Filmmakers, critics toast to 10 years of Ngalabi Short Film Festival

Saturday night marked a triumphant, high-energy conclusion to the 10th Anniversary Edition of the Ngalabi Short Film Festival.

After six intense days of celebrating African cinema, filmmakers, critics, and cinephiles migrated from the silver screens of Century Cinemax to the breezy rooftop of Alliance Française in Kamwokya for the closing night party that stretched late into the morning hours.

The festival, which ran from June 22 to June 27, 2026, successfully commemorated a decade of championing independent, short-form storytelling in East Africa.

Curated by Joel Tugaineyo, this year's milestone edition set a new benchmark for community engagement by offering free entry to all its events, screenings, and panel discussions.

The first four days of the festival were hosted at Goethe-Zentrum Kampala (GZK). This phase served as the intellectual heartbeat of the event, buzzing with intensive industry workshops and script readings that gave audiences a raw, behind-the-scenes look at the filmmaking process. As the weekend approached, the action shifted to the big screen at Century Cinemax Acacia Mall. Starting at 7:00 PM each night, moviegoers were treated to theatrical screenings, bringing cinematic grandeur to local and continental short films.

Reimagining African narratives

In all, 15 short films were screened. Striking a perfect balance between local talent and continental representation, the selection showcased seven entries from Uganda and eight pieces from the wider Africa and its diaspora.

Following the theatrical screenings on the final nights, the audience was treated to deep-dive Q&A discussions. Professionally moderated by renowned filmmaker Angie Emurwon, these sessions bridged the gap between creator and consumer.

The crown jewel of the programming was the prominent "Favorite Shorts" package, a curated selection of highly acclaimed films that left a lasting impression on the Kampala audience. Among the standout films screened were: Last Taxi to Kawempe by Walter Gabriel Busulwa (Uganda), Sweet Heist by Kisitu (Uganda), Float by Lydia Matata (Kenya), Lice and Shine, Big Sad Nairobi, All I Wish For is Desirable, and Water for Birds.

Films like Walter Gabriel Busulwa's Last Taxi to Kawempe and Kisitu's Sweet Heist resonated deeply with the local crowd, capturing the distinct textures, humor, and systemic realities of life in Uganda. Meanwhile, regional projects like Lydia Matata's Float and the poignant Big Sad Nairobi highlighted shared urban anxieties and emotional landscapes across the East African border.

When the final credits rolled at Century Cinemax on Saturday night, the formal energy of the theater transformed into a vibrant celebration of artsy film and 10 years of resilience.

Under the Kampala night sky, the rooftop became a melting pot of beats, congratulations, and networking. The late-night party celebrated not just the success of the 2026 edition but also the incredible journey of a festival that started as a modest gathering and has since grown into a vital pillar of African film.