The third Hollywood African Cinema Connection (HACC) festival is set to take place in Cape Town from October 30 to November 2, 2026. This year's festival theme, "Our Land, Our Heritage," brings together stories of community, culture, and resistance. The festival will feature a range of films, including Irkalla: Gilgamesh's Dream, Cotton Queen, and a special outreach screening of Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story.
Irkalla: Gilgamesh's Dream, directed by Iraqi filmmaker Mohamed Al-Daradji, will open the festival. The film follows a nine-year-old homeless boy who believes the Tigris River conceals a gateway to the underworld. Set in Baghdad in 2019, the film connects the ancient story of Gilgamesh with a child's experience of grief and survival. Director Al-Daradji describes it as "the missing tablet of Gilgamesh, seen through the soul of a child".
HACC creative director Weaam Williams said the film's portrayal of two orphans offered a chance to understand lives often reduced to numbers in news reports. Williams was drawn to the children's emotions and everyday experiences throughout the selection screening. She found the film intriguing and is excited to share it with audiences. The film's story offers a unique perspective on the lives of orphans in Baghdad.
Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story traces Kolisi's life from childhood to becoming the Springboks' first black captain and leading South Africa to victory at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The film's festival showing is described as a special outreach screening. This documentary provides an intimate look at Kolisi's journey to success. Kolisi's story is an inspiration to many, and the film is expected to be a highlight of the festival.
Cotton Queen, the debut feature by Sudanese-Russian filmmaker Suzannah Mirghani, centres on teenage Nafisa in a Sudanese cotton-farming village. The film is set to close the festival. A businessman's arrival brings development plans and genetically engineered cotton, drawing her into a struggle over the community's future. Williams said the film offers a female lens and a female gaze into the intimate worlds of women.
The documentary programme also includes Paikar, in which filmmaker Dawood Hilmandi confronts his father's violent past in a story spanning Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq. The festival will also feature several short films, including South Africa's A Shepherd's Joy, Nigeria's Idia, and Namibia's Okuruwo: The Tale of the Holy Fire. These titles form part of three short-film blocks across October 31 and November 1.
For Williams, bringing these films to Cape Town depends on audiences taking their seats. "We depend on the public for their support so that we can continue the work we're doing," she said. Screening tickets are available via the HACC website. The festival's success relies on public support, and attendees can look forward to a diverse range of films and industry sessions.
Key points
- The festival's theme is "Our Land, Our Heritage," and it will feature a range of films and industry sessions.
- Irkalla: Gilgamesh's Dream and Cotton Queen are among the films that will be screened at the festival.
- The festival will take place from October 30 to November 2, 2026, in Cape Town.
