Submission Judges 2026
We would like to extend a very big thank you to all our submission judges who participated in the 3rd edition of AAIFF Africa – The All African Independent Film Festival. This festival would not be possible without the support, expertise, and generosity of our exceptional judges. Our judges are not only what make our festival possible, but they play a large part in what makes our festival special. Their tireless help, passion, and energy enable us to provide a unique venue for emerging innovative and cinematic talent to gain international recognition. We think that we speak on behalf of everyone in saying that we are extremely grateful for all the hard work and time that our judges have put forward to making this festival happen. We are beyond excited for the 1st edition of the festival and we couldn’t have done it without them!
Here is the complete list of our AAIFF Africa 2026 submission judges:
Scott Hillier
Scott Hillier is an Australian Director / Cinematographer / Screenwriter. Scott studied film at New York University and The London Film and Television school as well as literary non-fiction writing at Columbia University. He has taught a Master’s Degree course in Screenwriting as well as journalism at the Centre de Formation des Journaliste (CFJ) in Paris. In addition to serving as President of ÉCU – The European Independent Film Festival, he is also Chief Creative Officer for the Zs2 Media Group in Paris.
Ivan Makai
Ivan Makai is an artistic individual with a creative outlook. With more than 4 years of experience in creating and producing short videos and movies for personal and corporate projects he is seeking to film moving films that tell a story.
His ability to work on his own or with small to mid-size filming crews has allowed him to direct, write, act and produce more than 5 films and 20 videos in the past three years.
Hilda Awori
Hilda Awori is a Ugandan Multidisciplinary storyteller. She studied at Makerere Univeristy in Kampala, Uganda at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Liberal and performing Arts where she pursued a BA in Drama and Film. Her career started on stage, interning as an actress and writer at Theatre Factory.
She has been involved in a number of stage productions, as a producer and writer for television, and is the director of the impact driven documentary “I won’t kneel”. Being mentored by Oscar-nominated Documentary filmmaker Daphne Matziaraki.
She believes in the transformative power of storytelling and much of the work she is involved in is about using stories for positive change within her community and beyond.
Bertin Twambaze Muhoza
Bertin Twambaze Muhoza is from Ruhango, Rwanda. He is a filmmaker with a strong foundation in both technology and artistic expression. His journey began with a background in computer science at GSNDP CYANIKA during high school. This analytical approach proved valuable as he pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Film and Television Production, specializing in Direction, at KIIT University in Bhubaneswar, India. Graduating in 2024, he developed his storytelling skills and cultivated a keen eye for visual language.
During his film school years, he actively participated in numerous productions, directing several short films that received critical acclaim and awards. These hands-on experiences strengthened his passion for the collaborative nature of filmmaking and for the power of visual narratives to connect with audiences on a profound level.
Aimée Umutoni
Aimée Umutoni is the managing director of Anda Films 33 with over 10 years of experience in the cinema industry. She’s also the business development officer for AAIFF Africa.
Rodrigo Estrada
Rodrigo Estrada was born in Mexico In 1995. He is the Festival Manager of the ÉCU Film Festival Group. Managing four film festivals and working at Zs2 Media group he has produced over 30 videos for clients like the NBA, Netflix, Illumination, General Electric amongst others.
Addamms Songe Mututa
Addamms Songe Mututa is a film scholar and lecturer with production experience. He holds a joint PhD (Film Studies / African Literature) from the University of Tübingen, Germany, and the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. He has taught film studies at the University of Nairobi and other institutions. He is also a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg and a co-editor of the Journal of African Cinemas. He researches African cinema cultures and theory.
Gary Jeannot
Gary Jeannot has been passionate about cartoons and cinema since childhood. After graduating from a renowned film school in Paris, he has worked in the film industry for over ten years.He founded Sanda Animation in Cameroon with the goal of bringing African stories to life through animation. Believing that it is essential to tell local stories and celebrate the richness and originality of African culture, he has dedicated his work to this mission. Sanda Animation’s first 2D animated film received two awards, and the studio continues to build on that success by developing new animation projects.
