The African Film Festival New Zealand (AFFFNZ) returns to The Capitol Cinema in Auckland this year with a slate that champions women behind and in front of the camera.
The festival is in its 10th year and rolls out from September 18 to 28th and showcases contemporary cinema from across Africa and the diaspora, presenting features, documentaries, and shorts that connect Aotearoa audiences with new voices and perspectives. This year's programme in particular features new work by women directors and powerful portraits of women shaping culture across the African continent
Films include:
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
Zambia/UK| Feature | The sophomore feature by Welsh-Namibian filmmaker Rungano Nyoni (I Am Not a Witch), who was awarded Un Certain Regard—Best Director at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, is a surreal and vibrant reckoning with the lies we tell ourselves.
Megnot (Two Hearts)
Ethiopia | Feature | Dir. Abel Tekele RegasaIt follows a young woman navigating the tension between tradition and modernity as she faces a forced marriage imposed by her grandfather, challenging societal norms in search of love and self-determination.
The Brink of Dreams
Egypt/France | Documentary feature | Dir. Nada Riyadh (co-directed with Ayman El Amir)
A group of adolescent girls in a small Coptic town in Upper Egypt form a street-theatre troupe to challenge gender roles and speak their frustrations and hopes.
Jessica Hogan, Manager of The Capitol Cinema is delighted to bring the festival to Auckland, and in particular to WIFT.
“This year we’re doubling down on women’s authorship — prioritising women-directed films and stories led by women. We’d be thrilled to welcome WIFT members as partners and guests at the festival.”
For the complete line-up go to, https://www.thecapitol.co.nz/african-film-festival-nz