The iREPRESENT International Documentary Film Festival (iREP) has announced dates for the 2026 edition. The festival will hold from March 18 to 22. Organisers of the festival also announced a strategic partnership with Ecobank Nigeria that will see the 15th edition of the festival open at the Ecobank Pan-African Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. Convened by the Foundation for the Promotion of Documentary Films in Africa (FPDFA), iREP has consistently advanced documentary storytelling, critical discourse, and capacity development across the continent.  With the theme Transformation, the anniversary edition will examine the transformative power of documentary filmmaking in Africa over the past 15 years. The various events in the programme – conversations, screenings, workshops, trainings etc – will spotlight the role of documentary films in shaping public discourse, influencing policy, preserving cultural memory, and amplifying African voices on global platforms.  Co-Founder and Executive Director of iREP, Femi Odugbemi, unveiling the anniversary edition recently in Lagos, stated: “The 2026 festival is a special anniversary edition, marking 15 years since the founding of iREP, one of Africa’s most influential platforms for documentary cinema. He added, “Over the years, iREP has played a critical role in advancing documentary storytelling, discourse, and skills development across the continent.” He described the partnership with Ecobank Nigeria as a landmark collaboration that reflects a shared commitment to youth empowerment, creativity, and capacity building, particularly for young and emerging documentary filmmakers.  As part of the partnership, Ecobank Nigeria will host a three-day Mobile Phone Filmmaking Workshop from March 16 to 18, 2026, ahead of the festival. To be facilitated by renowned and tested filmmakers, the workshop will provide participants with hands-on training in producing compelling documentary films using mobile devices. Outstanding films produced during the workshop will attract prize rewards, encouraging innovation and excellence among participants. Commenting on the collaboration, Austen Osokpor, Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Ecobank Nigeria, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to the creative and cultural sectors. “As a Pan-African bank, we have a collective vision of promoting African culture to reinforce and celebrate our shared heritage. This partnership aligns with the broader resurgence of African creativity, enabling talents to thrive while preserving the stories that define who we are as a people.”  The 2026 iREP programme will feature over 30 documentary films, including award-winning titles addressing key themes such as governance and democracy, advocacy, technology, and culture. The festival will offer a dynamic mix of screenings, panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions — bringing together filmmakers, scholars, policymakers, students, and documentary enthusiasts from across Africa and beyond.

No Good Men Is Berlinale 2026 Opening Film
THE Berlinale 2026 kicks off with the world premiere of No Good Men, the third feature film by award-winning Afghan director, Shahrbanoo Sadat. No Good Men will open the festival on February 12, 2026 at the Berlinale Palast. No Good Men follows Shahrbanoo Sadat’s acclaimed works Wolf and Sheep (2016) and Parwareshgah (The Orphanage, 2019). Both films screened at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight and The Orphanage was supported by the Berlinale World Cinema Fund. Shahrbanoo Sadat continues her unique cinematic journey as a director, writer, and actor with a film that is both personal and political. The film is also the third of five planned films based on the autobiographical writings of author and actor Anwar Hashimi. Hashimi stars in the film alongside Shahrbanoo Sadat who is playing the lead role. Berlinale Director, Tricia Tuttle, comments: “Shahrbanoo Sadat is one of the most exciting voices in world cinema and No Good Men really delivers on the promise of her first two features. Sadat continues her vital work spotlighting Afghan women’s lives, here bringing romance and touches of humour to a rousingly political story. That it is based on real events, and the director risked so much to get this film made makes No Good Men even more meaningful as our Opening Gala of the 76th Berlinale’. No Good Men was produced as an international co-production between Germany, France, Norway, Denmark and Afghanistan.

Production companies are Adomeit Film, La Fabrica Nocturna Cinéma, Motlys, Amerikafilm and Wolf Pictures.

…Twenty Two Films To Compete in Competition
WHEN Berlinale opens on February 12, a total of 22 films will compete for the Golden and Silver Bears, among them one first feature, one animation as well as one documentary. Organisers disclosed that productions from 28 countries are represented and of the 22 films in Berlinale competition, 20 films are world premieres, while nine films were directed or co-directed by women. According to the festival director, Tricia Tuttle, “we have found so much to fall in love with in this year’s bumper Competition line up. And we are so confident in the charms of these 22 films that we say defiantly, ‘if you don’t find something here to love, you don’t love cinema!!’ Satirical and formalist comedy, genre, a psychological thriller, a love story, a self-love story, anime, a western… these 22 films show off just how diverse great cinema is in 2026. Each one is beautifully crafted and delivers on its own artistic promise. We can’t wait to discover the films that will receive the Golden Bear and the Silver Bears from Wim Wenders’ jury on February 21.”The festival ends on February 22.