Driving African Stories Home
Matatu Film Stage is a bold, pan-African film festival that celebrates original, artistic cinema from Africa and its diaspora. From the beginning, the festival has been about breaking boundaries; of genre, geography, and space. Inspired by the energy of the matatu; East Africa’s iconic, colorful public minibus, it carries that same spirit of movement, creativity, and connection into the world of film.
At its core, Matatu Film Stage is about taking cinema to the people. Rooted in Uganda and expanding across the continent and beyond, the festival screens films not only in cinemas but also in unexpected and alternative spaces: inside matatus, community halls, open-air markets, art centres, schoolyards, and pop-up venues. By doing so, it brings cinema directly to audiences; whether in bustling cities or remote communities, sparking dialogue and inspiring audiences wherever they are.
The festival showcases bold, artistic, and original works from both emerging and established filmmakers across Africa and its diaspora, creating space for meaningful conversations around African narratives and identities.
OUR MISSION
To make African cinema accessible, inclusive, and transformative by breaking traditional boundaries of space, audience, and storytelling.
Our Objectives
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Expand access to African films in underserved and rural areas
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Champion pan-African storytelling across borders
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Support both emerging and established African filmmakers
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Promote cultural exchange and dialogue through cinema
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Build sustainable and scalable exhibition models
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Contribute to local creative economies
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Center inclusion, participation, and accessibility in every edition
OUR MODEL
Matatu Film Stage runs on a biennial cycle. Each edition premieres with a flagship week-long festival in Uganda, before embarking on a year-long journey across Africa and into the diaspora.
This model allows us to:
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Bring African cinema to both traditional and non-traditional spaces throughout the year
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Deepen audience engagement by creating lasting cultural experiences across multiple countries
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Give filmmakers extended visibility and opportunities far beyond a single event
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Build connections between communities, artists, and industries over a sustained period
01.
1st Edition (2018)
Uganda, short & experimental films, 200+ attendees
2nd Edition (2023)
02.
Expanded to Kenya, Tanzania & Ghana, 5000+ attendees, 70,000+ online views
03.
3rd Edition (2025)
Expanding further to Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Namibia & the UK; projected 15,000+ in-person attendees and 500,000+ online reach
Our Story & Growth
OUR VALUES
Access & Inclusion
We make cinema open to all; urban and rural, young and old, across languages, abilities, and identities
Authenticity & Community
Our stories are rooted in truth, culture, and heritage, and we share them in ways that bring people together.
Mobility & Innovation
Like the matatu, we move.
We travel across borders and embrace new formats while keeping the soul of storytelling intact.
Sustainability & Impact
We grow responsibly, strengthening creative economies, caring for the environment, and creating positive change in communities.