Stories rooted in Africa.
Seen around the world.
AEFF is a pan-African film festival celebrating stories that move audiences and hold up to scientific scrutiny — from the Sahel to the Cape, from the Congo Basin to the coast. Winning films go on to screen alongside BCEFF's international festival program and partner screenings worldwide.
"Bridging science and cinema in service of the planet — starting with the stories only Africa can tell."
Learn moreAfrica is home to some of the planet's most consequential environmental stories — and some of its most under-told ones. AEFF exists to change that, giving filmmakers a platform where craft and accuracy carry equal weight.
Founded as a program of the British Columbia Environmental Film Festival (BCEFF), AEFF carries forward BCEFF's founding mission: bridging the gap between the scientific community and the film industry. Every film submitted is considered not just for its artistry, but for how faithfully it represents the science behind the story — climate, biodiversity, water, land, and the people whose lives are shaped by all of it.
What we're looking for?
Do you have a film that can move audiences — and stand up to scientific scrutiny? We accept films of any genre — documentary, narrative, short, animation — that engage seriously with the environment. Premieres are encouraged but not required. We want the films that matter, wherever they've already been seen.
Stories that reveal how a changing climate reshapes lives, landscapes, and the future we share.
Awards, and what comes next
Winning at AEFF is a beginning, not an endpoint. Selected films go on to screen as part of BCEFF's broader international festival program and partner network — carrying African environmental stories to audiences well beyond the festival itself.
AEFF recognizes outstanding work across six award categories, with African and international entries considered separately — plus dedicated recognition for children's films and a Viewer's Choice award voted on by festival audiences.
African
- Best African Documentary / Feature
- Best African Short
International
- Best International Documentary / Feature
- Best International Short
Open
- Best Children's Film
- Viewer's Choice Award
Join the festival
Sponsor & partner
Align your organization with a festival platforming some of the continent's most important environmental storytelling.
Volunteer
Festivals run on people who care. Join the team behind AEFF's screenings, workshops, and events.
Attend a screening
Follow the festival calendar for upcoming screenings, workshops, and labs.
Submit your film
Submissions are handled through FilmFreeway. All genres are welcome, provided the film engages meaningfully with an environmental theme.
- Regular deadline
- September 1, 2026
- Submission Platform
- FilmFreeway
- Format
- Any genre, any length
- Subtitles
- English required for non-English films
Send us an email
info@bceff.orgFrequently asked questions
Your story could be the one that travels.
Submissions close September 1, 2026. Bring us the environmental story only you could tell — from Africa, for the world.