Jali Collective

Jali Collective Celebrating Black, African & diaspora stories. Jali Film Weekender returns 28 October - 1 November 2026 www.jalicollective.co.uk

Jali Collective was founded in 2025 by three core members – Tomiwa Folorunso, Isabel Moura Mendes and Carmen Thompson. Each are long-standing producers, programmers and cultural organisers with deep roots in the film, festival and arts sectors in Edinburgh, Scotland and beyond.

Spotlight: Geração 80 🇦🇴 Jali Film Weekender 2026 will present a special focus on the acclaimed Angolan film collective ...
04/09/2026

Spotlight: Geração 80 🇦🇴

Jali Film Weekender 2026 will present a special focus on the acclaimed Angolan film collective and production company Geração 80, supported by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation UK Branch’s Gulbenkian Exhibitions Fund. The festival will include the UK Premiere of the collective’s third feature film: Hugo Salvaterra’s (Hugo Salvaterra) MY SEMBA (MEU SEMBA), an ode to music, poetry and cinema set in Luanda.

Audiences will also have the opportunity to experience a retrospective selection of films from one of the most exciting forces in contemporary Angolan cinema, all screened between 28 October - 1 November at Filmhouse Edinburgh. Full programme will be announced 21 September along with the rest of the 2026 Weekender programme… Follow and sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know!

With support from Gulbenkian

Announcing the opening and closing films of Jali Film Weekender 2026 🙌🏾Jali Film Weekender is back for its second year o...
03/09/2026

Announcing the opening and closing films of Jali Film Weekender 2026 🙌🏾

Jali Film Weekender is back for its second year on 28 October – 1 November 2026, showcasing bold and distinctive filmmaking from Africa and the diaspora. Returning to Filmhouse Edinburgh both our opening and closing films come hot off their World Premieres at Venice Film Festival 2026.

Jali Film Weekender 2026 opens on 28 October with DEAR AJAYI from Damilola Orimogunje (Damilola Orimogunje) the first ever Nigerian film to be selected at Venice Film Festival’s Giornate degli Autori. Set in southwestern Nigeria in the 1990s, the film explores grief, faith, ambition and the fragile bonds of family as two sisters search for love, purpose and freedom.

The festival will close on 1 November with Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu's HOUSE OF THE WIND, also having its world premiere in Venice next week. Set in Yaoundé, the film follows 80-year-old Josette, whose children have all left for the West. Hoping to draw them home, she encourages them to build houses in Cameroon, but forms an unexpected bond with Sarah, a young woman from her neighbourhood.

Be the first to hear more! Sign up to our mailing list to get updates on the full Jali Film Weekender 2026 programme, including feature films, shorts, Extended Reality experiences, Q&As, talks and more.

With support from Screen Scotland & Film Hub Scotland.

SAVE THE DATE.Jali Film Weekender returns from 28 October - 1 November 2026 and we’ve added an extra day.Lots of updates...
01/07/2026

SAVE THE DATE.

Jali Film Weekender returns from 28 October - 1 November 2026 and we’ve added an extra day.

Lots of updates and announcements to come but for now sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know.

OPPORTUNITY: Jali Film Weekender 2026 Artwork Commission 🌍Jali Collective is commissioning a Black and/or African artist...
01/07/2026

OPPORTUNITY: Jali Film Weekender 2026 Artwork Commission 🌍

Jali Collective is commissioning a Black and/or African artist to create the lead artwork for Jali Film Weekender 2026.

The lead artwork should be engaging, and speak to, or reflect the energy and spirit of Jali Film Weekender. The lead artwork will be featured throughout the festival on our posters, merch, print materials, website, social media and more.

We are collecting Expressions of Interest where you will be asked to share a portfolio and describe your approach or outline your initial ideas for the lead artwork (100 words).

Open to individuals or collectives.

Fee: £1500
Deadline: Tuesday 7 July, 11:59PM BST

🔗More information here: https://www.jalicollective.co.uk/journal/jali-film-weekender-2026-artwork-commission



📷: Nico Utuk

We’re delighted to share the final of our three commissioned reflections on conversations had during our inaugural Jali ...
02/04/2026

We’re delighted to share the final of our three commissioned reflections on conversations had during our inaugural Jali Film Weekender, featuring .afifi and Rania Obead.

Writer Eilidh Akilade () reflects on the conversation that took place between Talal and Rania after our screening of , , , and Phil Cox’s , discussing the film’s impact on the audience and it’s enduring importance as war in Sudan continues 2 years on from recording.

The screening of KHARTOUM took place on 1 November 2025 at , in collaboration with .

🔗Read the full commission in the Journal on our website. Link in bio.

📷:

We’ll have more to share soon about future events and what we have planned for this year!

Our second of three commissioned reflections on conversations that took place during last year’s Jali Film Weekender, fe...
06/03/2026

Our second of three commissioned reflections on conversations that took place during last year’s Jali Film Weekender, features musicians and .

Following a screening of ’s THE HEART IS A MUSCLE and Jard Lerebours’ LESPRI the trio discussed fatherhood, masculinity, their artistry and joy.

Thank you for bringing together this heartfelt conversation that took place on 31 October at .

🔗Read the full commission by heading to the Journal section on our website. Link in bio.

📷: .jpeg

We’re very excited to share the first of three commissioned reflections on conversations had during our inaugural Jali F...
19/02/2026

We’re very excited to share the first of three commissioned reflections on conversations had during our inaugural Jali Film Weekender last year ✨

By writer Eilidh Akilade (), the first piece centres the vital discussion that took place on 31 October at on why and how we build space for Black, African and diaspora audiences in Scotland — beautifully unpacking what was shared, felt and learned on the day.

From representation to access, the conversation laid groundwork for how we can continue to grow more welcoming, more intentional and more community-led cultural spaces here in Scotland.

🔗Read the full commission in the Journal on our website. Link in bio.

Thank you Eilidh for your words and of course to our speakers on the day: our host Ria Andrews (), Lisa Williams (), Emanuel Carlos (), Rhea Lewis (.producer) and Halina Rifai ()

Stay tuned for the next two pieces to be published in the coming weeks.

Thank you for inviting us to reflect on some of our highlights of the last year, alongside such an incredible group of ...
24/12/2025

Thank you for inviting us to reflect on some of our highlights of the last year, alongside such an incredible group of Scottish screen folk!

We’ll forever remember 2025 as the year Jali Collective was formed and the launch of our very first festival. A huge thank you to everyone who’s been on the journey with us so far. We can’t wait for what’s to come… 🎄✨

🔗Link in bio for everyone’s picks

AUDIENCE SURVEY ⚡️Did you attend Jali Film Weekender? Our Audience Survey is still open and we want to hear from you, it...
11/11/2025

AUDIENCE SURVEY ⚡️

Did you attend Jali Film Weekender? Our Audience Survey is still open and we want to hear from you, it’s your opportunity to tell us what you thought of the Weekender. You can find the survey via the link in our bio, the deadline is 24 November.

Plus, by completing survey you can enter our competition for a chance to win a £50 voucher for .

Thank you!

📸 :

✨Our 2025 speakers! We welcomed an incredible line up of guests to who took part in Q&As, discussions and extended intr...
06/11/2025

✨Our 2025 speakers! We welcomed an incredible line up of guests to who took part in Q&As, discussions and extended introductions across the four days of our inaugural Jali Film Weekender - many joining us from overseas 🌍

A HUGE thank you to , .producer, , , , , , , (), .mouflih, Rania Obead, .afifi and for joining us and for gifting our audiences with all your insight and experience!

📸 Portraits by: + .jpeg

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