filmmaker Alain Gomis. Together, they bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives that reflect the richness and diversity of contemporary Afropean cultural production.

Afropean Cinema is showcasing nine films exploring migration, belonging, identity, memory and transnational experience. The programme includes Patricia Bbaale Bandak's Death of a Saint (2024) as well as several works by Alain Gomis, including Rewind & Play (2022), Félicité (2017), Tey (2012), Andalucia (2007) and L'Afrance (2001).

Beyond screenings, Afropean Cinema places a strong emphasis on knowledge exchange and capacity building. Workshops, masterclasses and industry discussions will offer emerging filmmakers – among them five practitioners from the Turkana region - practical insights into filmmaking, international co-productions, funding opportunities and access to global markets. These activities aim to strengthen local film ecosystems while creating lasting people-to-people connections through culture.

Stay tuned for more information coming soon!