Afrotōpia, A Film By Gabonese Filmmaker David Mboussou, Named an Official Selection of the Alma Film Festival 2026
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| Ezekiel on a boat. Caught between inheritance and imagination, between land and water, between what is expected and what must be protected. |
Las Terrenas, Samaná Province, Dominican Republic — The Alma Film Festival proudly announces Afrotōpia, directed by David Mboussou, as an Official Selection of its inaugural festival edition, taking place March 17–22, 2026, in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic.
Afrotōpia (2025) is a Gabonese narrative film that follows Ezekiel, a 25-year-old aspiring filmmaker compelled to leave behind his artistic ambitions to work in his father’s logging business in the Congo Basin. When Ezekiel discovers plans to exploit a sacred forest, he is thrust into a profound moral conflict—one that places filial loyalty, creative freedom, and the survival of Indigenous communities in direct opposition.
Rooted in the ecological and cultural realities of Central Africa, Afrotōpia examines legacy, power, and responsibility, asking urgent questions about who shapes the future—and at what cost. The film’s selection reflects the Alma Film Festival’s commitment to spotlighting cinema from the Global South that challenges dominant narratives while advancing deeper cultural, ethical, and philosophical inquiry.
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| Jean-Claude M’Paka, iconic Gabonese actor, starring Dyambugutsinga, spiritual master. Dyambugutsinga during funerals — a sacred Gabonese ritual of music and movement that honors the deceased and guides the spirit’s transition, affirming the bond between the living, the ancestors, and the land. |
“Afrotōpia embodies exactly why the Alma Film Festival exists,” said Anthony R. Page, Founder and Festival Director of the Alma Film Festival. “This film invites conversation—about land, legacy, and authorship—and creates a meaningful connection between story, place, and people. It reminds us that cinema can strengthen community, encourage collaboration across borders, and serve as a form of cultural diplomacy. At its core, Afrotōpia pushes us toward collective growth by asking us to imagine futures rooted in responsibility rather than extraction. That is the necessity of something new.”
Since its completion, Afrotōpia has been featured in international cultural and intellectual spaces, including a notable selection in Auroville, the global township dedicated to human unity, and a special screening in Colorado, where the film contributed to broader global conversations on African self-determination, imagination, and the reappropriation of cultural narratives.
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| Director David Mboussou on set during the filming of Afrotopia. |
Director David Mboussou shared:
“Afrotōpia was born out of a necessity: to question and celebrate Africa, its cultures, and the sacred bond between people, nature, and spirit. This project gives me the strength and legitimacy to continue building an African cinema that is rigorous, rooted, and open to the world. This first selection helps us move toward new conversations and collaborations around African narratives.”
As an Official Selection, Afrotōpia will be presented as part of Alma’s curated narrative programming and will be accompanied by a post-screening conversation designed to engage filmmakers, scholars, and audiences in a deeper exchange around environmental ethics, cultural sovereignty, and African futures.
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| Afrotōpia was filmed entirely with a Gabonese crew. David Mboussou used the project as an opportunity to provide local filmmakers with much-needed training and hands-on experience, strengthening creative capacity on the ground. |
The Alma Film Festival is a six-day, research-centered, audience-focused festival that prioritizes scholarship, Global South cinema, and high-engagement experiences between filmmakers and audiences. Guided by its Six Pillars of Purpose—Conversation, Connection, Community, Collaboration, Cultural Diplomacy, and Collective Growth—the festival positions cinema as a tool for both artistic excellence and global dialogue.
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