In an exciting development for African women in film, The Ladima Foundation has announced an official partnership with Afrikamera - Current Cinema from Africa, a film festival in Berlin, Germany, in order to further recognise and celebrate the winner of the 2026 Adiaha Award for Best Documentary by an African woman filmmaker.
Over the past 8 years, the Adiaha Award has become one of the most prestigious accolades awarded in African film. Its focus on showcasing the exceptional talent of African women filmmakers has seen winning films go on to compete, and win, at other festivals around the world.
Previous winners have included, Miki Redelinghuys, Pearlie Joubert: Mother City (2025), Zippy Kimundu and Meena Nanji: Our Land, Our Freedom (2024) and Cyrielle Raingou: Le Spectre de Boko Haram (2023).
Following on from last year’s successful pivot to an online competition, in this 8th edition of the award, the winning film and filmmaker will also be showcased at Afrikamera in Berlin, Germany in November 2026 in addition to the $2,000 cash prize.
After the appearance of the Ladima Foundation’s Board Member Chanelle Ellaya at the 2025 edition of the festival where she spoke on a panel discussion titled, ‘Breaking into the industry: Training and Strategies for Women Filmmakers,’ this partnership is an important next step.
As Ute Rügner, Project Manager of the festival explains:
“AFRIKAMERA – Current Cinema from Africa is excited for its collaboration with the Ladima Foundation as the official partner of the Adiaha Award for Best Documentary by an African Woman Filmmaker 2026.
The partnership aims to increase visibility for African women filmmakers and to strengthen their storytelling through the festival’s program.
As part of the AFRIKAMERA 2026 edition ‘REFLECT’, taking place in Berlin in November 2026 (date to be confirmed), the winner of the Adiaha Award will be invited to present her film, and the prize will feature in the festival program, celebrating diverse African storytelling in cinema.”
The Afrikamera Festival has been committed to intercultural dialogue between Africa and Germany since 2007 and sees itself as a permanent platform for dialogue between African filmmakers and the Berlin audience, and as a place for exchange between filmmakers, producers, and distributors.
Open exclusively to African women, living and / or working on the continent, and for films produced in Africa, entries are now open on Film Freeway: https://filmfreeway.com/LadimaAdiahaAward
