There will be two main categories that films can be submitted under;

&lt;strong&gt;  1. Competition&lt;/strong&gt;

This category will be for films that will be competing for the various awards. These could be feature films, short films, Documentaries and Animations.

&lt;strong&gt; 2. Non–Competition &lt;/strong&gt;

This category will house all films that are submitted for purposes of screening and not competition. They could be feature films, short films, Documentaries and Animations

All submitted films will undergo a selection process that will determine which films can be screened during the film festival.

The following are the awards to be competed for this year:
a) &lt;strong&gt;Best Cinematography&lt;/strong&gt;
This award will be given to the film that receives highest points for cinematography awarded by the judging panel as per the set judging criteria.This includes techniques as the general composition of a scene; the lighting of the set or location; the choice of cameras, lenses, filters, and film stock; the camera angle and movements; and the integration of any special effects.

&lt;strong&gt;b) Best Costumes (Production design)&lt;/strong&gt;

This award will be given to the film whose Costumes will attract the highest points awarded by the judging panel in line with the set judging criteria.

This includes the visual style of the story that is the design of sets, location choices, costumes, makeup, graphics, props, lighting, camera angles and special effects.

&lt;strong&gt;c ) Best Sound &lt;/strong&gt;

This award will be given to the film whose sound (Music &amp;amp; Sound) effects receives the highest points awarded by the judging panel in line with the set judging criteria.

This includes the manipulation of previously composed or recorded audio such as sound effects and dialogue. It may also involve the composition or manipulation of audio to create a desired effect or mood.

&lt;strong&gt;d) Best Screenplay (Script)&lt;/strong&gt;

This award will be given to the film whose screenplay receives the highest point awarded by the judging panel in line with the set judging criteria.

This includes original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing including the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated.

&lt;strong&gt; e) Best Student Film&lt;/strong&gt;

This award will be given to the film that collects the highest points awarded by the judging panel for student films competing in this category in line with the set judging criteria.

&lt;strong&gt;f) Best Animation&lt;/strong&gt;

This award will be given to the film that collects the highest points awarded by the judging panel for Animated Film competing in this category in line with the set judging criteria.

&lt;strong&gt;g) Best Short Film&lt;/strong&gt;

This award will be given to the film that collects the highest points awarded by the judging panel for short films competing in this category in line with the set judging criteria.

&lt;strong&gt;h) Best Feature Film &lt;/strong&gt;

This award will be given to the film that collects the highest points awarded by the judging panel for feature films competing in this category in line with the set judging criteria.

&lt;strong&gt;i) Film of the Year&lt;/strong&gt;

This award will be given to the film that collects the highest points overall. Usually the candidates will have been picked from the other winning categories and the Award goes to the Director of the film

&lt;strong&gt;j) Best Actor&lt;/strong&gt;

This award will be given to the Actor who collects the highest points overall.

&lt;strong&gt;k) Best Actress&lt;/strong&gt;

This award will be given to the Actress who collects the highest points overall.

&lt;strong&gt;l) Best Documentary&lt;/strong&gt;

This award will be given to the documentary Film that collects the highest points overall.

&lt;strong&gt;m) Best East African Film&lt;/strong&gt;

This award will be given to the East African Film that collects the highest points overall among all the films submitted from the East African countries.

&lt;strong&gt;n) Best Post-production&lt;/strong&gt;

This award will be given to the film work which collects the highest points overall. This category includes the complete film editing, colour correction and the addition of music and sound into the film.&lt;strong&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;

&lt;strong&gt;o) Best TV Drama&lt;/strong&gt;

This award will be given to the TV drama that collects the highest points awarded by the judging panel .

&lt;strong&gt;p) Best Actor in a TV Drama&lt;/strong&gt;

This award will be given to the Actor who collects the highest points overall.

&lt;strong&gt;q) Best Actress in a TV Drama&lt;/strong&gt;

This award will be given to the Actress who collects the highest points overall.