Kampala, Uganda | 7th August 2026 — Uganda’s journey to celebrating its finest storytellers enters a defining new chapter today as Pearlwood officially unveils the nominees for the Pearlwood Film Awards 2026 at the Uganda National Cultural Centre.

The announcement celebrates outstanding achievements by learners, filmmakers, and creative professionals whose stories continue to shape Uganda’s cultural identity while inspiring a new generation of African storytellers.

The unveiling of the nominees marks one of the most important milestones on the Pearlwood Film Awards 2026 roadmap, following months of feedback and technical assessment of high school movies in Uganda’s market. Through this structured, multi-stage program, Pearlwood continues to identify, promote, distribute, and celebrate Uganda’s next generation of filmmakers and storytellers.

These are more than an awards ceremony. They represent a national movement dedicated to nurturing creativity, encouraging quality storytelling, promoting film distribution, and building sustainable careers within Uganda’s creative economy.

Following the official announcement of nominees, the Awards will immediately enter the Public Voting Campaign, running from 8th August until October 2026, during which audiences across Uganda and the diaspora will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite films and creators. For the first time, public appreciation will complement professional assessment, ensuring that recognition reflects not only artistic excellence but also audience engagement and market relevance.

Alongside the Public Voting Campaign, the Awards will undertake an independent jury assessment to ensure that every award reflects the highest standards of artistic and technical excellence. An experienced panel of respected professionals drawn from Uganda’s creative industries and audience will evaluate the nominated works using the established judging criteria. The composition of the Independent Jury will be officially unveiled at the appropriate time to preserve the integrity, impartiality, and independence of the assessment process.

In addition to the public voting exercise, nominees will participate in the Nominee and Industry Dialogue, scheduled for 29th August to 10th October 2026. The Pearlwood Film Awards 2026 journey will culminate in the Pearlwood Film Awards Gala Night on 14th October 2026, where Uganda’s finest filmmakers and industry professionals will be honoured for their outstanding contributions and creative excellence.

Statement from the President General of Pearlwood

“The Pearlwood Film Awards continue to evolve into far more than an annual awards programme. They have become a national platform for discovering talent, nurturing creativity, strengthening Uganda’s film market and connecting our storytellers with audiences.

The nominees we are unveiling today demonstrate the extraordinary potential that exists within our schools, communities and professional film industry. They remind us that the future of Ugandan cinema is bright, diverse and globally competitive. I congratulate every nominee whose work has reached this stage. Being nominated is itself recognition of excellence after a rigorous assessment process.

I am also pleased to announce that the 2027 Pearlwood School Film Challenge will be held under the theme “High School Musical: Reimagining Our Core Values.” To inspire even greater creativity and participation, Pearlwood will invest up to USD 10,000 worth in the production of each participating nominated school’s next film under this theme, with schools contributing only a modest commitment fee.

Finally, I invite every Ugandan, every school, every filmmaker, and every lover of African stories to actively participate in the Public Voting Campaign. Every vote is more than support for a favourite nominee; it is an investment in Uganda’s creative future. Together, let us celebrate talent, inspire generations, and build an industry capable of competing on the continental and global stage.”

— President General, Pearlwood

The Pearlwood Film Awards are implemented through a collaborative ecosystem of industry institutions committed to strengthening Uganda’s audiovisual sector, promoting legal film distribution, and creating sustainable opportunities for filmmakers.

Members of the media, development partners, cultural institutions, filmmakers, schools, nominees, and the general public are invited to attend the press conference.

Key Dates

• Public Voting Campaign:                           8th August – September 2026
• Nominee & Industry Dialogue:                   29th August – 10th October 2026
• Pearlwood Film Awards Gala Night:         14th October 2026

Ms. Namatovu Aisha Asiimwe

PRESIDENT GENERAL

Pearlwood

info@pearlwood.net