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The African Film Festival Atlanta (also known as AFFATL) returns this month for its fifth edition, with screenings and cultural events across Atlanta.
Powered by the African Film & Arts Foundation, the festival has grown into a vibrant hub for African and diasporic storytelling. This year’s edition will showcase 32 curated films from 12 countries, handpicked from submissions worldwide. The festival is among the few platforms in Georgia dedicated to African cinema.
When award-winning filmmaker and cultural director Mojisola Sonoiki launched the festival in 2020, she did so with conviction. She believed that stories told by the right voices on their own terms could change the world.
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Running from March 26 to 30, this year’s edition is centered on the theme “CTRL + Culture + Africa’s Next Cinema Code.” The theme highlights how African filmmakers are harnessing technology and digital innovation to reclaim and reshape their narratives. At its core is a cinematic future where intentional creativity, cultural heritage, and digital empowerment converge to define Africa’s next chapter in global storytelling.
Visionary Founder on a Mission
For Sonoiki, this festival is the culmination of a deeply personal mission. After years of immersing myself in the world of filmmaking, each project, each success, and each challenge has left an indelible mark on my journey as a filmmaker. “These experiences have ignited an unwavering passion within me, a passion to give back and make a difference beyond just making films,” she said.
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“As I reflected on my growth as a filmmaker and the opportunities I’ve been fortunate to receive, I couldn’t help but recognize the importance of mentorship, guidance, and resources in shaping my path. It became clear that there are countless talented individuals with incredible stories to tell, but due to various barriers, they might never get the chance to fully realize their potential. It was this realization that compelled me to take a step further and establish a foundation. I wanted to create a platform that would not only support emerging filmmakers but also champion inclusivity and diversity in the industry.”
That passion drove her to establish the African Film and Arts Foundation as a vehicle for something bigger than any single film. Through the foundation, Sonoiki envisions creating access. The kind of access she once sought out for herself. “I wanted to create a platform that would not only support emerging filmmakers but also champion inclusivity and diversity in the industry,” she adds. “Drawing from my own struggles and triumphs, I knew that I could play a role in empowering aspiring storytellers from all walks of life. Through my foundation, I envisioned providing aspiring filmmakers with access to filmmaking workshops, industry insights, and networking opportunities that I wish I had when starting out. Moreover, I wanted to ensure that talented individuals, regardless of their background, could pursue their passion without being held back by financial constraints.”
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Three Standout Films at the Festival
This year’s festival spotlights three exceptional films that reflect the depth and global reach of African storytelling.
The pening night features “Son of the Soil”, a gripping drama set in Lagos, Nigeria, that follows a former soldier’s return home as he confronts loss, trauma, and the search for redemption. The film stars internationally recognized actor Razaaq Adoti alongside legendary Nollywood icon Patience Ozokwo (Mama G) and acclaimed actress Ireti Doyle, bringing together some of the industry’s most respected screen talents.
Serving as the festival’s Centerpiece Film, So Long a Letter is a powerful adaptation of Mariama Bâ’s celebrated Senegalese novella. Directed by Angèle Diabang, the film brings to life the reflections of Ramatoulaye through the performance of Amélie Mbaye, one of Senegal’s respected screen talents, alongside veteran Cameroonian actor Serge Abessolo. The film explores love, friendship, and resilience as women navigate tradition and change in post-colonial West Africa. Its selection resonates especially during Women’s History Month, highlighting stories that center women’s voices, agency, and lived experiences.
Closing the festival is The Eyes of Ghana, an extraordinary documentary from Oscar®-winning director Ben Proudfoot. The film follows Chris Hesse, the 93-year-old Ghanaian documentarian who served as personal cinematographer to Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana, as he races against time and failing eyesight to preserve and repatriate more than a thousand rare films documenting the birth of African independence, footage that could reshape how history remembers the continent’s liberation movements.
Last Year’s Highlights and This Year’s Lineup
Last year, the 2025 edition of the festival drew over 800 attendees. It featured more than 28 films from the African continent and its diaspora. Moreover, it represented more than 12 countries across five days of screenings, some panels, and impactful networking. Now, the 2026 festival promises to continue to build on that momentum. With a program spanning narrative and documentary films, filmmaker Q and As, some panels, live performances, and educational workshops, more to do and see than in the previous edition!
Beyond these spotlight films, AFFATL 2026 will feature several panels, a diverse lineup of narrative and documentary features exploring themes of identity, history, resilience, and social transformation. The festival will also present several curated shorts that explore memory, personal evolution, grief, and belonging through the voices of emerging and established filmmakers.
Get your tickets here, and for more information, visit africanfilmfestatl.com or follow the festival on Instagram at @africanfilmfestatl.
