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Inaugural Edition · Des Moines, Iowa

Africa's Stories.
Iowa's Stage.

The inaugural Iowa African Film Festival — August 6 — 7, 2026, Des Moines, Iowa. Two days of finalist screenings, workshops, and the African Cultural Festival — celebrating 15 finalists from hundreds of submissions.

Submit your filmGet passes
WhenAug 6 — 7, 2026
WhereDes Moines, Iowa
PassesFree — $10
Iowa African Film Festival
AUG 6–72026 · DES MOINES
15
Finalists
54+
Countries
2
Days · Aug 6–7
100s
Films Submitted
AlgeriaAngolaBeninBotswanaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCameroonCentral African RepublicChadComorosCôte d'IvoireDemocratic Republic of the CongoDjiboutiEgyptEquatorial GuineaEritreaEswatiniEthiopiaGabonGambiaGhanaGuineaGuinea-BissauKenyaLesothoLiberiaLibyaMadagascarMalawiMaliMauritaniaMauritiusMoroccoMozambiqueNamibiaNigerNigeriaRepublic of the CongoRwandaSão Tomé and PríncipeSenegalSeychellesSierra LeoneSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSudanTanzaniaTogoTunisiaUgandaZambiaZimbabweOther / DiasporaAlgeriaAngolaBeninBotswanaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCameroonCentral African RepublicChadComorosCôte d'IvoireDemocratic Republic of the CongoDjiboutiEgyptEquatorial GuineaEritreaEswatiniEthiopiaGabonGambiaGhanaGuineaGuinea-BissauKenyaLesothoLiberiaLibyaMadagascarMalawiMaliMauritaniaMauritiusMoroccoMozambiqueNamibiaNigerNigeriaRepublic of the CongoRwandaSão Tomé and PríncipeSenegalSeychellesSierra LeoneSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSudanTanzaniaTogoTunisiaUgandaZambiaZimbabweOther / Diaspora
The Programme

Six strands.
One continent of stories.

Full programme
01
Feature Films
Long-form narrative and documentary works by African and diaspora filmmakers.
02
Short Films
Shorts under 30 minutes — narrative, documentary, experimental, animated.
03
Documentary
Long-form non-fiction across the continent and its diaspora.
04
Diaspora Voices
Films by African creators living and working outside the continent.
05
Student & Youth
Emerging filmmakers — schools, universities, first works.
06
Iowa Spotlight
Films with Iowa connections — local makers, local stories, local screens.
Why we're doing this

From hundreds of films, fifteen finalists. We exist to give African creators worldwide a path to global recognition — distribution, funding, and a stage.

Selected producers and pieces receive real financial backing and an invitation to curate more African stories. Founded by the Kuona Foundation, with the support of One Voice DSM and sponsored by Africa Live Network.

About the festival
African cinema and culture
Two days · Aug 6 — 7
Aug 6Thu
Screenings & Workshops

Opening reception, curated finalist screenings, hands-on workshops, and filmmaker conversations.

  • — Welcome reception
  • — Finalist screenings
  • — Creative workshops
  • — Filmmaker conversations
Aug 7Fri
Cultural Festival & Awards

More screenings and workshops, the African Cultural Festival, and the Awards Ceremony celebrating the festival's 15 finalists.

  • — Finalist screenings
  • — Creative workshops
  • — African Cultural Festival
  • — Awards Ceremony
Latest
Announcement
Kuona Foundation launches the inaugural Iowa African Film Festival — August 6–7, 2026
2026
Submissions
Open call live on FilmFreeway — African filmmakers worldwide invited to submit
2026
Finalists
15 finalists to be selected from hundreds of submissions across 54+ countries
2026
Programme
Finalist selection & full programme — sign up to be notified
Coming soon

Be part of the
inaugural edition.

Submit a filmBecome a partner