Selassie Ibrahim announces 314 nominees for Regal Film Festival 2026

The Regal Film Festival and Awards (REFFA) has officially unveiled the nominees for its 2026 edition, marking a significant milestone for African cinema. At a ceremony held at the Accra Marriott Hotel, festival founder Ms. Selassie Ibrahim announced that the second edition of the event received 314 entries from 36 countries. The announcement, attended by industry luminaries including Joselyn Dumas and Eunice Banini, sets the stage for the main festival scheduled to take place from December 8 to 11, 2026, with a final awards gala on December 12.

Ms. Ibrahim emphasized that REFFA's mission extends beyond the distribution of trophies, focusing instead on building a sustainable film industry and promoting African narratives globally. The 2026 festival program is designed to be comprehensive, featuring panel discussions, scriptwriting sessions, and marketing workshops. A key component of this year’s event is a dedicated content market intended to connect filmmakers with international investors and distributors, ensuring that African stories are told authentically and meet world-class standards.

Several notable Ghanaian films are among the top contenders, including "No Man of God" and "Two." In the Best Picture category, Ghana's "No Man of God" faces competition from Kenya's "Nawi – Dear Future Me." The nominations also highlighted emerging talent in the student and short film categories, with "Shadows of the Past" and "Fiashidi" nominated for Best Student Documentary, while "Almost Forever" and "Dictatrix" (a Ghana-US co-production) are vying for Best Short Film. International entries such as Italy's "The Border" and the United States' "Blind Pursuit" are also in contention for major honours.

As the festival approaches, the focus remains on enhancing the global visibility of African content and fostering a robust ecosystem for local creators. By providing a platform for diverse storytelling and professional networking, REFFA aims to elevate the continent's cinematic output and attract foreign investment. The upcoming December events are expected to serve as a vital hub for film discourse and industrial growth in the West African sub-region.