Kafuka African Film Festival 2026 Celebrates Amílcar Cabral and African Cinema in Cabo Verde
The second edition runs October 15–18 in Praia, with Angèle Diabang chairing the jury, a program shaped by Cabral’s legacy, masterclasses and an expanded children’s section.
By Y Marie Kiven, Black Film Wire
The second edition of the festival will take place October 15–18 at TeckPark in the city of Praia. The event will bring filmmakers from different countries to the city, along with films featured at major international festivals, talks, masterclasses, workshops, networking opportunities for film professionals, and a program dedicated to children and teenagers. Organized by Kuletivu Nhanha, this year’s festival celebrates the ideas and legacy of Amílcar Cabral, which are reflected in its program.
Opening Night Puts Cabral on Screen
The opening session, on October 15, will feature a screening of “Amílcar,” a film by Spanish director Miguel Eek (The First Woman, City of the Dead), who will be present at the festival for a conversation with the audience. The program also includes films such as “Nós, Povo das Ilhas,” “Time to Change,” and “Afrikki,” offering various reflections inspired by Cabral’s ideas. A masterclass dedicated to Amílcar Cabral’s influence on Flora Gomes’ (Mortu Nega, Nha Fala) cinema is also planned, led by researcher Jusciele Oliveira.
Angèle Diabang Leads the Jury
The festival will feature other filmmakers and professionals from the African film industry and the diaspora, participating in Q&A sessions with the audience and educational activities. Among the notable guests is the renowned Senegalese director and producer Angèle Diabang (Un Air de Kora, Congo, un médecin pour sauver les femmes), who will chair the jury for Kafuka 2026. The filmmaker, who served on the jury at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, will present her film “Une Si Longue Lettre” at the festival; it will screen on October 17, followed by a Q&A session with the director.
Another distinguished guest is Ugandan director Patience Nitumwesiga, creator of “The Woman Who Poked the Leopard,” a film that addresses particularly sensitive issues regarding Uganda’s political and social reality. The film will be screened on October 17.
Training, Kafukinha and Art Beyond the Screen
In addition to the film screenings, Kafuka 2026 will feature a training and professional development component. The program includes the mini-course “African Cinemas: Histories, Aesthetics, and Politics,” in partnership with the University of Cabo Verde; masterclasses on film criticism and African cinema; open discussions; and a professionals’ meeting, which will also feature the launch of the REDE Cinema e Audiovisual PALOP+TL platform. A Cine-Dinner is also planned at the Brazilian Embassy’s residence, featuring a screening of the film “Cadernos Negros,” followed by a cocktail reception and a conversation with director Joel Zito Araújo (Denying Brazil, Daughters of the Wind).
The 2026 program expands the section dedicated to children, Kafukinha, which runs from October 17 to 18, featuring a selection of films from Cabo Verde, Angola, Mozambique, Ivory Coast, and Brazil. The screenings will be accompanied by entertainment activities and workshops on recycling and stop-motion animation. With an eye toward the future inclusion of a section dedicated exclusively to teenagers, KafukaTeen, this year’s Kafukinha will feature the awards ceremony and the first public screening of films produced as part of the Filma Cabo Verde program.
The event’s program will be complemented by two exhibitions: one featuring paintings by artist Joel Monteiro and another showcasing photographs by artist Keila Fernandes, reinforcing Kafuka’s connection to artistic expressions beyond cinema.
Kafuka has established key national and international partnerships, including the French Embassy in Senegal, the Guimarães Rosa Institute, the Brazilian Embassy in Cabo Verde, EME, Tecnicil Indústria, TeckPark Cabo Verde, the Oásis Group’s Hotel Praiamar, and Praiano Apart Hotel.
The complete program for Kafuka 2026 is available at kafuka.cv/programacao and on the festival’s official Facebook and Instagram pages.
About the Kafuka African Film Festival
The Kafuka African Film Festival was created with the ambition of highlighting, through cinema, the diversity of African narratives; promoting cultural exchange between different countries and communities, with a focus on Cape Verde, Africa, and the diaspora; and contributing to the development of a film ecosystem in Cabo Verde.
The first edition of the festival took place in October 2025 and featured screenings of films from 15 African countries, appearances by filmmakers from the continent and the diaspora, panel discussions, workshops, masterclasses, an awards ceremony, and screenings for children through Kafukinha, with a large audience.
The name “Kafuka” itself refers to a traditional household item used in Cape Verde when access to electricity was limited. This reference is linked to the ideas of light, hope, resilience, and the very importance of light in filmmaking.
The festival is organized by Kuletivu Nhanha, an organization dedicated to promoting Cape Verdean women in film and the audiovisual sector.
Follow Along
Website: kafuka.cv Facebook: Kafuka African Film Festival Instagram: @kafukaffcv
Media Contact
Ilda Fortes (Kuletivu Nhanha): +238 5921755 (WhatsApp) Email: kafukaffcv@gmail.com
FESTIVAL DETAILS: Kafuka African Film Festival 2026 runs October 15–18 at TeckPark in Praia, Cabo Verde. Full program at kafuka.cv/programacao.
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