Haroun and Kamilindi Among Winners at Berlinale 2026 Independent Jury Awards

African filmmakers received recognition today in the Independent Jury awards at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, including the FIPRESCI Competition, TEDDY Awards, and the Berlinale Talents Mastercard Enablement Programme.

In the FIPRESCI Jury Competition, Chadian director Mahamat‑Saleh Haroun was honored for "Soumsoum, la nuit des astres" (Soumsoum, the Night of the Stars), a French‑Chadian drama following a teenager troubled by unexplained visions who befriends an outcast woman in a remote village as they confront community hostility and navigate mystical and personal challenges. At the TEDDY Awards, which recognize films with LGBTQ+ themes across Berlinale sections, the short film "TAXI MOTO" by Gaël Kamilindi was awarded Best Short Film.