︎Call For Films
31.05.2025
AKE DIKHEA? WANTS YOUR FILMS!
Submit now!
The submission of films is possible
Deadline: 31.07.2025
We are looking for films that offer a critical reflection on the lived realities of Romani people and productions that include Romani film professionals.
We do not accept unfinished films.
Romani people and organizations can also make recommendations for films via e-mail: info@akedikhea.com. Each individual or organization may propose a maximum of five full-length films and ten short films.
For the recommendation, the deadline is the same: 31.07.2025.
Submit now!
The submission of films is possible
Deadline: 31.07.2025
We are looking for films that offer a critical reflection on the lived realities of Romani people and productions that include Romani film professionals.
-
It is possible to register short films as well as feature-length films, we accept all film genres.
-
We accept films regardless of the year of production, even though we prefer films finished in 2024 and 2025.
-
Each individual or organization may propose a maximum of five full-length films and ten short films.
-
If the film is not in English, it must have English subtitles.
We do not accept unfinished films.
Romani people and organizations can also make recommendations for films via e-mail: info@akedikhea.com. Each individual or organization may propose a maximum of five full-length films and ten short films.
For the recommendation, the deadline is the same: 31.07.2025.
︎Save the Date: October 9–12, 2025
12.5.2025
Save the Date!
We are excited to invite you to the 9th edition of AKE DIKHEA? - 9th Edition of the International Roma Film Festival
October 9–12, 2025 at Babylon Cinema & Grüner Salon, Berlin
Save the date – an inspiring program awaits you, with powerful films, thought-provoking discussions, and meaningful encounters!
More information coming soon.
Love,
The AKE DIKHEA Team
We are excited to invite you to the 9th edition of AKE DIKHEA? - 9th Edition of the International Roma Film Festival
October 9–12, 2025 at Babylon Cinema & Grüner Salon, Berlin
Save the date – an inspiring program awaits you, with powerful films, thought-provoking discussions, and meaningful encounters!
More information coming soon.
Love,
The AKE DIKHEA Team
︎AKE DIKHEA? 2024: Democracy in Focus
15.09.2024In 2024, AKE DIKHEA? responds to the current threats to democracy: the electoral success of far-right parties in almost all European countries, the social divide, the growing support for misanthropic movements.
We take a close look at current social developments from the perspective of marginalised groups and, above all, their contributions to a free and just society. For it is groups such as Roma who are most affected by anti-democratic tendencies – and who at the same time have been fighting on the front line against oppression for many years and from an intersectional perspective, be it against the white supremacy of the dominant society, against exploitative mechanisms of capitalism or against patriarchal thought patterns in their own families.
Both opening films - the short fiction film “Mami” by Alecio Araci and the documentary “Narrow Path to Happiness” by Kata Ólah – show the effects of homophobia in society and in one's own family and pose the question of how one can free oneself from the feeling of being a minority within a minority. Another highlight of the festival, an exclusive preview of the documentary film “Riefenstahl” by Andres Veiel, deals with the connection between art and politics and the mechanisms of manipulation that we are currently encountering again.
Alongside our selection of films, we will host a range of panels, including "Archival Justice: Decolonizing the Gaze," which will explore the safeguarding of marginalized histories, emphasizing the critical importance of ensuring equitable access to cultural heritage. The panel "Self-Performing Romani Identities – Actors in the Spotlight," amplifying the voices of filmmakers advocating for enhanced visibility and agency within the film industry. With the ‘Visegrad focus’, we are also dealing with Central and Eastern Europe as an important region for political developments throughout Europe.
Join us for this immersive experience as we come together to champion Romani cinema!
We take a close look at current social developments from the perspective of marginalised groups and, above all, their contributions to a free and just society. For it is groups such as Roma who are most affected by anti-democratic tendencies – and who at the same time have been fighting on the front line against oppression for many years and from an intersectional perspective, be it against the white supremacy of the dominant society, against exploitative mechanisms of capitalism or against patriarchal thought patterns in their own families.
Both opening films - the short fiction film “Mami” by Alecio Araci and the documentary “Narrow Path to Happiness” by Kata Ólah – show the effects of homophobia in society and in one's own family and pose the question of how one can free oneself from the feeling of being a minority within a minority. Another highlight of the festival, an exclusive preview of the documentary film “Riefenstahl” by Andres Veiel, deals with the connection between art and politics and the mechanisms of manipulation that we are currently encountering again.
Alongside our selection of films, we will host a range of panels, including "Archival Justice: Decolonizing the Gaze," which will explore the safeguarding of marginalized histories, emphasizing the critical importance of ensuring equitable access to cultural heritage. The panel "Self-Performing Romani Identities – Actors in the Spotlight," amplifying the voices of filmmakers advocating for enhanced visibility and agency within the film industry. With the ‘Visegrad focus’, we are also dealing with Central and Eastern Europe as an important region for political developments throughout Europe.
Join us for this immersive experience as we come together to champion Romani cinema!
︎AVAZYA: Opportunities for Filmmakers
11.7.2023
Since our launch in October 2023 AVAZYA has got off to a quick start to create a series of opportunities for our members and have been able to advocate for better visibility of Romani film and film professionals on a European level. Here is a short round up of the latest opportunities we have been able to offer our members.
Avazya joins forces with the European Film Academy (EFA)
Through a joint partnership with the EFA, we were able to nominate a number of filmmakers as members of the European Film Academy and also achieved waivers for the annual membership fee in the amount of 225€/year for all Romani members . The announcement of new members (who replied to the EFA invitation in time) took place on May 9th, Europe day, and proved to be an important day for the recognition of our voices. The European Film Academy welcomed all together 462 film professionals as new members, who will all be eligible to vote for the European Film Academy Awards.
