Yaounde International Film Festival (CAMIFF)

Overview

The Cameroon International Film Festival (CAMIFF) is Cameroon's most important film festival. Founded in 2015 and held annually in Yaounde, Cameroon's political capital, the festival celebrates Cameroonian and Central African cinema in one of Africa's most culturally diverse nations.

Cameroon is known as "Africa in miniature" for its extraordinary cultural, linguistic, and geographic diversity. The country has over 250 ethnic groups and is bilingual in French and English, giving its film culture a uniquely diverse foundation. CAMIFF reflects this diversity in its programming and serves both the French-speaking majority and English-speaking minority.

Central Africa has been underrepresented in the African film festival landscape relative to West and East Africa, and CAMIFF works to provide a platform for Central African filmmaking.

Key Sections

• Cameroonian Film Competition -- new Cameroonian features and shorts
• Central African Panorama -- films from DRC, Republic of Congo, Gabon, and neighboring countries
• International Program -- curated international films
• Documentary Program -- nonfiction features
• Short Films -- competitive short programs

What Filmmakers Should Know

CAMIFF accepts open submissions. For Cameroonian and Central African filmmakers, the festival provides the most important regional platform. The bilingual French-English context creates an unusual programming environment within the African festival landscape.

Major Awards

• Best Cameroonian Film -- jury prize
• Best Central African Film
• Best International Film
• Audience Award

Festival History

CAMIFF was founded in 2015 and has grown into Cameroon's most important film platform. The festival has worked to build visibility for Central African cinema.

See Also

For Central African cinema, see International Film Markets. For festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy.