Aswad Film Festival, a celebration of Black American, European and African cinemas, will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from January 24 – 26, 2025.
The first-of-its-kind film festival aims to showcase the richness and diversity of storytelling in Black American, European, and African cinema through a vibrant programme that includes screenings of 12 outstanding feature films, industry roundtables, panel discussions, workshops and networking events. Attendees can look forward to live music performances, glamorous red carpet event, and gala dinner, culminating in an exclusive yacht excursion.
Chukwuma Jason Njoku, a technology and entertainment entrepreneur, and Aswad Film Festival chair, expressed his enthusiasm, saying: “Aswad is not just a film festival; it’s a celebration of our stories and our culture. We aim to create a platform that amplifies Black voices in cinema, while fostering connections within the industry. The Black American, European and African film industries are experiencing unprecedented growth, and it’s time we had a world class festival to showcase our talents.”
Aswad is focused on four key pillars: creative and commercial sustainability, cross-continent and global connectedness, reasserting African control of their own stories in the new anti-DEI world, and the celebration of Black excellence. These pillars underscore the festival’s commitment to not only showcasing Black American, European and African cinema, but also empowering filmmakers and industry professionals to thrive in the global marketplace.
Recent data underscores the festival’s relevance in today’s entertainment landscape. In the United States, films with casts that were 31% to 40% people of colour were the most successful at the box office in 2023. However, there is still work to be done, as Black actors play only 11% of leading film roles, despite making up 13.4% of the US population.
The African film industry itself is experiencing significant growth, with a 2022 UNESCO report noting substantial increases in production, though emphasising the need for infrastructure investment.
Netflix reported over 126 million views for top African titles in 2023, highlighting the increasing global interest in African narratives. MultiChoice produced over 6,500 hours of local content in the past year, while Showmax experienced a remarkable 50% customer base growth in 2024.
“With Aswad, we’re creating a space where filmmakers, industry professionals and cinema lovers can come together to celebrate and elevate black voices in storytelling. We’re not just showcasing films; we’re building bridges and opening doors for collaboration on a global scale,” Njoku concluded.