Cinema Africa Bayreuth

15/05/2026

11/03/2026

🎬 Interview with Angolan filmmaker Ery Claver

In this conversation, filmmaker Ery Claver reflects on cinema, memory, and contemporary Angolan society. The interview took place during Cinema Africa in Bayreuth, where his film Our Lady of the Chinese Shop (Nossa Senhora da Loja do Chinês, 2022) was screened.

Claver is part of the Luanda-based artistic collective Geração 80, known for its experimental and interdisciplinary approaches to film and visual culture in Angola.
The interview is conducted by Prof. Dr. Ute Fendler and Adebanjo Baderin, and touches on themes central to Claver’s work, from symbolism and urban memory to the cultural and political questions shaping present-day Angola.

▶️ Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel: here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEcxgxCPF1w

Uni Bayreuth

04/03/2026

🎬 Cinema Africa 2026 – Retrospective Now Online
At the end of January, the 17th edition of the Cinema Africa Film Festival concluded its 2025/26 programme with four evenings of outstanding contemporary African cinema at Cineplex Bayreuth .

Curated by Prof. Dr. Ute Fendler and organised within the framework of the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence at the Uni Bayreuth, this year’s extended edition began with guest-accompanied screenings in November and December 2025 and culminated in the festival finale from 25–28 January 2026.

From The Anchorage of Time (accompanied by a live musical performance by Stewart Sukuma and Matchume Zango), to Katanga – The Dance of the Scorpions with director Dani Kouyaté, The Fisherman with producer Kofi Owusu-Afriyie, and the closing double feature of Beutset and Dent pour Dent, Cinema Africa once again created a vibrant space for film, discussion and intercultural exchange.

The full retrospective report is now available on our website: https://www.africamultiple.uni-bayreuth.de/en/news/2026/2026-02-24-Cinema-Afrika/index.html

Thank you to all filmmakers, guests, partners and audiences who made this edition possible. We look forward to continuing the conversation.

20/02/2026

🎥 In Conversation: Stewart Sukuma & Prof. Dr. Ute Fendler

In this video, Mozambican musician Stewart Sukuma sits down for an in-depth conversation with Prof. Dr. Ute Fendler, curator of the Cinema Africa film festival in Bayreuth, Germany. Their discussion explores Sukuma’s artistic journey, the intersections of music and film, and his role in the festival’s program. Sukuma was part of the festival’s opening night celebration for “The Anchorage of Time” (Ancoradouro do Tempo), a Mozambican/Portuguese crime drama screened at the 17th Cinema Africa film festival held at Cineplex Bayreuth a few days later. The conversation offers rare personal insights into Sukuma’s creative process and his reflections on African cinema, culture, and global artistic exchange.

The full interview is available now on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_pqKBZ-8NM

For anyone interested a link to Stewart Sukuma's book is: https://www.poesiaimpossivel.com/o-alfaiate-e-a-arte-de-costurar-o-amor

28/01/2026

Cinema Africa concludes this evening with a double feature. Please note the earlier start time due to the short film Beutset which start at 19:30 followed by Dent Pour Dent. We look forward to seeing you all there!

28/01/2026

Night 3 of Cinema Africa 2026 unfolded last night at Cineplex Bayreuth with the screening of The Fisherman by Zoey Martinson, a fantasy-comedy that filled the cinema with laughter.

The film was warmly received for its light-hearted, wholesome tone and its loveable protagonist. Blending humour and fantasy, The Fisherman also gently engages with themes such as climate change, intergenerational relationships, technology, and the changing realities of fishing communities in Ghana.

Following the screening, a post-film discussion took place with producer Kofi Owusu-Afriyie, moderated by Adebanjo Oreoluwa Baderin and Atta Kwarkye. The conversation offered insights into the Ghanaian film industry, the film’s journey from concept to screen, and Owusu-Afriyie’s collaboration with director Zoey Martinson. The film is also executively produced by Yvonne Orji, the Emmy-nominated actress and producer, underscoring its strong international profile.

The Fisherman is a multi-award-winning film, with 18 awards to date (15 international). It premiered at the 2024 Venice Biennale (The Fisherman) and received UNESCO’s Fellini Medal (The Fisherman), marking a historic moment as the first Ghanaian film to screen at Venice.

🎬 Cinema Africa concludes this evening with a double feature:
Alicia Mendy’s Beutset (short film) followed by Dent pour Dent (Tooth for Tooth).

🎟️ Tickets are available via the Cineplex website/app and on site at Cineplex Bayreuth.

Photos: Robert Götze / Fabrica Lux

27/01/2026

11/02/2025

Mohamed Kordofani's critically acclaimed movie "Goodbye Julia" is his first feature film. As part of the 16th edition of Cinema Africa Kordofani came to Bayreuth to present his film to the Bayreuth public. Maryam Shojaei and Bakheit Nur had the chance to sit down with him and ask him a few questions on his career, his film and the political background that frames this extraordinary work of art.

You can now watch the full interview on the following link: https://youtu.be/d51p1uRsSFI?si=kvAa4tjoy0vEznJ7

05/02/2025

Das Team des "Vereins Deutsche Freunde e. V." spricht mit Prof. Ute Fendler Fendler über das "Cinema Africa". Auch die Regisseurin Maeva Ranaïvojaona und der Drehbuchautor Jean-Luc Raharimanana kommen zu Wort. Ihr Film "Zaho Zay" wurde auf dem Festival aufgeführt.

Schauen Sie sich diesen Bericht des „Vereins Deutsche Freunde e. V.“ unter folgendem Link an: https://www.nrwision.de/mediathek/cinema-africa-bayreuther-filmfestival-250129/

NRWision

Das "Cinema Africa" ist ein Filmfestival in Bayreuth. Es zeigt vor allem Filme aus dem afrikanischen Raum. Prof. Ute Fendler organisiert das Festival in Zusammenarbeit mit der Universität Bayreuth. Das Team des "Vereins Deutsche Freunde e. V." spricht mit Ute Fendler über das "Cinema Africa". Auch...