DanceAfrica and African Film Festival, Inc. welcome you warmly to the 33rd edition of FilmAfrica! Presented annually alongside BAM’s iconic DanceAfrica celebration and as part of the New York African Film Festival (NYAFF)—this year spotlighting the culture and artistry of Uganda—this vibrant showcase of contemporary and classic Pan-African cinema highlights the continent’s rich storytelling traditions, social movements, and artistic expression.
Leadership support for
BAM’s strategic initiatives provided by:
Leadership support for
BAM Access Programs provided by
the Jerome L. Greene Foundation
Leadership support for
BAM programming provided by:
Leadership support for
BAM Film provided by
The Thompson Family Foundation
Major support for programs in
the Lepercq Cinema is provided by
The Lepercq Charitable Foundation
-
FilmA Tribe Called Love
May 22—May 26, 2026
A Tribe Called Love
May 22—May 26, 2026In this modern-day Romeo and Juliet set in Toronto, two Somali teens fight to keep their love alive against traditional cultural divides as their bond is tested by distance, family, and history. -
FilmHow To Build a Library
Sat, May 23, 2026
How To Build a Library
Sat, May 23, 2026Two intrepid women set out to transform a formerly whites-only library into a vibrant cultural hub, navigating local politics, raising millions, and confronting Kenya’s colonial past along the way. -
FilmLady
Sat, May 23, 2026
Lady
Sat, May 23, 2026In the sprawling African metropolis of Lagos, a fiercely independent young cab driver meets a band of radiantly reckless sex workers whose sisterhood pulls her into danger and joy, setting her on a journey toward transformation. -
FilmMemories of Love Returned
Sat, May 23, 2026
Memories of Love Returned
Sat, May 23, 2026Filmmaker Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine’s chance encounter with Kibaate Aloysius Ssalongo sparked a 22-year journey exploring Kibaate’s life, photography, and enduring impact. -
FilmShorts Program 1: Out of Bounds
Sat, May 23, 2026
Shorts Program 1: Out of Bounds
Sat, May 23, 2026An assortment of new and recent short films made in Egypt, South Africa, Uganda, Cameroon, and the African diaspora explores the weight of choice and autonomy. -
FilmAfter Oil
Sun, May 24, 2026
After Oil
Sun, May 24, 2026Three communities and refugee camps in South Africa, Kenya, and the Sahrawi Republic in Algeria contend with neoliberal policies, uneven infrastructure distribution, and rising temperatures. -
FilmBlack Girl
Sun, May 24, 2026
Black Girl
Sun, May 24, 2026Seventeen-year-old dreamer Billie Jean struggles to find encouragement in her loving yet embittered family until the return of her successful adopted sister Netta offers a glimpse of guidance and hope. -
FilmThe Girl in the Yellow Jumper
Sun, May 24, 2026
The Girl in the Yellow Jumper
Sun, May 24, 2026An off-duty police officer driving an elderly witness back to town picks up an injured stranger on a remote Ugandan road. As the man recounts his journey, rising suspicion about a serial killer on the loose mounts. -
FilmCotton Queen
Sun, May 24, 2026
Cotton Queen
Sun, May 24, 2026Teenage Nafisa becomes the center of a power play to determine the future of her cotton-farming village when a foreign businessman arrives with a new development plan and genetically engineered cotton. -
FilmMy Father’s Shadow
Mon, May 25, 2026
My Father’s Shadow
Mon, May 25, 2026Framed by the political landscape of 1993 Lagos, a father and his two young sons journey together, quietly reckoning with their relationship while navigating a city on the precipice of democratic crisis. -
FilmI Am Black, I Am Beautiful
Mon, May 25, 2026
I Am Black, I Am Beautiful
Mon, May 25, 2026Twelve Afro-French women open up about their relationship with hair, beauty standards, men, and representation in the media, sparking a journey of growth, reconciliation, and self-acceptance. -
FilmMississippi Masala
Mon, May 25, 2026
Mississippi Masala
Mon, May 25, 2026After being expelled from Uganda, Mina (Choudhury) and her Indian family resettle in Mississippi, where her romance with Demetrius (Washington) challenges racial boundaries and familial expectations. -
FilmShorts Program 2: Ancestral Visions
Mon, May 25, 2026
Shorts Program 2: Ancestral Visions
Mon, May 25, 2026Legacy centers this spirited collection of contemporary short films from the US, the Ivory Coast and France, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. -
FilmGermaine Acogny - The Essence of Dance
Tue, May 26, 2026
Germaine Acogny - The Essence of Dance
Tue, May 26, 2026This documentary traces the journey of the “mother of African contemporary dance,” from her development of the Acogny Technique to her monumental impact on the global dance community. -
FilmMaría Antonia
Tue, May 26, 2026
María Antonia
Tue, May 26, 2026This tragedy follows a rebellious woman living in an Afro-Cuban Havana neighborhood during the 1950s, and the crime of passion that arises amid her entangled love life. -
FilmThe Man Died
Wed, May 27, 2026
The Man Died
Wed, May 27, 2026When a writer is jailed by the military, his ideals are put to the ultimate test as he battles for his sanity and his life in this work based on the harrowing prison memoir by Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka. -
FilmThe Woman Who Poked The Leopard
Wed, May 27, 2026
The Woman Who Poked The Leopard
Wed, May 27, 2026Imprisoned, tortured, bereaved, Ugandan dissident, poet, and single mother Dr. Stella Nyanzi navigates the toll of her activism on her young family. -
FilmShorts Program 3: Awakening
Thu, May 28, 2026
Shorts Program 3: Awakening
Thu, May 28, 2026A set of recent short films made in Canada, the US, Belgium, Senegal, France, the UK, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo shoots for the stars with optimistic aspirations. -
FilmFreedom Way
Thu, May 28, 2026
Freedom Way
Thu, May 28, 2026The developers of a successful ride-share app in Lagos quickly collide with restrictive government laws, shifting regulations, and the threat of police brutality in this fast-paced, electric thriller.