Ng’endo Mukii
Ng’endo Mukii is an Annie award-winning and British Animation Award
nominated film director. She is most well known for ‘Enkai,’ an episode on the Disney+ animated anthology, Kizazi Moto. At the prestigious Design Indaba conference she presented her talk, ‘Film Taxidermy and Re-Animation,’ proposing the use of animation as a means of re-
humanizing the ‘indigenous’ image; a people whose ‘real’ image is burdened with stereotypes of being the ‘Other.’ Ng’endo is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, and holds a Master of Arts in Animation from the Royal College of Art. She is an alumni of the beautiful Berlinale Talents, the distinguished Urucu Media REALNESS Screenwriter’s Residency, and the incredible Goethe Institute Bahia Vila Sul artists’ residency. Her mixed-media and inter-genre approach to filmmaking, particularly focused on the experiences of African women, gives her an incredibly unique visual language and a preeminent voice in animation. She lives and works in Boston, as a Professor of the Practice at SMFA at TUFTS University.
Anniwaa Buachie
Anniwaa Buachie is a distinguished Ghanaian-British artist whose influence spans across global platforms. Currently captivating audiences in the recurring role on the BBC series Phoenix Rise, she has flourished from a robust foundation in the UK theatre landscape. She was the artistic director and founder of Golden Delilah, an theatre company renowned for its innovation in new writing and advocacy for diverse female roles, Anniwaa has made a distinctive impact on the theatrical realm. A curious storyteller, her creative odyssey traverses the nuanced interplay between Africa and Great Britain, resonating powerfully across film, television, theatre, and literary fiction. This thematic exploration is a signature of her artistic journey. Amid the complexities of the pandemic, she was commissioned by the BAFTA-nominated production company Kandu Arts to conceive, direct, and produce impactful short films. Concurrently, her collaborative efforts with her writing partner yielded the development of a compelling limited series: Uproot, in collaboration with an Oscar-nominated production company. Anniwaa’s recent achievements include her production and lead role in the evocative short film MOON OVER ABURI, written by Emmy-winning writer Kwame Dawes. This successful collaboration continued with her direction and production of Kwame’s poignant work February Light, further highlights her reputation as a versatile and influential figure keen to shine a spotlight on storytelling and filmmaking of the African Diaspora.
Amanda Marufu
Amanda Marufu is a Feminist, Award Winning Tech-Entrepreneur, Award Winning TV Producer, Freelance Writer & Author certified in Gender and Media and Digital Marketing with over eight years of experience working to develop and create various forms of content. She has been
published by The Feminist Leadership Journal, Amaka Studio, Black Ballad, Document Women, In Her Words, Meeting Of The Minds, Africa80, and countless other platforms, dedicating her life
to using media and tech to spread awareness and change lives.
AWARDS INCLUDE:
Euro Film Fest – Best Documentary Award (2023)
Zimbabwean Film And Television (ZAFTA) – Best Documentary Short Award Nominee (2023)
Africa Innovation Week: Global Ambassador (2020)
The Better Tomorrow Movement: Global Ambassador (2019)
Digital Spaces Lab Residency – (2019)
Zim Blog Award Nominee (2020)
Entrepreneurship National Award Winner (2020)
Globee Business Award Nominee (2021)
BOOK: At What Age Does My Body Belong To Me
Dramane Minta
Dramane Minta is an artist, director and producer of animated films, born in Badalabougou, a friendly urban neighborhood of Bamako (Mali). Mr. Minta has a professional diploma in 3D animation (ACP 3D training program, Africa Caribbean and Pacific, financed by the European Union and managed in Africa, in Senegal at the IAM school).
To bring his touch to the African animation industry, in 2019 Mr. Minta decided to create Simple STUDIO (www.simplestu.com), an animated film studio. Dramane is also a member and commissioner of the Association Malienne de Film d’Animation
(TAAMA).
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS:
– 1st Prize at FESPACO 2023, animated series category
– Jury Prize at Vue d’Afrique Canada 2023, animation category.
– Audience prize at Vue d’Afrique Canada 2021, animation category.
– Guest of honor Bilili BD Festival 2023, Congo Brazzaville.
– Guest of honor FESPACO 2021.
– Member of the FFAA jury, Abidjan Animation Film Festival, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Paolo Patruno
Paolo Patruno is an Italian social-documentary photographer and filmmaker.