We have been able to secure free waivers for Romani filmmakers for a number of festivals.
European Film Academy – “Sunday in the Country”: AVAZYA Roma Film Professionals Network was invited as a collaborating partner of the European Film Academy’s exclusive retreat “Sunday in the Country”. We were able to send a Romani participant to the networking and empowering weekend in Montenegro. You can read more about it here: AVAZYA Network was partner of the EFA’s project “Sunday in the Country”
Berlinale & European Film Market (EFM) 2023
AKE DIKHEA? recognised as a European Lighthouse at Diversity & Inclusion Seminar
The European Film Market hosted a day-long event on diversity and inclusion on
February 16th, 2023 bringing together a host of industry stakeholders in an effort to set the agenda for better representation — both on and off screen — in Europe’s film and television
industries. The International Festival of Romani Film: AKE DIKHEA? & AVAZYA Film Professionals Network were invited to share their work alongside organisations such as ARTEF, the New Dawn film fund, France’s Collectif 5050 and the International Sámi Film Institute. You can read more about it here: AKE DIKHEA? recognised as a European Lighthouse | AKE DIKHEA? (roma-filmfestival.com)
Fiction and Documentary Toolbox programmes 2023
AVAZYA Film Professionals Network sponsored two projects for European Film Market Toolbox Fiction and Documentary Programme 2023 and hope to continue this partnership in 2024.
You can read more about it here: Avazya Film Professionals Network sponsors two projects for European Film Market Toolbox Programme Initiative | AKE DIKHEA? (roma-filmfestival.com)
Further to this we were able to offer 4 physical EFM Accreditation badges as well as 3 EFM Accreditation badges for Avazya members to attend the Berlinale and the European Film Market 2023.
Documentary Association of Europe (DAE)
We formed an ongoing partnership with the incredible DAE, a member’s association from all professional fields associated with documentary film, who welcome AVAZYA members to take part in their Off-The-Record online seminars at no cost. The first seminar focused on Film Marketing Materials for upcoming markets and The second seminar focused on how to best position your funding applications.
We also wanted to share with you the news that the 7th International Festival of Romani Film AKE DIKHEA? will take place on 23. – 29.10.2023 / BABYLON + Grüner Salon
(Berlin).
Finally remember if you haven’t already done so you can register as an official member of the network here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkCtFf45pe3pVGqYgdxJFV4Ol0SyHgNNDZT7axe4JhBy9-Fg/viewform
Big Love,
The Avazya Team
Avazya joins forces with the European Film Academy (EFA)
Through a joint partnership with the EFA, we were able to nominate a number of filmmakers as members of the European Film Academy and also achieved waivers for the annual membership fee in the amount of 225€/year for all Romani members . The announcement of new members (who replied to the EFA invitation in time) took place on May 9th, Europe day, and proved to be an important day for the recognition of our voices. The European Film Academy welcomed all together 462 film professionals as new members, who will all be eligible to vote for the European Film Academy Awards.
We have been able to secure free waivers for Romani filmmakers for a number of festivals.
European Film Academy – “Sunday in the Country”: AVAZYA Roma Film Professionals Network was invited as a collaborating partner of the European Film Academy’s exclusive retreat “Sunday in the Country”. We were able to send a Romani participant to the networking and empowering weekend in Montenegro. You can read more about it here: AVAZYA Network was partner of the EFA’s project “Sunday in the Country”
Berlinale & European Film Market (EFM) 2023
AKE DIKHEA? recognised as a European Lighthouse at Diversity & Inclusion Seminar
The European Film Market hosted a day-long event on diversity and inclusion on
February 16th, 2023 bringing together a host of industry stakeholders in an effort to set the agenda for better representation — both on and off screen — in Europe’s film and television
industries. The International Festival of Romani Film: AKE DIKHEA? & AVAZYA Film Professionals Network were invited to share their work alongside organisations such as ARTEF, the New Dawn film fund, France’s Collectif 5050 and the International Sámi Film Institute. You can read more about it here: AKE DIKHEA? recognised as a European Lighthouse | AKE DIKHEA? (roma-filmfestival.com)
Fiction and Documentary Toolbox programmes 2023
AVAZYA Film Professionals Network sponsored two projects for European Film Market Toolbox Fiction and Documentary Programme 2023 and hope to continue this partnership in 2024.
You can read more about it here: Avazya Film Professionals Network sponsors two projects for European Film Market Toolbox Programme Initiative | AKE DIKHEA? (roma-filmfestival.com)
Further to this we were able to offer 4 physical EFM Accreditation badges as well as 3 EFM Accreditation badges for Avazya members to attend the Berlinale and the European Film Market 2023.
Documentary Association of Europe (DAE)
We formed an ongoing partnership with the incredible DAE, a member’s association from all professional fields associated with documentary film, who welcome AVAZYA members to take part in their Off-The-Record online seminars at no cost. The first seminar focused on Film Marketing Materials for upcoming markets and The second seminar focused on how to best position your funding applications.
We also wanted to share with you the news that the 7th International Festival of Romani Film AKE DIKHEA? will take place on 23. – 29.10.2023 / BABYLON + Grüner Salon
(Berlin).
Finally remember if you haven’t already done so you can register as an official member of the network here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkCtFf45pe3pVGqYgdxJFV4Ol0SyHgNNDZT7axe4JhBy9-Fg/viewform
Big Love,
The Avazya Team
