Cinema is back in Hargeisa


3rd edition

3–24 December 2026

Three weeks of films and talks in the Fankeenna courtyard. Entry is free. The call for films is closed, and the programme follows later.

6 AprCall for films opened
8 JunSubmission deadline
13 JulSelected films announced
3–24 DecThe festival
70 films15 evenings2,600 visitors2 editions

Fankeenna Film Fest is the only recurring film festival in Somaliland. Every evening the Fankeenna courtyard in Hargeisa turns into a cinema, with films from Somali filmmakers and from around the world.

See the 2025 films The 2025 edition The 2023–24 edition

The 2025 festival, 4–12 September

See the winners
Thu04Opening
Fri05Sep
Sat06Sep
Sun07Sep
Mon08Sep
Tue09Sep
Wed10Sep
Thu11Sep
Fri12Awards
40films screened
12films by Somali filmmakers
1,600visitors
400people on the closing night
The audience watches a film on the big screen under the courtyard roof at night

The programme

  1. WorkshopOn some days, before the screenings. Storytelling, art therapy, film basics
  2. The filmsShort films, documentaries and animation, after a short welcome
  3. The talkA moderator opens the floor. Sometimes the filmmaker joins
  4. Closing filmA feature or a strong short film ends the night
  5. Your voteEvery visitor votes for the film of the night
Admit everyone Free entry. No ticket needed.

The winners

Meet the jury
Poster or still from Siasar 1st prize
SiasarMahmoud Sharifi AslAfghanistan · Right to education
Poster or still from Alazar 2nd prize
AlazarBeza HailuEthiopia · Right to a better life
Poster or still from 1420 3rd prize
1420Arwa SalemSaudi Arabia · Right to freedom
Poster or still from Nothing happens after that Special jury prize
Nothing Happens After ThatIbrahim OmarEgypt, Sudan · Right to dignity
A speaker in silhouette in front of the festival logo on the screen

No commercial cinema since the 1980s

Hargeisa has had no commercial or professional cinema since the 1980s. For many of our guests the festival is the first time they watch a film on a big screen with other people. A story on screen makes it easier to talk about hard things. People discuss the characters first and their own lives after.

The audience votes too

Every night you drop your vote in the box. The film with the most votes across the week wins the Audience Award on the closing night.

A visitor drops a vote into the ballot box

Submit your film

We look for short films and documentaries of 5 to 60 minutes that make the audience reflect, talk and act together. Filmmakers from Somaliland, Somalia and the diaspora come first, and we welcome films from the Horn of Africa and the Global South.

The call for the 3rd edition closed on 8 June 2026. The next call opens on FilmFreeway and Instagram.

Follow @fankeennafilmfest How it works
Rows of chairs facing the screen in the Fankeenna courtyard at night

Visit

Fankeenna courtyard, Airport Road, behind Gacalle Hotel, Calaamadaha, Hargeisa. Entry is free. Screenings start in the evening.

Open in Google Maps

On Instagram

Photos and clips from the festival nights, news about the 3rd edition and the call for films. Everything comes out on Instagram first.

Follow @fankeennafilmfest
A panel talk on the red-curtain stage Women in the audience follow a film The audience watches an animated film under the courtyard roof Two guests on the red carpet in front of the festival wall