The third Hollywood African Cinema Connection (HACC) festival will take place in Cape Town from October 30 to November 2, 2026. The festival program will feature works such as 'Gilgamesh's Dream,' 'Cotton Queen,' and a documentary about Siya Kolisi.
This year's festival theme is 'Our Land, Our Heritage,' uniting stories of resistance, culture, and communities, and also including industry sessions focused on film financing, ownership, and distribution.
The festival will open with the film 'Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream.' Other notable screenings include 'Cotton Queen' and a special showing of 'Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story.'
Iraqi filmmaker Mohammed Al-Darraji directed 'Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream.' The film tells the story of a nine-year-old homeless boy who believes the Tigris River hides an entrance to the underworld. Set in Baghdad in 2019, the picture connects the ancient tale of Gilgamesh with the child's experiences related to survival and grief.
Director Al-Darraji describes his work as 'a lost tablet of Gilgamesh seen through the soul of a child.' HACC Creative Director William Williams noted that depicting two orphans in the film allows viewers to understand lives that are often reduced to statistics in the news. She emphasized that her attention was drawn to the emotions and daily experiences of the children, stating she 'watched it from beginning to end without stopping.'
'Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story' traces Kolisi's life journey: from childhood to becoming the first black captain of the Springboks team and leading South Africa to victory at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Organizers plan to present this screening as a special outreach session.
The debut feature film by Sudanese-Russian director Susanna Mirgani, 'Cotton Queen,' focuses on Nafisa, a teenager in a cotton-growing village in Sudan. This film will conclude the festival. The arrival of a businessman brings development plans and genetically modified cotton, involving Nafisa in the fight for the community's future.
Williams noted that the film represents 'a female gaze and a female vision of very intimate women's worlds.' The documentary program also includes 'Paikar,' where cinematographer Daud Hilmandi confronts his father's violent past in a story spanning Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq. Susanna Mirgani's debut film, 'Cotton Queen,' concludes the festival with a powerful story about the struggle of a Sudanese village for genetically modified seeds.
Among the selected short films is 'A Shepherd’s Joy' from South Africa, which tells of growing up in the Matatile villages. The Nigerian film 'Idia' follows a young dancer who regains confidence through the legacy of the queen after whom she is named. The Namibian 'Okuruwo: The Tale of the Holy Fire' tells of a man who refuses the sacred duties of his Himba village. These works will be featured in three blocks of short films scheduled for October 31 and November 1.
For Williams, the success of these film showings in Cape Town depends on public attendance, as they rely on audience support to continue their activities. Tickets for the screenings are available on the HACC website.