He has travelled throughout Africa over the past ten years, documenting global topics, including health care, education, human rights, sustainable development, poverty. Since 2011 He is working on a long term project called “BIRTH IS A DREAM” which aims to document and raise awareness about maternal health in Africa; the project has already been shot across Cameroon, DRC, Ethiopia, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Uganda and Zimbabwe, and from 2015 has been extended to the US.
Nick Reding
Nick Reding is an actor, director, and the founder of S.A.F.E. In 2001, after witnessing the urgent need for HIV education in Mombasa, he established the organization. Drawing on more than 20 years of stage and screen experience, he harnessed the power of theatre to educate, inspire, and empower communities.
From combating stigma to providing vital information, Nick’s performances sparked change and gave courage to seek care. Nick is an actor and director. From groundbreaking performances, to directing award-winning films including “Huruma,” (which was recreated in Kibera slum as a stage performance in Fernando Meirelles’s 2005 film “The Constant Gardener,”) “Ni Sisi,” “Watatu,” “Who am I?,” “Uamuzi” and S.A.F.E.’s latest film “Sarah” – his impact transcends the stage.
After 20 years, Nick has taken a step back from the day-to-day running of S.A.F.E., while still offering creative oversight and guidance. He looks forward to S.A.F.E. mentoring a new generation of Kenyan filmmakers and storytellers. Meanwhile, he focuses his passion for the environment on regenerative farming and reforestation. He’s also training local drama groups, nurturing the next generation of arts for social change organizations.
Vicky Patterson
Vicky Patterson is an artist originally from Cameroon with a passion for dance, music, and the performing arts. She gained acting experience through short training courses in Cameroon and online. Although she was previously part of a choir to improve her singing, her perception that her vocal skills were not yet strong enough temporarily led her to step away from music and focus on acting. Nevertheless, she continued dancing, joining the dance troupes of local singers for tours and live performances.
Throughout her career, Vicky has received two awards, in 2009 and 2012, recognizing her as Best Actress at local festivals. Her passion for the arts is intrinsically linked to her commitment to important social issues, particularly the promotion of fundamental human rights, the fight against domestic violence, and speaking out against all forms of injustice. At one point, she had to put her artistic career on hold due to constraints related to her status in the country where she was living. During that period, she continued her studies and worked as an accountant and logistics specialist to support herself. Despite this, art remained her primary means of expression.
Today, Vicky is more determined than ever to reclaim her place on the national and international stage, using her work to give a voice to the social issues that matter most to her. With this vision in mind, she co-founded Vicky K Entertainment to produce and direct major film projects, including “No Judgment”, which she co-directed. transitioned into documentary filmmaking.
Adetunji Adeoye
Adetunji Adeoye is an artist, illustrator, animator, storyteller and filmmaker. His unique ability to breathe new creative life into materials and spaces has not only earned him the name “2thpick Art” it has also earned him several accolades within the industry and beyond … including the Royal African medal for Outstanding Achievement in Creative Culture from the Ooni of Ife. A graduate of the prestigious University of Ilorin with over 17 years of experience as an Art Director / Director. Mr Adeoye has delivered projects for multiple brands across varying industries. A few of them are HBO, Samsung, Coca-cola, Parimatch, Diage and SABMiller. He has also served as the art director for multiple award winning movies, TV series and music videos such as Hate Me by Olamide & Wande Coal, Bandana by Asake & Fireboy, The Best by Davido & Mayorkun, Only me by Asake, Woman by Rema, Inspector K (S2). Introducing the Kujus – with which he bagged a “Best Art Director” AMVC nomination. Mr Adetunji Wrote / Produced and Directed “Pa Aromire” a stop motion Animation short – first of its kind to ever bag an AMVCA nomination, also the first film shot on mobile phone to ever be nominated on the same prestigious platform. The movie went on to win “Best short film or online content” AMVCA 2023, other notable awards won include (and not limited to) “Best Animation” Paris films Awards, “Best Production Design” Cannes Shorts awards, France. Mr Adetunji is the creative director of 2thpick Art, an Art. And media company based in Lagos, Nigeria. To understand the 2thpick Art brand is to understand excellence. Every project and art piece is delivered with a certain degree of craftsmanship and attention to detail which is a direct extension of Mr Adeoye himself. Mr Adeoye currently resides in Lagos, Nigeria and when he is not taking care of his pets Pixel and Resolution, he is on set somewhere Directing your next favorite video.
