The Royal African Society is thrilled to announce the return of Film Africa from 25 October to 3 November 2024, coinciding with Black History Month. As one of Europe’s most anticipated African cinema showcases, Film Africa will once again transform London into a vibrant hub of African storytelling. Over 70 films from more than 20 African countries and the diaspora, spanning Morocco to Madagascar and Sierra Leone to Senegal, will be screened at prestigious venues across the city.
The festival will feature a diverse selection of films, from new talent—such as After the Long Rains, by 23-year-old Swiss-Kenyan director Damien Hauser—to restored classics like Ousmane Sembène’s Mandabi, and LGBTQ+ stories like Nyame Mma by Joewackle J Kusi. More than a third of the films will be directed by women, underscoring the growing diversity and dynamism of African cinema.
Opening & Closing Films
The festival opens on 25 October at BFI Southbank with Dahomey (2024), a documentary by Senegalese filmmaker Mati Diop. It explores the repatriation of royal treasures from France back to Benin, touching on cultural restitution. The closing film, Black Tea (2024), by acclaimed Mauritanian director Abderrahmane Sissako, will have its UK premiere on 3 November. This romantic drama follows an Ivorian woman’s transformative journey to China, where she discovers unexpected love.
Notable Screenings and Discussions
The Barbican Centre will host On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (2024) by BAFTA-winning Zambian-Welsh director Rungano Nyoni, a dark comedy-drama about family secrets and sexual abuse. Other highlights include Mambar Pierrette by Cameroonian filmmaker Rosine Mbakam, and Disco Afrika: A Malagasy Story, Madagascar’s first-ever selection at major international festivals.
One of the festival’s standout events is an unscripted conversation between award-winning filmmakers Abderrahmane Sissako (Black Tea) and Sir John Akomfrah (Handsworth Songs), exploring their illustrious careers and shared passion for African cinema.
Documentaries & African Classics
Documentaries such as Mother of All Lies by Moroccan director Asmae El Moudir, which reflects on Casablanca’s 1981 Bread Riots, and Mário by Billy Woodberry, a tribute to African revolutionary Mário Pinto de Andrade, will be screened at the Garden Cinema and Bertha DocHouse, respectively.
The festival will also feature restored African classics, including Ousmane Sembène’s Mandabi and Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina’s Chronicle of the Years of Fire, presented by The World Cinema Project.
Industry Events & Workshops
Film Africa’s ‘View and Dine’ programme at the South London Gallery will showcase short films exploring themes like gender, sexuality, climate change, and migration, complemented by African cuisine. Workshops, including Film Lab Africa, will nurture emerging talent from Nigeria, while Film Africa LIVE! at Ritzy Picturehouse will celebrate African music, offering festival-goers a dynamic mix of films, food, and music.
The festival will culminate in the prestigious Baobab Award for Best Short Film and the Audience Award for Best Feature Film, each carrying a £1,000 prize.
Film Africa 2024 promises to be a celebration of the innovation, diversity, and richness of African cinema. A selection of films will also be available on BFI Player, making this vibrant festival accessible to a broader audience.
