The Regal Film Festival and Awards (REFFA) has announced the nominees for its 2026 edition, with 314 entries from 36 countries competing for honours, according to a report by Graphic Showbiz.
The nominees were unveiled at a nomination night at the Accra Marriott Hotel. The festival itself will run in Accra from December 8 to 11, 2026.
Graphic Showbiz reports that this year's entries come from across Africa as well as from countries including the United States, Italy and Iran, showing the festival's growing reach beyond Ghana.
Among international titles, films such as Nawi – Dear Future Me from Kenya, Ebinto from Côte d'Ivoire, One Woman One Bra, a Kenyan-Nigerian production, and Slum Bomber from Uganda are in contention for Best Picture.
Ghanaian productions feature across many categories. According to Graphic Showbiz, they include:
Student filmmakers are also represented, with nominations in the Best Student Documentary, Best Student Short Film and Best Student Animation categories.
Vibes – The Movie arrives at the awards after recently becoming available on Amazon Prime Video, a milestone Talk Talk reported earlier this month.
REFFA founder and CEO Selassie Ibrahim, a well-known Ghanaian actress and producer, said the festival is about building a sustainable film industry rather than simply handing out trophies. She described the festival as "my baby", explaining: "If we don't have a new network producing, educating and marketing, there's no industry to award."
She said the goal is to make African content widely seen while matching "world standard" quality. Asked how she felt ahead of the festival, she said: "I'm excited because I know God will not fail us."
The four-day festival will include panel discussions, sessions on scriptwriting and film marketing, a film market and pitch sessions for filmmakers seeking funding, according to Graphic Showbiz.
A portrait night on December 11 at 6 p.m. will bring together representatives of all the nominated countries, with guests invited to wear traditional attire.
REFFA's announcement comes during a lively period for Ghana's screen industry. In recent weeks, Ghanaian films have reached international streaming platforms, a new film development fund has been announced, and actress Jackie Appiah has urged the industry to grow its pool of writers and crew. MTN has also launched MTN One TV, pitched as a new distribution channel for local content.
December is also one of the busiest months for entertainment in Accra, and the REFFA festival will add a film-focused event to a calendar dominated by concerts and parties.
Selassie Ibrahim has been part of Ghana's film and television industry for many years as an actress and producer. With REFFA, she has turned her attention to building platforms for other filmmakers, combining awards with training and market sessions aimed at helping productions find buyers and audiences.
With nominees now public, attention will turn to the winners, who will be announced during the December festival. For Ghana's nominated filmmakers, a win on home soil against competition from 36 countries would be a strong boost as the industry works to rebuild its output and reach new audiences.
