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Seventh Row Editors / May 8, 2025

Ep. 170 Why is it so hard to see African films?

On the podcast, Alex discusses why it’s so hard to see African films compared to films from other continents and what you can do if you’d like to seek out more African films.

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Drawing of Africa as this episode of the podcast is all about why it's so hard to see African films.
Drawing of Africa as this episode of the podcast is all about why it’s so hard to see African films.

If you look back on the last year, how many African films have you watched?

And how does this compare to the n international films you’ve seen from other continents?

Chances are, you’re seeing way more films from every other continent than from Africa. That’s not your fault. That’s about how the film industry works.

Very few African films screen at international film festivals. Even fewer African films screen in regular cinemas. Fewer still will make it on your radar if you aren’t looking out for them.

The films we watch are a function of what we have access to, hear about, and make time for. Most of us get stuck in those first two stages when it comes to African films.

So on today’s episode, Alex talks about why it’s so hard to see African films. She also discusses what you can do if you’d like to add more of them to your cinematic diet.

If you join us this month inside Reel Ruminators, you’ll watch one of the best African films of the decade. It’s a Queer South African film by a filmmaker about to break out at Cannes this month. Click to join Reel Ruminators: May 2025 edition.

Podcast Credits for this episode on why is it so hard to see African films?

This episode was edited, produced, and recorded by Alex Heeney.

Follow Seventh Row on Twitter, Bluesky and Instagram. Read our articles at seventh-row.com.

Follow Alex Heeney on Bluesky, Twitter and Instagram. 

An AI-generated transcript for the episode is available on Apple Podcasts.

Filed Under: LGBTQ+, Podcasts Tagged With: African Cinema, Alex Heeney podcast, LGBTQ, LGBTQ Podcast, South African Cinema

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Ep. 169 David Cronenberg’s The Shrouds with Angelo Muredda

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