Zambia Prepares for Historic First Official Delegation to Cannes Film Festival

By Mufaweli Mwambo

The Permanent Secretary on 4th May 2026 convened a meeting with stakeholders from Zambia’s film industry to discuss the country’s historic first official delegation to the Cannes Film Festival. The engagement brought together producers, directors, writers, fixers, and creatives from various disciplines within the local film sector.

Speaking during the meeting, the Permanent Secretary emphasized that Zambia’s participation at Cannes represents an important step toward positioning the country within the global film industry. He stated that the mission is centered on building visibility, credibility, and trust for Zambia as an emerging film destination with strong creative and investment potential.

The Permanent Secretary noted that one of the most important foundations in the international film industry is visibility and presence. According to him, Zambia’s attendance at Cannes is not only about participation, but about ensuring that the global film community recognizes Zambia as a serious player within the creative sector.

He further explained that many international opportunities begin with countries and creatives simply showing up, engaging, and creating visibility on global platforms.

“This is about making the world aware that Zambia exists within the global film ecosystem,” he said. “Many partnerships and collaborations begin from visibility and consistent participation.”

The meeting also addressed the challenges surrounding the inaugural delegation. The Permanent Secretary expressed disappointment that more local producers, directors, writers, fixers, and other creatives could not be part of this first official representation. However, he reaffirmed that despite the limitations, Zambia’s presence at the festival remains a major milestone for the country’s creative industry.

The official delegation that will represent Zambia at the Cannes Film Festival includes:

• Tivo Shikapwashya

• Mufaweli Mwambo

• Rebecca Ngoma

• Stephanie Dale

Stakeholders were further informed that government remains committed to ensuring Zambia continues participating in major international film festivals and related global engagements in the future. The Permanent Secretary stressed that sustained participation at international platforms is critical in opening opportunities for filmmakers, attracting partnerships, and strengthening the country’s film industry.

He also expressed optimism that in future editions, more Zambian creatives across different disciplines will have opportunities to travel, network, showcase their work, and participate in international film markets and festivals.

The meeting was widely viewed by creatives as a positive and progressive step toward elevating Zambia’s film industry onto the global stage and creating long-term opportunities for local talent.