Jerry Chiemeke, Others to Judge Hollywood African Cinema Connection 2026 Cape Town Festival

The Hollywood African Cinema Connection (HACC) has announced its jury for the 2026 festival in Cape Town, South Africa. The panel comprises Kenyan filmmaker and film editor Louiza Wanjiku, Nigerian-born writer and film critic Jerry Chiemeke, and US-based writer, director and producer Evette Vargas. The festival is scheduled to run from October 30 to November 2, bringing together filmmakers and industry professionals to celebrate cinema from Africa and the Middle East.

Wanjiku brings more than 15 years of post-production experience and edited Kati Kati, Kenya’s submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, which received the FIPRESCI Prize at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. Chiemeke, a UK-based writer, journalist, lawyer and film critic, has contributed to publications including The Africa Report, The Johannesburg Review of Books and The Lagos Review. His books include Dreaming of Ways to Understand You and Notes for Nnedimma. Vargas co-founded Indigo Reign Films and works across film, television and immersive media. Her short film Confessions won an audience award at Cannes, and she has developed projects for MGM and eOne.

The HACC festival combines film screenings with industry engagement, creating a platform for African and Middle Eastern cinema and conversations about the wider film industry. Its 2026 programme will feature 10 selected feature films, four directed by women, with screenings scheduled at the Robben Island Museum Amphitheatre. Beyond showcasing films, the festival provides an opportunity to draw attention to filmmakers and stories from across the regions it represents. The 2026 edition will take place in Cape Town from October 30 to November 2.

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