Blair Underwood and Prisma James Named Faces of CAMIFF 2026 | Hollywood Star's Cameroonian Roots Take Centre Stage at 10th Anniversary Edition
- BFW Staff
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
April 20–25, 2026 | Buea Mountain Hotel, Buea, Cameroon
CAMIFF 2026 marks a decade of African cinema with an international feature film competition, star-studded cultural events, and industry programming across six days on the slopes of Mount Cameroon.
BUEA, CAMEROON - March 2026 The Cameroon International Film Festival (CAMIFF) returns to the slopes of Mount Cameroon this April for its landmark 10th anniversary edition. Running April 20–25, 2026, at the Buea Mountain Hotel and venues across Buea, CAMIFF 2026 brings together filmmakers, actors, industry professionals, and cultural tastemakers from across Africa and the world for six days of screenings, masterclasses, networking, awards, and celebration.
Founded in 2016 by Cameroonian actor, producer, and filmmaker Agbor Gilbert Ebot, CAMIFF has grown into one of the leading film festivals in Central Africa, a platform committed to amplifying Cameroonian and African cinema on the global stage while nurturing the next generation of filmmakers from the region. The 10th edition arrives with the distinguished support of Madam Natalie Kohli, Swiss Ambassador to Cameroon, underscoring the festival's growing diplomatic and cultural footprint.
Program Overview
In total, the 2026 selection presents 40 projects across multiple formats, including 19 feature films, 12 short films, four television series, and five documentaries. The lineup reflects CAMIFF’s continued commitment to diverse storytelling, emerging voices, and global perspectives within African cinema.
FEATURE FILM COMPETITION
Nine films from across four continents will compete in the CAMIFF 2026 Feature Film Category, reflecting the festival's commitment to global representation alongside African storytelling:
1. Broken Spear — Chuanlin Sun | China
2. Live and Let Go — Miguel Cadilhe | Portugal
3. Stranded Pearl — Prashanth Gunasekaran & Ken Khan | Australia
4. Malgré Tout — Johnscott Enah | Cameroon
5. Land of Gold — Ruth Kadiri | Nigeria
6. Blood Type — Maksim Brius | Russia
7. A Warm Christmas — Regina Udalor | Canada
8. The Devil's Signature — Marek Dobes | Slovakia
9. The Waiter — Toka McBaror | Nigeria
PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS
Cultural Night
Wednesday, April 22 | 6:00 PM | Buea Mountain Hotel
An evening celebrating the cultural diversity of the African continent through music, fashion, storytelling, and performance. CAMIFF's Cultural Night is one of the festival's most beloved traditions, and in its tenth year, it arrives with a new scale.
All Timers Night — 10th Anniversary Celebration
Thursday, April 23 | Buea Mountain Hotel | Theme: 70s vs. 80s
To mark a decade of CAMIFF, the festival throws its biggest party yet — a night that blends retro flair with modern excellence. Guests are invited to dress the era and celebrate ten years of storytelling, community, and cinema made in and for Africa. Bring the funk and the glam.
All-White Party
Friday, April 24 | 6:00 PM | Buea Mountain Hotel
A signature CAMIFF social evening. Details to follow.
Closing Night
Saturday, April 25 | 6:00 PM | Buea Mountain Hotel
Industry Programming
CAMIFF 2026 will feature workshops, masterclasses, and panel discussions across the six-day run, with sessions covering acting, directing, screenwriting, and the business of film. Full industry program to be announced.
FEATURED GUESTS
Blair Underwood Emmy-nominated American actor known for L.A. Law, Self Made, and When They See Us makes a deeply personal journey to Cameroon as a featured guest at CAMIFF 2026. Through DNA testing featured on NBC's Who Do You Think You Are? In 2012, Underwood traced his ancestry to the Babungo people of Cameroon's Northwest Region, a discovery that led to an emotional reunion in the village of Babungo with a 10th cousin, made all the more profound by the presence of his father. His attendance at CAMIFF 2026 is a homecoming in the truest sense.
Prisma James (Wai Prisma Kebei Zun) Cameroonian-born actress based in Lagos, where she has built a growing career within the Nollywood industry, joins Underwood as co-face of the festival's 10th anniversary edition. Her presence bridges Cameroon's rich cultural heritage and the powerhouse West African film market, embodying the cross-continental spirit CAMIFF has championed since its founding. (Selected credits: Nganu, 2021 acquired by Netflix, 2023; Chase to the Grave; The Restless; Dark Angels; Lagos Big Girls)
Additional guests and jury members to be announced. Full guest list available upon request.
ABOUT CAMIFF
The Cameroon International Film Festival was established in 2016 by Agbor Gilbert Ebot to promote Cameroonian and African cinema, foster cross-cultural dialogue, and support the development of the national film industry by offering exposure, networking, and training opportunities for local and international filmmakers. Now in its tenth year, the festival has become a key meeting point for filmmakers, creatives, thought leaders, and cultural tastemakers from across the globe.
CAMIFF 2026 | April 20–25 | Buea Mountain Hotel, Buea, Cameroon
Website: camiff.cm | Instagram: @c.a.m.i.f.f | #CAMIFF2026
Press & Accreditation: [INSERT PRESS CONTACT EMAIL]
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Distributed by Black Film Wire | blackfilmwire.com