About  Us

 

A. About Luanda PAFF

 

Luanda International Pan-African Film Festival (LUANDA PAFF) is an annual film event in the capital city of the Republic of Angola that celebrates the Angolan and Pan-African cinema and screens films produced in Africa and its diaspora from all over the world; founded in October 2019 by Ne Kunda Nlaba Film Producer, Director and Film Professor of Kongo Bizizi Academy, the Pan African Film Institute. The festival was meant to start in 2020 but was delayed by the pandemic of Covid19.

 

The festival is organized by Kongo Bizizi Academy, the Pan African Film Institute, in partnership with Afrika Bizizi Distribution, the film distribution company.

 

B. Aims

 

Luanda International Pan-African Film Festival (LUANDA PAFF) aims to contribute to the development of the Angolan and African film industry by:

- Connecting the Angolan audience with the African cinema providing days of film screenings of national and African films in the capital city of Luanda;

- Creating a film market platform for national and African films;

- Organising networking events that connect Angolan filmmakers with filmmakers from around the world through film branches, conferences, workshops, masterclasses, and training.

 

Our first edition will take place from 24 to 27 November 2022 at Fundacao Arte e Cultura in Ilha de Luanda, Angola and the launch event on 05 July 2022 at 10 am.

 

Luanda PAFF also introduces three special categories, including:
- Kwanza Awards: Kwanza Awards is a Luanda PAFF recognition given to the outstanding film of the festival. The jury will select one movie among all the films submitted, regardless of the genre. Kwanza Awards is the highest prize of the festival.

- Kimpa Vita Awards: Luanda PAFF introduced this award in honor of Kimpa Vita, an African revolutionary young woman from the Kingdom of Kongo at the beginning of the 18th century. Luanda PAFF will give this award to one film that raises African revolution, awareness, and consciousness subjects.    

-  Ndinga Awards: The Best Film in African Language Award. Luanda PAFF will give this award to the best film in the African language. Ndinga in Kikongo means language, and the Ndinga award aims to encourage African filmmakers to produce films fully in the African language.

 

C. Rules and terms

LUANDA PAFF accept films of any genres (drama, comedy, horror, adventure, animation, romance, science fiction, experimental, etc.) made by African filmmakers living in Africa and from all over the world, including Afro descent.
LUANDA PAFF accepts features, shorts and web series; narratives and documentaries.
Films made outside of the African continent are welcome as long as the story is about the African community within the diaspora.
We prefer films that depicts positive or realistic images.
All submissions must have Portuguese subtitles. If we exceptionally accept film in English or French without Portuguese subtitles as our selection team is multilingual but if selected, Filmmakers must submit a version with Portuguese subtitles. Selected Filmmakers who have issues producing Portuguese subtitles can arrange this with the festival team.

All entries must be received no later than the appropriate entry deadline they were submitted under. Additional entry fees will be required if not received by the appropriate deadline. Entries received with incomplete information and/or missing Fee Payments will not be considered.
Films submitted in the incorrect Category and/or submitted as a Short Length Film but having a total runtime that is equal to that of a Feature Length Film, will be disqualified from consideration.

Narrative Feature = 50+ minutes
Narrative Short = 49 or less minutes
Documentary Feature = 50+ minutes
Documentary Short = 49 or less minutes
Animation Feature = 50+ Minutes
Animation Short = 49 or less minutes
Drama series= any duration

 

D. Awards and Prizes

 

The film award will be the most prestigious gala where the academy will award filmmakers, actors, and films in competition in the festival for each edition.
In addition, the jury will also recognize some filmmakers for their lifetime achievements and career in film.
The jury will give awards to films in the following categories: the best short film, best feature film, best documentary, best drama series, best film director, best cinematography, best actor, best actress, etc.

 

Luanda PAFF also introduces three special categories, including:

- Kwanza Awards: Kwanza Awards is a Luanda PAFF recognition given to the outstanding film of the festival. The jury will select one movie among all the films submitted, regardless of the genre. Kwanza Awards is the highest prize of the festival.

 

- Kimpa Vita Awards: Luanda PAFF introduced this award in honor of Kimpa Vita, an African revolutionary young woman from the Kingdom of Kongo at the beginning of the 18th century. Luanda PAFF will give this award to one film that raises African revolution, awareness, and consciousness subjects.  

 

-  Ndinga Awards: The Best Film in African Language Award. Luanda PAFF will give this award to the best film in the African language. Ndinga in Kikongo means language, and the Ndinga award aims to encourage African filmmakers to produce films fully in the African language.