Inclusive Lens Awards to celebrate diversity in film and TV

As part of FAME Week Africa (happening in the Host City of Cape Town from 1-7 September 2024), MIP Africa is pioneering the Inclusive Lens Awards in recognition of inclusive film and series content that serves to amplify and celebrate Africa’s diverse and historically underrepresented perspectives. The Awards will take place on 3 September 2024, hosted by drag artist and drag culture specialist, Vida Fantabisher.

The power of representation, particularly in film and series, plays a crucial role in shaping perceptions, inspiring change, and fostering a more inclusive society. The Inclusive Lens Awards are designed to spotlight and reward exceptional efforts in the portrayal and inclusion of diverse narratives and characters, with a special focus on LGBTQ+ representation, disability awareness, and the depiction of a diversity of themes and characters in children’s content.

Says FAME Week Africa’s Portfolio Director, Martin Hiller, “Submissions for MIP Africa’s Inclusive Lens Award should reflect Africa’s diverse and interesting culture and unearth stories that have been waiting in the wings. This is a critical step in ensuring that the industry accurately reflects the range of ever-changing experiences of everyone living within it. We are looking for submissions that challenge stereotypes, model equality and inclusivity, represent different perspectives with a fair and balanced lens, and ultimately broaden the perspectives of their audiences.”

Films and series for consideration must have been made between 1 January 2020 and 21 June 2024 and have aired on an accessible linear and/or non-linear platform, had a theatrical release, or screened at a film festival. The submission deadline is 25 June 2024 and the Official Selection will be announced at the end of July.

The Awards celebrate both films and series (scripted and unscripted) that highlight stories from Africa or about its diaspora in the following categories:

Best LGBTQ+ Representation

Best Disability Representation

Best Diversity and Inclusion Representation for Young Audiences

The adjudication panel includes: 

Jason Fiddler, Director of Durban Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

Karen Jeynes, Writer, Producer, Director, and Representation Expert

Mimi Bartels, Co-founder of Anakle Films and Nollywood’s No. 1 Box Office Film Producer in 2021

Rogers Ofime, Renowned Director and Producer

Simon Manda, Managing Director and Co-founder of THIS ABILITY, a disability awareness multimedia platform

Gibson Ncube, Senior Lecturer in Modern Foreign Languages at Stellenbosch University, focusing on gender and sexual minorities in African literature and film

For more information, visit FAME Week Africa’s website. Those who wish to submit their work for consideration can do so here. The submission deadline is 25 June 2024. 

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