A dystopian world where being black is illegal; a woman grappling with pressures to start a family; a powerful new bioweapon being used to assassinate political adversaries; and a preacher struggling with alcohol: these four compelling short films from East Africa were screened at the European Film Market before an audience of filmmakers, industry professionals and members of the media development community. The showcase highlighted the unique talent East Africa has to offer.

The films – directed by Neema Ngelime (Tanzania), Habtamu Gebrehiwot (Ethiopia), and Dilman Dila and Patience Nitumwesiga (both from Uganda) – explore themes of race, tradition and gender through a variety of formats.

All four are a part of the EAccelerate Fund from the East African Screen Collective (EASC), a DW Akademie partner. The EASC, with support from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and DW Akademie, provided grants and mentorship to the emerging filmmakers, helping them navigate the process of creating their ambitious films. The goal: support freedom of expression on the continent.

Ngelime’s "The Ones with the Tempered Flowers" resonates on a personal level, as it deals with her own recent diagnosis with a fertility-related illness. Her film presents a deeply introspective and socially critical exploration of womanhood.

At the premiere, Ngelime looked to the diverse experiences in her native Tanzania and the lack of representation of women in cinema. She pointed to a wide range of issues to explore and a rich history that deserved to be documented through film.

"It’s important to support film because cinema is communal – it gives us space to reflect, converse and engage with our experiences," Ngelime said.

Gebrehiwot’s "The Fortunate" tackles the issue of faith in Ethiopia, exploring local traditions and taboo topics.

The films from Dilman Dila and Patience Nitumwesiga take a more speculative approach. Their films are classified as science fiction, albeit with an undeniably political lean. In Nitumwesiga’s "The Last Barbarian" and Dila's "Little Red Eve," they look to the future to bring light to the present.

"I want to depict stories that are as realistic as possible," said Dila of his genre-bending career. "With the grant, I was able to fully commit myself to the project."

For Nitumwesiga, the value of the grant extended beyond the financial support it provided. "The money from the grant was great, but it was really a starting point to build relationships with filmmakers," she explained. 

These short films are just the starting point for these directors and producers who are now part of the EASC ecosystem. They are not only creating art but contributing to a larger, more dynamic movement of East African storytelling. DW Akademie supports film development in East Africa to promote freedom of expression in the region.

The filmmakers received grants and training through the East Africa Screen Collective and DW Akademie, supported by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).