Arts & culture in Nairobi and East Africa Film Free
Mashariki African Film Festival 2026 (Reels of Resilience)
Rwanda's annual African film festival returns to Kigali for a week of African cinema, free to attend.
About the event
The Mashariki African Film Festival (MAAFF) takes place in Kigali from 23 to 29 November 2026 under the theme 'Reels of Resilience', which the organisers describe as African cinema's power to resist, remember and inspire.
The festival opens on Monday 23 November with an opening night and closes with an awards night on Sunday 29 November. The New Times reports that films from more than 30 countries are expected to compete in five categories.
The organiser's site names Serena as the location of the opening and awards nights, and lists Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village and Century Cinema as festival venues. The detailed screening schedule had not been published at the time of checking.
Good to know
- Free to attend: no tickets and no registration
- Screenings are first come, first seated
- Screening schedule not yet published; check masharikifestival.org/schedule
Organiser
Mashariki African Film Festival ↗
More from this organiser →
Event information from
- Mashariki African Film Festival (organiser) masharikifestival.org
- Venues page masharikifestival.org
- Visit page: free entry masharikifestival.org
- The New Times, 4 Nov 2026 newtimes.co.rw
Details come from the organisers' own pages and can change; please check with the organiser before you go.
