The Hollywood African Cinema Connection (HACC) will return for its third edition from October 30 to November 2, 2026, following a schedule shift to align with MIP Africa.
The move is intended to allow the festival and market to run concurrently, strengthening access between filmmakers and industry buyers.
This year’s theme—”Our Land. Our Heritage”—focuses on stories rooted in identity, belonging, and the relationship between people and place.
The 2026 edition will run alongside FAME Week Africa, embedding the festival within the continent’s broader entertainment industry calendar.
The programme will include screenings and industry discussions on the future of filmmaking across the Global South. Topics will include virtual production, digital infrastructure, and evolving funding and distribution models such as crowdfunding and decentralised finance.
HACC was founded by South African filmmaker Weaam Williams, whose work spans nearly two decades across film, television, and documentary.
Her projects include Hip-Hop Revolution, which received international recognition, and District Six: Rising from the Dust which is streaming now on Amazon Prime Video.
Her short film Two Hues has also drawn critical attention, with a feature adaptation in development.
Williams said filmmakers are encouraged to submit early ahead of the June 27 deadline, noting that entry volumes increase significantly closer to closing dates.
“The earlier filmmakers submit, the more time our programming team has to give each project proper attention,” Williams notes.
South African filmmaker Mlungisi Mhlanga won Best Feature Film at HACC 2025, for his 70s funk inspired romcom “Lottery Love”, with Evette Vargas, a renowned award-winning LA-based writer and producer featured in Forbes and named by the New York Times as an Artist to Watch.
The festival has also opened sponsorship and partnership opportunities across film, technology, aviation, hospitality, and emerging sectors such as AI and Web3.
Submissions are open to filmmakers across Africa and Asia, including the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia, as well as international creators whose work engages with those regions.
Eligible films must have been completed after October 2024.
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