Iowa African Film Festival Launches August 6–7, 2026 at Drake University
The inaugural Iowa African Film Festival (IAFF) will take place August 6–7, 2026, at Drake University, 2507 University Ave. in Des Moines, bringing filmmakers, storytellers, students, scholars and audiences together to celebrate African cinema,
culture and education.
Produced by One Voice Des Moines (One Voice DSM), a community-founded, nonprofit organization
established in 2019 and headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, with Africa Live Network (ALN) as Festival Producer and presenting partner and curated by Kuona Foundation. The festival is designed to create a platform where Iowans, Americans and global audiences can engage with Africa through film.
The festival will showcase feature films, documentaries and short films exploring topics including conservation, health, entrepreneurship, innovation, history, culture, lifestyle and contemporary African life.
While rooted in Iowa, IAFF welcomes anyone with a passion for learning about Africa through storytelling.
A Vision in the Making
Hosting the festival at Drake University is especially meaningful to Festival Director Jack Chimbetete, who first came to Iowa as a Mandela Washington Fellow at Drake through the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).
Since then, he has become a Drake alumnus, 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.
"Through my journey in Iowa, I saw the power of storytelling to connect communities and create opportunity. This festival is the result of years of partnerships, mentorship, and a belief that Iowa is ready to engage with Africa in meaningful ways."
— Jack Chimbetete, Festival Director
Festival Highlights
- African feature films, documentaries, and short films
- Filmmaker Q&A sessions and panel discussions
- Networking opportunities for creatives and students
- Cultural exhibitions and community engagement activities
- Industry connections for filmmakers and producers
- Awards recognizing outstanding storytelling and production
Find the full event schedule here.
Learn more about the Iowa African Film Festival at iowaafricanfilmfestival.org. The celebration of African heritage continues at the Motherland Experience, taking place on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026 at Western Gateway Park and the Film Festival Awards Ceremony in the evening at Drake University.
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