City of Cape Town wins Best Stand Award at FAME Week Africa 2026

The City’s Events and Film Department has once again been recognised at FAME Week Africa, taking home the prestigious Best Stand Award at the 2026 edition of the event, Cape {town} Etc reports.

This year’s festival brought together attendees from across the creative industries, including film, fashion, art, music, and entertainment, over three days at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

The City of Cape Town’s stand placed a strong emphasis on supporting emerging filmmakers through its signature pop-up cinema experience.

Each year, student filmmakers from institutions across Cape Town are invited to submit their films for consideration, with selected projects screened at FAME Week Africa.

‘The City of Cape Town’s stand stood out for its creativity and innovative approach, transforming a traditional exhibition space into a cinema experience. The concept not only showcased the next generation of creative talent but also created a space for emerging and established industry professionals to connect and engage. It successfully celebrated Cape Town’s vibrant creative community while highlighting the city’s commitment to supporting talent, encouraging collaboration and positioning Cape Town as a leading destination for the creative industries,’ said FAME Week Director Martin Hiller.

For many of these aspiring filmmakers, it is the first opportunity to experience their work on the big screen rather than on a laptop, television, or mobile device.

Representing communities from across the city, these students often produce their films with little to no budget, making the screening opportunity both meaningful and memorable.

This year, the department transformed its stand into a vintage-inspired cinema, which was lit up with filament light bulbs, rich red and black décor, a traditional ticket booth, printed movie tickets, and comfortable lounge seating in place of chairs.

The design created an authentic cinema atmosphere that attracted attendees throughout the event.

The exterior walls of the stand featured a collection of movie posters, with each title creatively reflecting Film Cape Town’s key value propositions.

The team also created an interactive element, where visitors were invited to test their knowledge of South African film and television by listening to iconic lines from local productions and guessing the titles.

The featured clips showcased English, isiXhosa, and Afrikaans productions, celebrating the diversity and richness of the country’s screen industry.

The award serves as recognition of the City of Cape Town’s ongoing commitment to nurturing local talent, promoting the city’s film industry, and creating engaging experiences that showcase the future of South African storytelling.

‘What makes this recognition particularly meaningful is seeing the enthusiasm from students and visitors who connected with the stand. Creating opportunities for emerging filmmakers to experience their work on the big screen is at the heart of what we do, and it’s rewarding to see that vision resonate with the industry and festival attendees alike,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

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**Picture: **JP Smith / Facebook

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