Film Africa, London’s biggest celebration of African and African diaspora cinema presented by the Royal African Society, returns for its 9th edition on Friday 30 October to Sunday 8 November 2020. Showcasing 46 titles from 14 African countries, including 25 UK, European, and World premieres, Film Africa will host 12 socially-distanced screenings at BFI Southbank and Rich Mix as well as featuring a selection of 8 narrative and documentary films on BFI Player. 

This year’s selection of films mirrors the combined minds and sensibilities of three curators, based in three corners of Africa – Aseye Tamakloe in Accra, Ghana; Nyambura M. Waruingi in Nairobi, Kenya; and Katarina Hedrén in Johannesburg, South Africa. The films – feature-length and shorts, fiction and documentary – reflect a multitude of experiences, subject matters, and styles, with stories unfolding on the African continent as well as in its Diaspora. Special strands include BEYOND NOLLYWOOD, presented by guest curator Nadia Denton and celebrating new wave audio-visual content from Nigeria; and HERE / NOT HERE, presented in partnership with Deaffest, the UK’s leading Deaf-led Film & Arts Festival. 

In addition to our core film programme, we will be hosting a series of virtual events – including live Director Q&As, panel debates and a masterclass on curating African cinema – which anyone in the world will be able to access and enjoy. As part of the online festival experience, we will also be hosting Watch Parties and at-home Dine & View screenings, which we hope will bring a sense of community to all those involved.

Click below to watch the Film Africa 2020 trailer and dive into our programme for more details.