The 4th edition of the iKON Awards has reached a major milestone after closing submissions with a remarkable rise in international film entries. This year, the awards received 300 films from both local and international filmmakers, marking one of the biggest moments in the history of Uganda’s leading film platform.
More importantly, the growing number of international entries highlights how the iKON Awards continues to evolve into a global creative space. Filmmakers from countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, and South America submitted work for consideration. Nations such as Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, South Korea, Brazil, France, and the United States all joined this year’s submission list. As a result, the awards now stand as more than a Ugandan event. They have become a meeting point for filmmakers from different cultures and creative backgrounds.
This strong international interest also connects directly to the theme of the 2026 edition, “Beyond Borders.” Through this theme, the iKON Awards aims to encourage collaboration between Ugandan filmmakers and their counterparts from around the world. In turn, these partnerships can strengthen local storytelling, improve technical skills, and open new markets for Ugandan productions.
At the same time, the growth of the awards reflects the impact of the iKON Activate initiatives. So far, iKON has organised activations in Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, while plans for South Africa and the United Kingdom continue to take shape. These events focus on skills development, networking, and stronger creative partnerships across borders.
One of the biggest outcomes from the Nigeria activation came when veteran Ugandan actor Michael Wawuyo Sr. signed a memorandum of understanding to appear in the upcoming Nigerian drama Dambe. In addition, iKON introduced a new Uganda-Kenya co-production under the O3plus project with support from Reach A Hand Uganda, Imara TV, and UNESCO.
The 4th iKON Awards will take place on August 15 at the Serena Hotel in Kampala, where filmmakers from across Africa and beyond will gather to celebrate excellence in film and television.
