African filmmakers will have an opportunity to share the spotlight with European cinema over the coming weeks, as film festivals in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho and Ethiopia bring together different stories, audiences and creative voices.

In Zimbabwe, the European Film Festival returns from 28 to 30 October, in collaboration with the University of Zimbabwe playing as hosts to this year’s edition. The programme includes BIOSKOP! 2026, a competition celebrating local short films and the people behind them.

The competition is worth watching because it looks beyond acting and directing. Zimbabwean filmmakers can enter categories covering narrative films, documentaries, sound editing, cinematography, acting and diaspora narratives. Winners will receive trophies and cash prizes.

Films must run between two and 25 minutes, giving filmmakers an opportunity to tell their stories in a format that demands careful choices about what to show, what to leave out and how to hold an audience’s attention. The diaspora category is particularly relevant to Zimbabwe, where migration has shaped many families and communities. Stories about leaving home, building a life abroad and maintaining connections with Zimbabwe can offer a different view of the country’s experiences, told by people who have lived them.

The BIOSKOP! jury includes actress and filmmaker Tendaiishe Chitima, known for her role in Cook Off, which became the first Zimbabwean feature film on Netflix, and her appearance alongside Viola Davis in G20. Her experience across different productions brings an industry perspective to a competition that recognises both performers and the technical teams whose work often happens away from public attention.

This year’s partnership with the University of Zimbabwe also brings the festival into an academic environment. Students will have an opportunity to engage with films from different backgrounds while local creatives can connect with audiences beyond their usual circles.

The European Film Festival in Namibia runs from 20 October to 19 November at the Goethe-Institut Namibia. Its programme includes films from eight European Union member states and 10 Namibian productions. The festival will also host a five-day film industry training initiative from 9 to 13 November, alongside a children’s screening and additional community screenings later in the month.

Meanwhile, Lesotho is taking a wider geographical approach to its festival. The fifth edition of the European Film Festival runs from 28 October to 18 November, with screenings planned at Alliance Française de Maseru, Café What? and the National University of Lesotho. Additional screenings are scheduled across all 10 districts.

In Ethiopia, the European Union Film Festival in Addis Ababa opens on 23 October with the Irish film The Banshees of Inisherin, directed by Martin McDonagh. The opening weekend also features Italian, Austrian and Spanish productions, with selected films accompanied by discussions and masterclasses.

The festival is scheduled to close on 21 November. The programmes differ from country to country, but they share an interest in bringing films and audiences together while making room for conversations about the creative process.