EarlyBird&WAG Member tickets

Get ahead of the crowd with our Early Bird Ticket! This pass grants you full access to all festival events, including screenings, workshops, networking sessions, ceremonies, and more—across all festival venues. Secure your spot at a discounted rate and experience the best of the Manitoba African Film Festival!

Manitoba Gaze

Deadline Extended: New Submission Deadline: June 20, 2025.

The African Movie Festival in Manitoba (AM-FM) and The 48 proudly present ‘Manitoba GAZE,’ an exhibition of films spotlighting the universal creative spirit within our province. ‘GAZE’ showcases resonant artistic expressions born in Manitoba. This initiative aims to bridge the legacy film community with the vibrant African diaspora to foster a mutual exchange of thought, and celebrate our shared passion for film.

This program features films (15 minutes or less) produced within the last two years, by current Manitoba residents. While respecting artistic expression, we prohibit hate speech, discriminatory content and exploitative depictions of violence. Films may contain mature themes and content intended for adult audiences; viewer discretion is advised.

Films in all languages are welcome. To ensure accessibility and facilitate cultural exchange, English or French subtitles are encouraged for selected films (if you do not have subtitles we will give you time to prepare). We embrace all film genres, from documentary and animation to narrative and experimental works, celebrating an array of arts practice and voices across Manitoba. We invite you to lend your voice to the AM-FM, to enrich the cultural tapestry of Manitoba’s cinematic landscape

Application Deadline: 11:59pm, June 20, 2025

Date: September 18, 2025
Venue: Winnipeg Art Gallery
Competition & Prizes: All submitted films will compete for awards at the festival!
Who Can Submit?: Open to ALL filmmakers in Manitoba!

Application Requirements:
All applicants must agree to the rules and regulations
Click the “Submit Manitoba Film” button to register your film. All required fields must be completed.

In partnership with:

Call for Films AM-FM 2025

Submission Now Closed! Thanks for submitting your films. We will get back to you shortly.

 

About the festival

Welcome to the African Movie Festival in Manitoba, the premier event celebrating the best of African cinema! Get ready to immerse yourself in a thrilling cinematic experience like no other, as we showcase the finest films from across the African continent, as well as from Africans in Canada, the USA, Europe, and beyond.

Our fall event promises to be a captivating and unforgettable celebration of black culture and artistry. In addition to screening outstanding films, the festival also hosts a symposium featuring keynote speakers and panelists who share their insights on black cinema, its impact on society, and its role in shaping culture.

At the African Movie Festival in Manitoba, you will be transported on a journey of discovery, as you witness the diversity, richness, and creativity of African cinema. From powerful dramas to heartwarming comedies, from thought-provoking documentaries to experimental films, our festival offers a range of genres and styles that will leave you inspired, enlightened, and entertained.

Join us for an unforgettable celebration of African cinema and culture at the African Movie Festival in Manitoba. We can’t wait to share this exciting experience with you!

Meet our Team

BEN AKOH

BEN AKOH

Founder/President

Founder/President/Artistic Director and Advisory Committee Chair, Manitoba African Film Festival Inc.
BRENDA AUSTIN-SMITH

BRENDA AUSTIN-SMITH

Adviser

Brenda Austin-Smith, Associate professor, Department of English, Film and Theatre, University of Manitoba.
SHEILA PETTY

SHEILA PETTY

Adviser

Sheila Petty, Ph.D., Professor, media studies, University of Regina.
MBYE CHAM

MBYE CHAM

Adviser

Mbye Cham, Ph.D., Professor, Department of African Studies and Director of the Center for African Studies, Howard University in Washington, D. C.
ONOOKOME OKOME

ONOOKOME OKOME

Adviser

Onookome Okome, Ph.D., Professor, Arts, English and Film Studies, University of Alberta.
SARAH B. BUCHANAN

SARAH B. BUCHANAN

Adviser

Sarah B. Buchanan, Ph.D., Associate professor, University of Minnesota, Morris, USA.
CHIGBO ARTHUR ANYADUBA

CHIGBO ARTHUR ANYADUBA

Adviser

Dr. Chigbo Arthur Anyaduba is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English, The University of Winnipeg.
ÉTIENNE-MARIE LASSI

ÉTIENNE-MARIE LASSI

Adviser

Étienne-Marie Lassi is an  Associate Professor of French and Francophone Literature at the University of Manitoba.
NANDOZIE EKEOCHA

NANDOZIE EKEOCHA

Volunteer

Nandozie Ekeocha, M.Sc., Avid film enthusiast and movie critique, writer and director of various screenplays and short films. Volunteer on Social media, marketing and promotion.
BABATUNDE O. ONIKOYI

BABATUNDE O. ONIKOYI

Volunteer

Babatunde O. Onikoyi is coeditor of The Cinema of Tunde Kelan: Aesthetics, Theatricalities and Visual Performance (Cambridge Scholars, 2021). He currently teaches African Screen Media and Postcolonial Studies in Adeleke University, Nigeria.
TAISA MONASTYRSKI

TAISA MONASTYRSKI

Volunteer

Project Management Professional, serial volunteer, promoter and arts enthusiast.

ASHLEY OYEWOLE

ASHLEY OYEWOLE

Intern

Ashley Oyewole is a Computer Science student at Western University with passion for digital marketing, web development and graphic design.

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