The BAOBAB is a fascinating tree. It reminds us of an old man who has an eye on everything around him; who sees everything; knows everything; and resists all the blows of destiny and nature. In Africa, to say that a man is solid, that he has experience and wisdom, we say that he is a baobab.  Therefore, it is only natural that we have chosen this tree, with its special place in the African cosmovision, to be the official symbol of the Quibdó Africa Film Festival. Under the shadow of the Baobab sits the Griot (the storyteller in African traditions). This makes the Baobab "the tree of spoken words", a central place in the social life of the village.  It was when we tried to define and put into words the spiritual link between Africa and its diaspora that the idea of the Baobab was born. Mysticism is, for Africans and Afro-descendants, that invisible thread of our faith, the one that will make the borders between us disappear; the wire that allows reality to meet fiction. For African and Afro-descendant filmmakers, the QAFF is a meeting place where Quibdó invites us to rethink our memory and what we want to transmit and leave to future generations.

 

IDEA  AND CONCEPTION 

The idea of the Baobab was born from trying to find this link between Africa and its diaspora, something that unites us spiritually. Mysticism is for Africans and Afro-descendants, that invisible thread of our faith, which will eliminate the boundaries between us, where reality meets fiction. For African and Afro-descendant filmmakers, QAFF is a date when QUIBDÓ invites us to rethink our narrative. 
The design was made by one of Colombia's most talented artists, Paola Lucumí, Afro-Colombian visual artists, who has given life to this symbol of African culture.

The Baobab has great cultural, social and artistic value. This symbolic tree is a perfect reference for a cinematic narrative.

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AWARD CATEGORIES

Filmmakers and producers from around the world are invited to submit their films to the competition in the above-mentioned categories: Fiction, Documentary, Animation and Experimental, as well as other technical and artistic categories. 

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Grand Baobab Prize for Feature Film

• We celebrate stories that weave the richness of African roots and the diaspora through contemporary narratives. The Grand Baobab Prize for Feature Film honors movies that dare to employ Afrodisruptive narrative elements, merging tradition and avant-garde to create cinema that resonates with the pulse of our history and current reality.

Best Director Award

• This prestigious award is given to directors who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to cultural authenticity and cinematic language innovation. It is a recognition of those visionaries who, through their unique cinematic language, take us on a journey that challenges and enriches our perception of art and society.

Special Jury Award for Documentary

• The Special Jury Award for Documentary highlights works that delve into underexplored topics or untold narratives. We seek documentaries that inform as well as transform, utilizing unique narrative techniques to tell their stories.

Experimental Prize Film Award

• The Experimental Prize recognizes works that venture beyond established boundaries, challenging perceptions and encouraging social and cultural dialogue. This accolade is for filmmakers who use their experimental approach as a tool for change and reflection.

Best Animated Film Award

• This award is dedicated to animations that capture the imagination through techniques ranging from traditional to innovative, especially those inspired by Afrodisruptive art. It celebrates the movement, color, and narrative that bring Afro cultures to life on the screen.

Best Cinematography Award

• With this award, we recognize cinematographers whose work captures the essence and aesthetics of the Afro-diasporic communities. It is a tribute to technical mastery and artistic sensitivity that takes visual storytelling to new heights.

Best Screenplay Award

• This award is given to screenplays that tell powerful stories of reconciliation, identity, and cultural memory, resonating powerfully with Afro identities. We seek works that not only tell stories but also pave the way to genuine understanding and representation.

Best Original Score or Music Award

• We recognize soundtracks or original compositions that incorporate indigenous or Afro-descendant melodies, weaving a musical link between the past and present. This award celebrates the sounds that are the heart of cinema and connect us to our deepest roots and emotions.

Best Short Film Award

• This award is destined for short films that manage to leave an indelible mark on the viewer through compact and thrilling narrative. We value the ability to convey significant stories in a brief format, which often serves as the seed of great ideas in cinema.

Audience Award for Latin American Short Film

• This award is unique because it is chosen by the audience. Through interactive and digital voting, we invite our viewers to select their favorite Latin American short film  celebrating not only the power of storytelling but also the active role of the community in shaping cinema. The winning film will receive the Cántico Producciones Award, which includes: An original score composed for the filmmaker’s next short film. Professional audio post-production services. Valued at $6,000 USD. A prize that amplifies the filmmaker's next story  through the transformative power of sound

Colombian Documentary Award

• With this award, we honor documentaries that not only narrate Colombian stories but also push the boundaries of the documentary genre in technique and narrative, raising Colombia's voice in the international scene.

Film Heritage Award for Best Archival-Based Production

• Aligned with the Quibdó Africa Film Festival’s mission to spotlight narratives that challenge the boundaries of historical oblivion, we propose the creation of a new award category: Best Audiovisual Production Using Archival Footage. This recognition aims to highlight works that, through creative, critical, or poetic use of audiovisual archives, contribute to reinterpreting history, reshaping Afro-descendant memory, and constructing new documentary and artistic languages. The Colombian Film Heritage Foundation will join this initiative by offering an in-kind award consisting of a future licensing package of archival audiovisual material valued at $2,500 USD

The Arnaldo Palacios " The Stars are Black" Award

• This award pays profound tribute to the legacy of Colombian writer Arnoldo Palacios, celebrating films that shed light on the lives and experiences of Afro-Colombians. It honors works that authentically portray the richness, complexity, and diversity of Afro-Colombian culture. The award will give special attention to films rooted in social realism those that reflect the real-life conditions, challenges, and resilience of Afro-Colombian communities. It is a celebration of human dignity, resistance, and the strength of character in the face of adversity.
  The winning project will receive the Zarpar Producciones Films Award, which includes:
  Comprehensive mentorship in development, production, and distribution
  One-year hybrid (in-person and virtual) support. Valued at approximately $1,500 USD

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