Nana Kofi Asihene
Nana Kofi Asihene is a Ghanaian film director, creative consultant, and visual artist known for his distinct storytelling and a visual style deeply steeped in Metaphorical relationships that spark inquest.. With a career spanning over two decades, he has directed some of the most iconic music videos and commercial campaigns across Africa, working with top artists and global brands. His career has pivoted towards developing & producing more original pieces ( shorts, features, serials) that amplify Ghanaian and African narratives.
Caroline Odongo
Caroline Odongo is a theatre, TV, and film professional whose career spans over 30 years. Known as “Coach,” she is well-known and highly respected throughout East Africa. She has worked with young actors on NatGeo Wild productions and with prolific actors for Showmax. In recognition of her work, she was awarded Best Director at the WIFA Awards in 2021 and won Best Fiction Film at the International Film Festival on Human Rights in 2023.
Isaya Evans
Isaya Evans is a Kenyan Filmmaker who has worked for over a decade in various capacities as an Assistant director, Casting director and Director. Isaya’s directing debut was the award-winning short film, “Loop” in 2021. Isaya’s short film Grogan’s Lodge(2023) is on its global festival tour and has been accepted so far in 9 film festivals, including the prestigious Clermont-Ferrand ISFF 2024. Some of the notable awards include:
1) Best Horror Film – Speculative Film Fest 2024
2) Best Cinematography – Africa International Horror Film Festival 2023
Isaya has also directed high-end TV shows like “Igiza (2022)”, “Second Family (2023)”, “Jiji (2024) and “Nilichoma (2024)” which all air on the VOD platform, Showmax, among others. Isaya has also directed TV commercials for companies including Sta-soft, Smirnoff, and Betika.
Isaya is currently working on a feature film whose script has been accepted for development at Durban Filmart (Jumpstart programme 2024).
Bassma Farah Nancy
Bassma Farah Nancy is a versatile artist with a bachelor’s degree in Art Direction in Cinema and Theater from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Helwan University. She is also a graduate of Ramses College in 2012, and the Jesuit Cairo Film School in Egypt in 2022. Currently, Bassma works as a filmmaker, editor, actor, photographer, storyboard artist, singer, and music composer. She currently works as an international press guest relations manager at the Cairo International Film Festival in 2024. She has also participated in several acting and filmmaking workshops and has performed in numerous plays in community theaters. Her debut short film “Sushi With Kebda” won awards at two Egyptian film festivals. She completed “V’s Secret”, her latest short film in 2024 as her graduation project for Jesuit Cairo film school and it has been selected to compete in Durban International Film Festival 2024 and the 30th International Festival of Local Television Golden Beggar, where it won the best screenplay prize in 2024. V’s Secret has also been screened in the 78th Salerno International Film Festival in Italy.
Ian Gituku
Ian Gituku (born 04 June 1987) is a Kenyan-based film director & Editor. He is growing to be one of Kenya’s most aspiring documentary filmmakers. On June, 18th 2024, he won an ‘Honourable Mention’ award in the African Film Festival (PAGTIC) in Los Angeles, US and All African Film Festival in Kigali, Rwanda for his documentary ‘Sipping Words’.
He started out as a music producer and in 2022, he started The Wine Story Films , as a YouTube channel at first, which eventually transitioned into documentary filmmaking.
Michael Maurissens
Michael Maurissens is a Belgian choreographer, and cinematographer based in Cologne, Germany. His films explore the intersection of movement, documentary, and visual art, engaging with themes of cultural heritage, identity, resilience, and social transformation. Working across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, he develops collaborative projects with artists and local communities, where choreography becomes a way of seeing as much as a form of expression. His films have been presented internationally and recognized for their distinctive visual language, including Lettre à ma fille, which received the Best Editing Award at the African International Film Festival in 2025.
Dylan Harvey
Dylan Harvey is a UK-based award-winning writer, director and producer. After several years of shooting music promos and short films and working as producer on a number of TV entertainment broadcast productions, he made the feature-length documentaries The Banksy Job and That Was a Serious Party.
He is currently a consultant producer for Imagine Pictures on a Ron Howard produced feature length music documentary and is developing several scripted films for various companies.
Dylan also mentors and provides opportunities for young filmmakers who come from underprivileged and under-represented backgrounds in the UK.
.