The South West’s biggest celebration of African cinema and culture returns with a packed weekend, join us for a fantastic programme of films (features, shorts and documentaries), discussions, workshops and live music, with film talent, artists and academics from across Africa and the diaspora.

The Festival opens with a special preview of the critically acclaimed, Kinshasa set, Félicité directed by Alain Gomis, which will followed by an opening night party in the Café/Bar where the compelling sounds of Ballet Nimba will stir up the party vibe. Special features this year include Africa’s Lost Classics programme - including the 1969 anti-colonial Soleil Ô and Rage (the first independent film by a Black filmmaker to get national release in the UK) - which are both as relevant and remarkable today as they were when released, while La Promesse gives additional voice to the subject of migration in the 20th century.

The every popular Eyefull Short Film Competition offers an eclectic line-up, curated by Irish-Nigerian student Olamiposi Ayorinde, while The Best of Africa’s Shorts showcases four award-winners from recent years. Plus featured shorts filmmaker Daouda Coulibaly’s new political thriller Wùlu, the tale of a fast-rising drug dealer, screens on Saturday night.

We're also showcasing some outstanding and very different documentary filmmaking; Liyana combines documentary and fiction and clearly shows the power to entertain, to inform and to heal; Paa Joe and The Lion is a celebration of craftsmanship and takes a look at the Grandfather of Ghana's Fantasy Coffin trade.

The Festival's closing film is The Wound, a brutal yet beautiful study in identity which juxtaposes male Xhosa initiation with the taboo of homosexuality and which has drawn much acclaim and comparisons with Moonlight.

Join us in the Café/Bar every evening to experience different and distinctive music from across Africa and its diaspora and come along to our family workshops in music and dance, mask-making, circus skills and animation for younger audience members.

Don’t forget to join us on Saturday afternoon for a Latin-flavoured tea dance with the amazing veteran South African dancer Elsa Perez still dancing at the grand old age of 82!

Make sure you look out for the pre-festival film and arts events at venues around Bristol and see the full Afrika Eye season programme here.