Iowa African Film Festival to debut at Drake University, bringing authentic African stories to Iowa

The inaugural Iowa African Film Festival will debut Aug. 6-7 at Drake University, creating a new platform for audiences to experience authentic African storytelling through film while fostering cultural exchange, education and international collaboration.

Hosted at Drake University, 2507 University Ave., the two-day festival will feature African films, documentaries and short films exploring conservation, health, entrepreneurship, innovation, history, culture, lifestyle and contemporary life across the African continent. Organizers say the event is intended to connect filmmakers, students, scholars and community members while strengthening understanding between African and American communities.

The festival is produced by Kuona Foundation, presented by ALN Studios and curated by One Voice DSM.

“There has never been enough authentic African stories being told,” said Jack Chimbetete, festival director of the Iowa African Film Festival and founder of ALN Studios. “This event will help combat misinformation in modern media by allowing audiences to hear directly from African storytellers.”

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Chimbetete said the festival represents years of collaboration and reflects Iowa’s growing connection to Africa through its expanding African diaspora. Thirty films from 22 countries were selected from more than 500 submissions.

“Every culture deserves exposure,” he said. “There has been a significant increase in the African diaspora, and this festival creates an opportunity for people to engage with our stories, traditions and experiences in meaningful ways.”

The inaugural festival has already received more than 500 film submissions from filmmakers around the world. Awards will recognize excellence in directing, producing, acting, authenticity and documentary filmmaking while providing networking opportunities for both emerging and established filmmakers.

Festival organizers also expect the event to attract visitors from across the United States and abroad, contributing to Iowa’s cultural tourism while creating new opportunities for filmmakers to connect with distributors, industry professionals and local audiences.

For Ines Umubyeyi, marketing and public coordinator for the Iowa African Film Festival, the event represents more than a celebration of cinema. She said it also creates space for dialogue and inclusion.

“Partnerships are essential when creating something meaningful,” Umubyeyi said. “The more partnerships we build, the more people can be included, and the stronger our communities become.”

Umubyeyi also hopes the festival will encourage Iowans to learn about the experiences of African immigrants and members of the African diaspora.

“When Africans move to America, they are expected to learn a new language and adapt to a new culture,” Umubyeyi said. “Too often, people never ask where we came from or take the time to learn our stories. This festival creates an opportunity for those conversations to happen.”

Hosting the festival at Drake University carries special significance for Chimbetete, who first came to Iowa as a Mandela Washington Fellow through the Young African Leaders Initiative. Since then, he has earned a degree from Drake University, mentored entrepreneurs through the Drake Business Clinic, served as board president of One Voice DSM, consulted with CultureALL and founded both ALN.TV and ALN Studios.

He said those experiences convinced him that Iowa was ready for an event dedicated to authentic African storytelling.

The Iowa African Film Festival was established to celebrate African storytelling while promoting education, cultural understanding, tourism and international collaboration through film. Organizers say they hope the event will become a lasting destination for filmmakers, educators and audiences interested in exploring Africa through authentic voices and cinematic storytelling.

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