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Resources
Need context, history, funding, and marketing film resources, or deep dives into iconic works? Our references section has your back with everything you need to understand the culture of Black cinema.
Grants
10 Opportunities for Black Writers and Filmmakers to Apply for This October
A Shondaland directing mentorship, a $60,000 short film grant, a free trip to Sundance and more. Here is what is open right now for Black storytellers across the diaspora. I'm almost three weeks into my writers' season with the AuthenticA Series Lab, where I was accepted to develop my TV series. Being on this side of a development program has reminded me how much these opportunities can change a career, and I wanted to make time to talk about them. This list is for the young
Sahndra Fon Dufe
Oct 77 min read
MultiChoice Group and FAME Week Africa Open Drama Commissioning Call for African Producers.
FAME Week Africa, in partnership with MultiChoice Group, a CANAL+ company, has announced the MultiChoice Group Premium Drama Call for Projects, inviting producers across Africa to submit original drama series concepts for potential commissioning. The call is looking for high-concept, contemporary drama series that are commercially appealing, action-driven and rooted in authentic African stories. Projects should explore universal themes, offer aspirational storytelling and hav
Oluwaseun Mary Temitope
Aug 181 min read
5 African Film & Creative Grants Closing Soon (July–August 2026): Screenwriting Labs, Accelerators, and Trade Programs Worth Your Next 48 Hours
Three deadlines land within the next six weeks: one closes tomorrow, spanning a screenwriting accelerator, a startup accelerator, and a trade-show pavilion across the African creative economy. By Kiven Marie Five African Creative Grants Closing Soon- July and August 2026 Three opportunities on the board right now, for screenwriters, for creative builders, and for food & beverage entrepreneurs. One of these closes tomorrow, so don't sleep on it. For Screenwriters: Origin Write
Y. Marie Kiven
Jul 222 min read
Global Stage: ATL Culture House Opens Submissions for Creatives Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026
ATL Culture House officially opens curated submissions for cultural producers and storytellers ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 . Atlanta, GA March 27, 2026 ATL CULTURE HOUSE OPEN CALL As Atlanta prepares to take its place as a cornerstone host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026 , the focus is shifting from the pitch to the city's powerhouse creative economy. ATL Culture House has officially announced an open call for cultural producers, curators, and multidisciplinary creati
African Pictures International
Mar 272 min read
St. Kitts and Nevis Updates Citizenship Programme: Why It Matters for International Black Film Stakeholders
St. Kitts and Nevis implements mandatory biometric data for Citizenship by Investment Programme. What Black film stakeholders need to know about mobility The Citizenship by Investment Unit of St. Kitts and Nevis has announced the upcoming implementation of mandatory biometric data collection for all new applicants under its Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBI), with the measure expected to take effect before the end of Q1 2026. The initiative aligns the Federation’s secu
Sahndra Fon Dufe
Feb 243 min read
Final Draft Updates Its Terms of Service: Here's What Every Filmmaker Needs to Know Before Your Scripts Are Gone
Final Draft updated its Terms of Service in 2026. Here's what Black filmmakers, screenwriters, and indie film students need to know before your scripts disappear. When a company like Final Draft updates its Terms of Service and End User License Agreement , it's easy to dismiss as legal housekeeping. But that is not the case If you're building IP, pitching streamers, developing festival-bound scripts, or working on anything you intend to own and monetize, those terms directly
Sahndra Fon Dufe
Feb 246 min read
Resources and Opportunities for Black Talent in Film and TV: January 2026
Looking for film funding or festival entries? Explore the January 2026 Black Film Wire guide to resources for filmmakers across the global Black diaspora. 2026 is heating up to be an exciting year for film and TV. For budding and established black talent, this also represents multiple opportunities to upskill, exhibit work on larger stages, and secure funding for passion projects. It is to this end that Black Film Wire has put together an extensive list of available opportun
