The iKON Awards, Uganda’s leading film and television recognition platform, has officially closed submissions for its 4th edition, recording a significant surge in international film entries from across Africa and other parts of the world.
A total of 300 films have been submitted for consideration, comprising both local Ugandan productions and a growing number of international entries, signalling expanding global interest in Uganda’s creative industry.
International submissions to the awards have been received from a wide range of countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Tanzania, Sudan, and Senegal.
Others are from Morocco, Tunisia, Zambia, Namibia, Malawi, Uganda, as well as global film markets such as South Korea, Brazil, Colombia, France, Argentina, Georgia, Sweden, Greece, India, Mexico, Malaysia, and the United States.
Organisers say the strong international participation reflects the theme of the 4th edition, “Beyond Borders,” which seeks to promote cross-cultural collaboration and strengthen ties between Ugandan filmmakers and the global film community.
The iKON Awards has also expanded its industry engagement through its “iKON Activate” initiatives, which serve as pre-award programmes aimed at skills development, networking, and co-production opportunities across Africa.
So far, iKON Activate sessions have been held in Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, with upcoming editions planned for South Africa and the United Kingdom.
In Nigeria, the inaugural iKON Activate programme resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding between iKON and veteran Ugandan actor Michael Wawuyo Sr., who is set to feature in the upcoming Nigerian drama Dambe.
The initiative also facilitated the launch of a Uganda–Kenya co-production project under the O3plus initiative, supported by Reach A Hand Uganda, Imara TV, and UNESCO, further strengthening regional collaboration in film production.
According to organisers, the iKON Activate programmes are designed to build momentum ahead of the main awards ceremony by connecting filmmakers, producers, and industry stakeholders across borders.
The 4th iKON Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on August 15 at the Serena Hotel in Kampala, bringing together filmmakers from across Africa and beyond to celebrate excellence in film and television.
The iKON Awards is an annual celebration of creativity, innovation, and excellence in Uganda’s film and television industry, recognising outstanding talent and contributions that continue to shape the growth of the creative sector both locally and internationally.