HACC Creative Director Weaam Williams is an award-winning filmmaker, and a co-founder of the African Film DAO.
The Hollywood African Cinema Connection (HACC) will bring African and Middle Eastern films to Cape Town from October 30 to November 2, 2026, with a programme exploring land, heritage, and the lives behind stories of conflict.
Speaking at the festival's press launch, HACC Creative Director Weaam Williams said the selection prioritised distinctive filmmaking and directors with a clear creative vision. The festival's theme, Our Land, Our Heritage, connects stories about communities, culture, and the looming threat of displacement.
“They’re unique pieces,” Williams said, explaining that the selected films bring their directors’ visions to the screen.
The opening film, Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream, comes from Iraqi director Mohamed Jabarah Al-Daradji. Williams described its portrayal of two orphans living through turbulence in Iraq as an opportunity to see beyond the figures that often dominate news coverage.