John Eriomala
Jan 255 min read
AFFC Storytellers Film Lab Cohort III: Empowering Nairobi's Emerging Female Filmmakers
AFFC Storytellers Film Lab Cohort III is now accepting applications from emerging female filmmakers in Nairobi. 6-week program, apply by February 2. The African Female Filmmakers Collective (AFFC) has announced an open call for its highly anticipated Storytellers Film Lab Cohort III , a transformative opportunity designed specifically for emerging women filmmakers based in Nairobi, Kenya. This intensive six-week program offers hands-on training, professional mentorship, and
Sahndra Fon Dufe
Jan 232 min read
Film Festivals
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 Kafuka African Film Festival 2026 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, ma
Y. Marie Kiven
Oct 124 min read
S.O.U.L. Fest x ABFF London Corrects Schedule for Its Two Sony Pictures Entertainment Industry Conversations
From Shadow to Set moves into the festival's Sunday closing slot, while Beyond the Screen shifts to Saturday afternoon, alongside the UK first look at Gina Prince-Bythewood's Children of Blood and Bone, as the UK's leading Black British film festival finalizes programming for its eighth edition. Beyond the Screen .Credit : S.O.U.L. Fest x ABFF London] S.O.U.L. Fest x ABFF London has issued an updated schedule for its two Sony Pictures Entertainment-presented industry conversa
Sahndra Fon Dufe
Aug 203 min read
CAMIFF 2026 Opens in Grand Style as Festival Marks Landmark 10th Anniversary in Buea
CAMIFF 2026 opens its 10th anniversary edition in Buea with a landmark ceremony at Mountain Hotel, uniting African and international filmmakers for a week of screenings, tributes, and industry exchange, while celebrating a decade of impact in Central African cinema. The Cameroon International Film Festival officially commenced its landmark 10th edition in Buea with a vibrant and emotionally resonant opening ceremony, setting the tone for what promises to be a defining moment
Cheng Fon Njong
Apr 253 min read
DAY 3 HIGHLIGHT: Craft, Collaboration and Cinema Community Defined a Packed Third Day at CAMIFF.
…………………………………………………………………………. By Njei Ryan FOR BLACK FILM WIRE By Day Three, CAMIFF 2026 had fully hit its stride. The festival grounds carried that unmistakable midpoint energy, where strangers have become collaborators, workshop participants are beginning to sound like filmmakers, and every room seems to be holding a different conversation about the future of African cinema. Thursday was one of those festival days where everything seemed to happen at once. Acting. Directing
Njei Ryan
Apr 246 min read
ABFF-SELECTED CAMEROONIAN DRAMA LIGHTS OUT MAKES LANDMARK AVANT-PREMIERE IN DOUALA, STARRING WALE OJO, ELIZABETH NGONGANG AND SYNDY EMADE
Psychological Dementia Drama from the Team Behind Cameroon’s Oscar-Submitted Half Heaven Draws Industry and Press to Majestic Bessengue Ahead of ABFF Miami and Ohio Premieres DOUALA, CAMEROON- According to Black Film Wire, LIGHTS OUT, the psychological drama addressing dementia through the lens of family, grief, and institutional neglect, held its Cameroon avant-premiere on Saturday, 18 April 2026, at Majestic Bessengue, one of the country’s newest and most strategically posi
Sahndra Fon Dufe
Apr 217 min read
Silicon Valley African Film Festival Appoints Teresa Chapman to International Advisory Board
Bimbo Ademoye's latest YouTube film arrives with 8 million views, a standout supporting cast, and serious style, but does the dual performance at its centre fully deliver? April 13, 2026 Teresa Chapman The Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) has announced the appointment of Teresa Chapman to its International Advisory Board, effective immediately. Teresa’s addition marks a strategic step for the festival as it continues to expand its influence as a leading platform
Y. Marie Kiven
Apr 132 min read
Cameroon's Lights Out Lands on ABFF 2026 Lineup as Festival Unveils 30th Anniversary Slate With Jamie Foxx, Marsai Martin and More
The American Black Film Festival has unveiled its 2026 lineup, with Cameroon's Lights Out earning a world premiere slot among the international narrative features in this landmark anniversary slate. Atlanta, GA April 9, 2026 AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVALS’ 30TH ANNIVERSARY | MAY 27-31 https://www.abff.com/miami/ The American Black Film Festival has revealed its official 2026 lineup, celebrating its 30th anniversary with a slate tied to Jamie Foxx, Marsai Martin, Courtney B.
