01
The Movement
AIFCAF provides the wider Pan-African platform, connecting film and the creative arts with audiences, talent and opportunity across the continent.
Embu IFCA FEST 2026
EIFCAF
One Community.
One Festival.
From its first public announcement to seven days of screenings, learning and creative exchange, EIFCAF 2026 marked the beginning of a new chapter for film and the creative arts in Embu. The programme has ended; the work, relationships and ideas it brought together continue.
The Journey
The Road
To EIFCAF
EIFCAF began long before the first screening. An African creative vision grew into a festival rooted in Embu — shaped by its people, its partners and the belief that local stories deserve a serious platform and a wider audience.
02
The Embu Chapter
EIFCAF brought that ambition to Embu County, creating a home for cinema, creative practice, conversation and community.
03
The Launch
The public launch gave the festival its first shared moment — introducing its identity, purpose and the people behind the programme.
04
Festival Week
Seven days brought the programme to life through screenings, masterclasses, outreach, conversations and creative exchange.
05
The Next Chapter
The first edition has concluded, leaving behind new relationships, ideas and a stronger foundation for what follows.
The Embu Chapter
What Is
EIFCAF?
The Embu International Film & Creative Arts Festival is a celebration of film, creativity and culture rooted in Embu County.
It brings filmmakers, artists, students, audiences and creative industry voices together through screenings, training, outreach, exhibitions and networking.
At its core, EIFCAF is about giving African stories room to be seen, heard and developed — while helping Embu grow as a destination for creative talent and enterprise.
Our Mission: To give African storytellers a stronger platform, one story, one community, one festival at a time.
The Mother Movement
What Is
AIFCAF?
The Africa International Film & Creative Arts Festival is the wider Pan-African platform behind the vision: using film, art and creative culture to connect people, celebrate African voices and create new opportunities across the continent.
Through regional chapters such as EIFCAF, AIFCAF takes that vision into communities — building platforms where emerging talent can meet audiences, industry knowledge and meaningful creative networks.
Our Mission: To give Africa’s storytellers a global stage.
The Narrative
Why EIFCAF
Exists
The first edition was built on a larger belief: film and the creative arts can preserve culture, create economic opportunity, strengthen communities and open African stories to the world.
Elevating African Cinematic Excellence
The Embu International Film and Creative Arts Festival (EIFCA) is not merely an event; it is a cultural imperative. Rooted in the vibrant landscapes of Embu County, Kenya, EIFCA serves as a premier confluence for filmmakers, artists, and visionaries from across the continent and the diaspora.
Its mission is to deconstruct established paradigms and provide an elevated platform for authentic, uncompromised African storytelling. Film becomes a medium for cultural preservation, socio-economic empowerment, and global dialogue — bridging emerging local talent with established global industry standards.
Building Creative Economies
Under the umbrella of the Africa International Film & Creative Arts Foundation (AIFCAF), the mandate extends far beyond the screen. Creative arts are recognized as a vital engine for economic transformation.
Through capacity building, masterclasses and cross-border co-production forums, creative professionals are equipped with the technical acumen and business literacy to navigate the global market — moving ideas from script to screen, and from screen to sustainable enterprise.
The Foundation
Vision.
Mission.
The original festival vision remains important even after the programme has ended. EIFCAF was designed as an ecosystem-building platform, not simply a week on the calendar.
Our Vision
“To build a vibrant creative ecosystem in Embu that celebrates artistic excellence, cultural identity, and innovation.”
Our Mission
“To cultivate a sustainable creative industry in Embu by providing platforms for exhibition, training, networking, and global exchange.”
More Than Screenings
A Creative
Platform
The programme was intentionally broad: a place to watch, learn, connect, exhibit, mentor and build. These pillars are part of the festival’s long-term identity.
01
Screenings
Film as a vehicle for cultural exchange, dialogue and discovery.
02
Training
Masterclasses and learning designed to strengthen creative practice and business literacy.
03
Outreach
Taking creative inspiration beyond the festival grounds and into schools and communities.
04
Networking
Connecting filmmakers, artists, students, audiences and industry voices around shared opportunity.
Beyond The Main Programme
School Outreach
Programme
Nurturing the cinematic pioneers of tomorrow through direct engagement, education, and inspiration.
Curriculum Integration
Collaborating with local educational institutions to integrate media literacy and foundational filmmaking into standard arts curricula.
Mobile Screenings
Bringing the festival experience directly to schools across Embu County through curated screenings and interactive Q&A sessions.
Youth Talent Incubation
Identifying exceptional young talent and providing mentorship, access to professional gear, and a pathway into the main festival.
15+Screenings
10+Masterclasses
15+Speakers
7Festival Days
Before The Festival
The Launch
Was Part Of The Story.
Before the programme, before the screenings and before the first festival week, there was the launch — the first public expression of EIFCAF in Embu.
It introduced the festival’s identity, its ambitions and the people who would carry the idea forward. These images belong to that beginning and remain part of the record of how EIFCAF came to life.
The launch was the first public chapter of EIFCAF. It deserves to be remembered alongside the festival itself.
Festival Archive
The Call.
The Categories.
The Opportunity.
The submission window is closed, but the original call for entries remains part of the festival’s public record. Keeping it here preserves the journey from invitation to programme.
Early Bird15 December 2025
Regular1 March 2026
FinalClosed — 30 May 2026
Categories We Received
Feature Film
60 to 180 minutesOpen to global submissions with a strong focus on authentic African perspectives.
Short Film
Under 45 minutesInnovation in concise storytelling and compelling cinematography is highly regarded.
Documentary Feature
40 minutes or moreWe prioritize impactful social, cultural, and environmental narratives.
Documentary Short
Under 40 minutesBite-sized, powerful non-fiction works that leave a lasting impression.
TV Drama/Comedy
20 to 60 min per episodeEngaging scripted episodic television content driving narrative arcs.
Unscripted TV Show
20 to 60 minutesReality, talk, or documentary-style unscripted formats for broadcast.
Animation
Any lengthAnimated shorts and features utilizing 2D, 3D, or stop-motion techniques.
Impact Film
Any lengthFilms designed to drive social change and community awareness.
Student Film
Any lengthExclusive category for enrolled students; institutional ID required.
Film in Education
Any lengthContent and instructional films designed for academic and outreach learning.
Festival Visuals
Watch The
Story Unfold
Keep the audiovisual record alongside the written story: the atmosphere, the visual language and the material that helped define the first edition.
Festival Gallery
Moments
From EIFCA 2026
A visual retrospective of the people, screenings, conversations and celebrations that defined the festival week. Tap any image to open it full-screen.
A living visual record of the first edition
With Gratitude
Thank You
To Our Partners
We are grateful to every organization, institution and collaborator who helped make EIFCA 2026 possible.
Looking Ahead
The Story
Continues.
The first edition of EIFCAF has concluded. What remains is the work it began: stronger creative relationships, new ideas, greater confidence and a clearer platform for the people and stories that make this community possible.
The next edition will build on what this first one set in motion.
Stay Connected
Get In
Touch
For festival enquiries, collaborations, media requests, partnerships and future programme information, please contact the Embu IFCA team.
Festival Contact
Emailinfo@embuifcafestival.com
Phone+254 711 349 771
LocationEmbu County, Kenya