The iKON Film and Television Awards will stage a fourth edition on December 12, as organisers seek to expand the platform beyond an awards ceremony into a continental meeting point for filmmakers and creatives.
The ceremony set for the Kampala Serena hotel, will provide room for a wider programme of activities aimed at building connections within Africa’s film sector. The announcement was made at a recent press conference held at the Reach A Hand Africa headquarters in Lungujja, Kampala.
The 2026 edition will feature activities under the iKON Activate initiative, which is designed to bring together filmmakers, actors, producers and other professionals for networking, discussions and collaborations.
Organisers say the activities are intended to create more opportunities for African creatives to share ideas and develop partnerships. A major part of the build-up will be iKON Activate Johannesburg in October, in partnership with South African actor, producer and filmmaker Thapelo Mokoena.
The gathering is expected to attract filmmakers and industry leaders from different African countries for conversations around production, distribution and the future of African cinema.
Previous iKON Activate events have taken place in Lagos, Nairobi and Kigali, with a London edition slated for April 2027. Humphrey Nabimanya, founder and CEO of the awards, said the initiative has played a role in encouraging partnerships between film industries across Africa.
Among the collaborations highlighted is the Uganda-Nigeria feature film, Dambe, directed by Nollywood filmmaker Ramsey Nouah and featuring Ugandan actor Michael Wawuyo Sr. Nabimanya said stronger cooperation among African filmmakers is key to helping local productions reach wider audiences.
The fourth edition will also introduce iKON Society, a membership platform aimed at providing creatives with access to networking opportunities, learning programmes and industry resources. atiluknathan@gmail.com