Sahndra Fon Dufe
Apr 92 min read
Blair Underwood and Prisma James Named Faces of CAMIFF 2026 | Hollywood Star's Cameroonian Roots Take Centre Stage at 10th Anniversary Edition
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
Y. Marie Kiven
Mar 143 min read
Apps
Giveaways
From Tales from the Hood to Sinners: Black Horror Movies to Watch This Halloween
Halloween has long been associated with fear, folklore, and the supernatural. Within Black cinema, however, horror offers more than a seasonal thrill; it creates space to explore cultural memory, social anxieties, identity, and the histories that shape Black experiences. From chilling supernatural encounters and unsettling urban legends to stories rooted in African folklore and the complexities of race and identity, Black horror has continued to expand the possibilities of th
Adesewa Ojo
5 days ago5 min read
From The Mic to The Producer’s Chair: Building an Independent Talk Show
Keldamuzik on creating, hosting and producing Diva Talk Tonite, and the behind-the-camera work independent artists can’t skip, from the run of show to the delivery package. Behind the scenes of Diva Talk Tonite: a headset-wearing Keldamuzik in the control room, with studio monitors and production equipment. Photo credit: Digz Media Group. Creating Diva Talk Tonite has expanded my work as an independent artist and sharpened my focus on the responsibility behind the camera. Mus
Keldamuzik
Oct 275 min read
Shakespeare Was the First Rapper: Why I Took Macbeth to 1990s Compton
Page Kennedy on writing, directing, and starring in Macbeth in Compton, his short that puts Shakespeare's own words in a world Black audiences actually care about. Page Kennedy as Mac and Candice Renée as Lady M in Macbeth in Compton. Photo: Courtesy of Kennedy Entertainment. Cinematography by Jason Andrew. When I first picked up Shakespeare, I couldn't stand it. I tried to read the first paragraph of A Midsummer Night's Dream in community college and told my professor straig
Page Kennedy
Oct 144 min read
Whitney Peak and the Sunrise on the Reaping Cast Surprise Fans at New York Comic Con
The Ugandan-Canadian actress joined Joseph Zada, Mckenna Grace, Ben Wang and Iris Apatow for two surprise appearances ahead of the film’s November 20 theatrical release. By Y. Marie Kiven,, Black Film Wire Whitney Peak at New York Comic Con 2026. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate Fans who showed up at New York Comic Con on Friday expecting panels and merch lines got a bonus round. Ugandan-Canadian actress Whitney Peak (Gossip Girl, Hocus Pocus 2) and her castmates from The Hunger G
Y. Marie Kiven
Oct 134 min read
What to Watch in October 2026: Black and African Films and TV to Add to Your Watchlist
Mike Tyson in his own words, Omar Sy on the run, Mahershala Ali as a religious hitman, Club Eden's last dance, a whole lot of home, and some very good news from Hillman. Here is everything Black and African worth your remote this October. October said, "spooky season who?" Yes, the pumpkins are out and everybody is doing horror marathons, but look a little closer, and this month is stacked with Black stories on just about every screen you own. Across the water, the UK is cele
Sahndra Fon Dufe
Oct 1212 min read
Why Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife Place London Matters to the Future of Black Cinema
As African and Black films continue to seek sustained theatrical access beyond festivals and streaming, Mo Abudu’s London venture raises a bigger question: who builds the infrastructure that allows these stories to reach audiences? Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife Place London, which officially opened on October 8, introduces a new proposition: a dedicated cinema and cultural venue in South London built around African and Black screen stories. Its significance lies not simply in adding a
Adesewa Ojo
Oct 125 min read
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 Kafuka African Film Festival 2026 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, ma
Y. Marie Kiven
Oct 124 min read
EXCLUSIVE: Rushlake Media Acquires Angela Zivo Gapa's Rusambo Ahead of SVAFF World Premiere
The Zimbabwean filmmaker's feature directorial debut, a whodunnit set inside a traditional marriage negotiation, lands global representation four days before its Silicon Valley bow. Deborah Kabongo plays Hanayashe in Rusambo | Photographer: Angela Zivo Gapa, Safrilens Rushlake Media has acquired Rusambo, the feature directorial debut of Zimbabwean filmmaker Angela Zivo Gapa, for international distribution and global representation, Black Film Wire can exclusively reveal. The
Sahndra Fon Dufe
Oct 74 min read
From Tales from the Hood to Sinners: Black Horror Movies to Watch This Halloween
Halloween has long been associated with fear, folklore, and the supernatural. Within Black cinema, however, horror offers more than a seasonal thrill; it creates space to explore cultural memory, social anxieties, identity, and the histories that shape Black experiences. From chilling supernatural encounters and unsettling urban legends to stories rooted in African folklore and the complexities of race and identity, Black horror has continued to expand the possibilities of th
Adesewa Ojo
5 days ago5 min read
From The Mic to The Producer’s Chair: Building an Independent Talk Show
Keldamuzik on creating, hosting and producing Diva Talk Tonite, and the behind-the-camera work independent artists can’t skip, from the run of show to the delivery package. Behind the scenes of Diva Talk Tonite: a headset-wearing Keldamuzik in the control room, with studio monitors and production equipment. Photo credit: Digz Media Group. Creating Diva Talk Tonite has expanded my work as an independent artist and sharpened my focus on the responsibility behind the camera. Mus
Keldamuzik
Oct 275 min read
Shakespeare Was the First Rapper: Why I Took Macbeth to 1990s Compton
Page Kennedy on writing, directing, and starring in Macbeth in Compton, his short that puts Shakespeare's own words in a world Black audiences actually care about. Page Kennedy as Mac and Candice Renée as Lady M in Macbeth in Compton. Photo: Courtesy of Kennedy Entertainment. Cinematography by Jason Andrew. When I first picked up Shakespeare, I couldn't stand it. I tried to read the first paragraph of A Midsummer Night's Dream in community college and told my professor straig
Page Kennedy
Oct 144 min read
Whitney Peak and the Sunrise on the Reaping Cast Surprise Fans at New York Comic Con
The Ugandan-Canadian actress joined Joseph Zada, Mckenna Grace, Ben Wang and Iris Apatow for two surprise appearances ahead of the film’s November 20 theatrical release. By Y. Marie Kiven,, Black Film Wire Whitney Peak at New York Comic Con 2026. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate Fans who showed up at New York Comic Con on Friday expecting panels and merch lines got a bonus round. Ugandan-Canadian actress Whitney Peak (Gossip Girl, Hocus Pocus 2) and her castmates from The Hunger G
Y. Marie Kiven
Oct 134 min read
What to Watch in October 2026: Black and African Films and TV to Add to Your Watchlist
Mike Tyson in his own words, Omar Sy on the run, Mahershala Ali as a religious hitman, Club Eden's last dance, a whole lot of home, and some very good news from Hillman. Here is everything Black and African worth your remote this October. October said, "spooky season who?" Yes, the pumpkins are out and everybody is doing horror marathons, but look a little closer, and this month is stacked with Black stories on just about every screen you own. Across the water, the UK is cele
Sahndra Fon Dufe
Oct 1212 min read
Why Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife Place London Matters to the Future of Black Cinema
As African and Black films continue to seek sustained theatrical access beyond festivals and streaming, Mo Abudu’s London venture raises a bigger question: who builds the infrastructure that allows these stories to reach audiences? Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife Place London, which officially opened on October 8, introduces a new proposition: a dedicated cinema and cultural venue in South London built around African and Black screen stories. Its significance lies not simply in adding a
Adesewa Ojo
Oct 125 min read
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 Kafuka African Film Festival 2026 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, ma
Y. Marie Kiven
Oct 124 min read
EXCLUSIVE: Rushlake Media Acquires Angela Zivo Gapa's Rusambo Ahead of SVAFF World Premiere
The Zimbabwean filmmaker's feature directorial debut, a whodunnit set inside a traditional marriage negotiation, lands global representation four days before its Silicon Valley bow. Deborah Kabongo plays Hanayashe in Rusambo | Photographer: Angela Zivo Gapa, Safrilens Rushlake Media has acquired Rusambo, the feature directorial debut of Zimbabwean filmmaker Angela Zivo Gapa, for international distribution and global representation, Black Film Wire can exclusively reveal. The
Sahndra Fon Dufe
Oct 74 min read
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