Mashariki African Film Festival

Mashariki Africa Film Festival (MAFF) is a Rwandan-based film event that highlights and awards films by Africans and African diaspora. ^{[1] [2] [3]} The word 'Mashariki' means 'East' in Kiswahili. The first edition of the festival was in 2015. ^[4]

The event did not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19.pandemic ^{[5] [6]}

The festival was founded by Tresor Senga. ^[7] Floriane Kaneza was its artistic director from 2016-2018. ^[8]

2015

Opening Night	Tapis RougeKantarama Gahigiri And Fred Baillif, Swiss, 2014	[4] [9]
Feature Film Competition	Virgem Margarida Licínio Azevedo, Mozambique, 2012, 87 Minutes Impunidade Criminosas Sol de Carvalho, Mozambique 2013, 74 Minutes Durban PoisonAndrew Worsdale, South Africa 2013, 94 Minutes W.A.K.AFrançoise Ellong, France, 2014, 90 Minutes Dakar TrottoirsHubert Laba Ndao, Senegal, 2013 Dust & FortunesJustice Chapwanya Mokoena, Zimbabwe, 2013, 88 Minutes ImaniCaroline Kamya, Uganda/ Sweden, 2010 The RouteJayant Maru, Uganda, 2013, 67 Minutes UmutomaJean Kwezi, Rwanda, 2014, 72 Minutes Amaguru N'amaboko / The Feet And The HandsRoland Lewis Ndikumana, Burundi The SpringboardJoseph Ndayisenga, Burundi, 2014, 63 Minutes UbutorwaMuniru Habiyakare, 90 Minutes
Short Film Competition	Crossing Lines Karemangingo Ishimwe Samuel, Rwanda 2014, 29 Minutes, Fiction Akaliza KezaPhilbert Aimé Mbabazi, Rwanda 2014 RayilaMutiganda Janvier, Rwanda, 2014, 7 Fiction Forbidden Talk Uwimbabazi Odile, Rwanda, 2014, 25 Min Deceit Mark Wambui, Kenya, 2014, 11 Minutes, Fiction Before And AfterLikario Wainaina, Kenya, 2014, 21 Minutes, Fiction The AuditionLikario Wainaina, Kenya, 2014, 6 Minutes, Fiction Letters HomeBrian Munene, Country,2014, Duration, Fiction My FaithBruce Makau, Kenya, 2014, 24 Minutes, Fiction Tiktok Usama Mukwaya, Uganda, 2014, 19 Minutes, Fiction After The Death Of My HusbandMalikonge Richard, Burundi, 2014, 17 Min 16 Sec, Documentary Majambere The FighterEvrad Niyomwungeri, Burundi, 2014, 13 Min 48 Sec, Documentary Skin DeepMichelle Kamunyo, Kenya, 2014, Duration, Documentary Kazi Ni Kazi - All Work Is ValuableNsanzemariya Magnifique, Rwanda, 7 Minutes Swag & SwingKinani Peace, Rwanda, 15 Minutes GasoreDukuze Marie Claire, Rwanda, 9 Minutes
Best East African Actor	Iradukunda Pacifique from Rwandan Short Film Gasore
Best East African Actress	Veronica Washeke from Kenyan Short Film My Faith
Best National Short Film	Crossing Lines, (Rwanda)
Jury Special Mention East African Best Short Film	Majambere The Fighter (Burundi)
Best East African Short Film	My Faith (Kenya)
Best East African Documentary	The Springboard, (Burundi)
Best East African Narrative Feature Film	The Route, (Uganda)
Best Director	Francoise Ellong, W.A.K.A.
Best Film	Virgem Margarida, (Mozambique)

2017

Opening night	La Piroque (Small boat) Moussa Toure	[10]
Best Short Fiction Film	It WorksEmmanuel Harris Munezero (Rwanda)
Best Short Documentary	Football For PeaceHabib Kanobana (Rwanda)
Best East African Short Fiction Film	Camel’s BackAri Michelle Mboya (Kenya)
Best Short Documentary	Water to Dust Mitchelle Jangara (Kenya)
Best African Short Film	Maman Maimouna Doucoure (Senegal)
Best Feature Fiction	N.G.O. Arnold Aganze (Uganda)
Closing film	Tey Alain Gomis

2019

Best Feature Film	Veronica’s WishNisha Kalema and Rehema Nanfuka	[11]
Best East African Short Film.	SundayAngella Emurwon
Best African Short Film	Communion, Patience Nitumwesigye
Best East African Short Film	Communion, Patience Nitumwesigye

*These are nominations

2020

The festival did not hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[12]

2022

In 2022, Mashariki African Film Festival was held from 26 November 2022 to 2 December 2022.

MASHARIKI OFFICIAL AWARDS ^[13]

Best Documentary Award	We Students Directed by Rafiki Fariala
Best Short Film	Supastaz Directed by Ophrah Yougi
Best Feature Film	Maria Kristu - The Bumpa Story Directed by Paul S. Wilo

SIGNIS JURY AWARDS ^[14]

Best Film	KAFACOH Directed by Doreen Mirembe
East African Talent Award	A COLORFUL LIFE Directed by Lionel Nishimwe

IZIWACU AWARDS ^[15]

Best Short Film WBI	LOVE ME Directed by Claudine Uwamahoro
Best Short Film Huye	Before I Treat My First Patient Directed by DUTERIMBERE Marie Aime
Best Short Film Musanze	AMAYIRABIRI Directed by Samuel Uwizeyimana
Best Short Film Muhanga	IMPAMVU Directed by UWERA MARIE JEANNE
Best Short Film Rubavu	CLASSROOM Directed by ABDOUL Nsengiyumva
Best Actor	FURAHA JOHNSON JOSEPH - AFTER
Best Actress	UWONKUNDA MUGOBEKAZI RAISSA - Breathing

References

1. "Mashariki Africa Film Festival returns". The New Times | Rwanda. 2021-01-10. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
2. "Mashariki African Film Festival 2022". FilmFreeway. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
3. "Mashariki film festival returns for third edition". The East African. 2020-08-27. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
4. "Africiné - Mashariki African Film Festival 2015". Africiné (in French). Retrieved 2022-07-29.
5. "How Rwanda is looking to leverage its developing film industry through storytelling". CNBC Africa. 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
6. "Mashariki Africa Film Festival returns". www.ethiopianfilminitiative.org. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
7. Adejumo, Quadri (2024-09-06). "Mashariki Film Festival To Host Kigali Content Market In November". Film Efiko. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
8. Opobo, Moses (2017-04-06). "Floriane Kaneza on the just concluded Mashariki African Film Festival". The New Times. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
9. ArtMattersInfo (2015-03-15). "Rwanda's Mashariki African Film Festival Announces Winners". ArtMatters.Info. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
10. "Mashariki Film Festival awards best filmmakers". The New Times | Rwanda. 2017-04-03. Retrieved 2022-07-30.
11. "Four Ugandan Ladies Nominated In The 2019 Mashariki Film Festival In Rwanda - Glim" . Retrieved 2022-07-30.
12. "What you need to know about Mashariki African Film Festival 2021". The New Times | Rwanda. 2021-12-12. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
13. "MASHARIKI 2022 AWARDS | Mashariki Africa Film Festival" . Retrieved 2022-12-31.
14. "MASHARIKI 2022 AWARDS | Mashariki Africa Film Festival" . Retrieved 2022-12-31.
15. "MASHARIKI 2022 AWARDS | Mashariki Africa Film Festival" . Retrieved 2022-12-31.