World Cinema Amsterdam
World Cinema Amsterdam is an annual film festival hosted by Rialto and De Balie, focusing on films from Latin America, the Caribbean Islands, Asia and Africa. The festival offers a variety of beautiful films from all these amazing regions, providing an unforgettable perspective on life in these parts of the world. All films will be shown with English subtitles, so no need to worry about having to read Dutch!
The 11th edition of World Cinema Amsterdam
From August 19-28, the 11th edition of the festival will take place. World Cinema Amsterdam has been showcasing films from all over the world for over a decade. The festival entails several programme sections:
- Competition: eight feature films compete for the World Cinema Jury Award
- Go Cuba!: WCA supports independently produced film projects by a generation of Cuban filmmakers
- World Cinema Specials: four feature films that were highly reviewed at renowned European film festivals (Cannes and Berlin) will have their Dutch premieres during World Cinema Amsterdam
- WCA Presents: a new programme with films by Dutch and Belgian filmmakers with roots in Africa, Asia, Latin America or the Caribbean
- And a special Focus Programme: Actual Africa
Focus Programme: Actual Africa
Every year, the festival zooms in on films from a specific country or region. This year, that region is Sub-Saharan Africa. Within the focus programme, the festival screens feature films and short films by talented filmmakers, addressing a wide range of cultural, social and political issues. One recurring theme is going back to your roots.
In the film Burkinabe, for example, a young woman returns to her father's country of birth. In the documentary Ghana for You, director Adams Mensah, who was born in Ghana and raised in Brussels, returns to Ghana to investigate why there are so many Ghanaians that long for a better life in countries such as Belgium or the Netherlands.
Check out all films in the Actual Africa programme on the website!
What else to expect at World Cinema Amsterdam
Besides the most stunning films from all over the world, there will be more! In the upcoming weeks, it will be announced which special guests will visit during WCA. There will be special live introductions before film screenings and in some cases even live Q&As with filmmakers! Keep an eye on the website for the latest information.
Rialto VU: a new location
You can visit World Cinema Amsterdam at various locations. Like every year, the films will screen at Rialto (Ceintuurbaan 338) and De Balie (Kleine Gartmanplantsoen 10). New this year is Rialto VU: a brand new theatre, located in a new building on the campus of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam at De Boelelaan 1111.
Stay tuned
Follow World Cinema Amsterdam on social media to stay updated on the ticket sale start and the announcement of the full programme!
Buy your film festival tickets
Make sure to get your tickets to World Cinema Amsterdam in advance. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the number of tickets is very limited! Tickets to the film festival can be found on the World Cinema Amsterdam website from the beginning of August. During the first week of ticket sales, there is an Early Bird discount.