Finalists for the 2026 Inclusive Lens Awards
African stories of disability, LGBTQIA+ identity and diversity in children’s programming take centre stage as the Inclusive Lens Awards return to Cape Town. FAME Week Africa has announced the finalists for the 2026 Inclusive Lens Awards, recognising film and television productions that are helping broaden representation and reshape the way diverse African stories are told on screen. The awards will take place on 29 October 2026 during FAME Week Africa in Cape Town, celebrating productions that challenge stereotypes, broaden perspectives and place authentic lived experiences at the heart of storytelling.
This year’s finalists compete across three broad areas of representation: Disability Representation, LGBTQIA+ Representation, and Diversity & Inclusion in Kids Programming, spanning both scripted and unscripted film and television.
The selection reflects the breadth of inclusive storytelling emerging from Africa, from a Deaf teenager at the centre of a South African crime thriller and a blind Afrikaaps hip-hop storyteller reclaiming his narrative, to queer coming-of-age stories, drag culture, African history and children’s programming bringing globally recognised characters to young audiences in African languages.
“The Inclusive Lens Awards were created because representation matters, but authentic representation matters even more,” says Martin Hiller, Portfolio Director of FAME Week Africa.
“What excites me about this year’s finalists is the sheer range of stories. Inclusion isn’t a genre and it shouldn’t sit on the margins of our industry. It belongs in thrillers, comedies, documentaries, children’s animation, reality television, historical epics and everything in between.”
The 2026 Inclusive Lens Awards Finalists
Diversity & Inclusion in Kids Programming – Pre-School
The finalists are Bluey – African Language Localisations (UK), Hadu (Nigeria) and Jabu’s Jungle: The Best of Africa! (South Africa). The category celebrates programming that gives young audiences opportunities to see and hear Africa reflected in the content they consume, including African languages, family life, local environments, cultures, wildlife and traditions.
Diversity & Inclusion in Kids Programming – Older School
The finalists are Wandi &fame week. Kabz (South Africa) and Eyes of Wakanda (USA). The productions place African history, heritage, identity and possibility at the centre of stories for older children, connecting young audiences with African heroes, cultures and perspectives through imaginative storytelling.
Disability Representation – Non-Scripted Film
The finalists are Amigo the Griot (South Africa), Concerto (South Africa) and Amazina Mbuyaga (Uganda). The films challenge limiting perceptions of disability through personal stories centred on creativity, artistry, identity and self-expression, with lived experience and agency at the forefront.
Disability Representation – Scripted Film
The finalists are ThisAbility (South Africa), Nkanyezi (South Africa) and Melusi (South Africa). Together, the films explore disability through stories of autonomy, family, ambition, identity and survival, presenting disabled characters as complex individuals with agency over their own stories.
Disability Representation – Scripted Series
The finalists are Bad Influencer (South Africa), Scandal! (South Africa) and Shaka iLembe – Season 2 (South Africa). The series offer different approaches to disability inclusion, ranging from neurodivergence within family life to authentic disability casting and the inclusion of disabled performers in contemporary and historical African storytelling.
LGBTQIA+ Representation – Non-Scripted Feature
The finalists are Sonder (South Africa), Queezy Visits the Racers (South Africa) and Eyes To See (South Africa). The documentaries explore queer African identity through stories encompassing Black Zulu masculinities, queer and Coloured identity, spirituality, Indigenous knowledge, gender fluidity and the relationship between identity, culture and belonging.
LGBTQIA+ Representation – Scripted Feature
The finalists are Black Burns Fast (South Africa), Khaki Fever (South Africa) and Everything Between Us (South Africa). The films expand the representation of queer life on African screens through stories of first love and self-discovery, sex-positive comedy and queer grief, allowing LGBTQIA+ characters to experience joy, vulnerability, loss and the complexity of human relationships.
LGBTQIA+ Representation – Non-Scripted Series
The finalists are Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap – Season 2 (South Africa), Pride: The Queer Show (South Africa) and The Way Ngingakhona – Season 5 (South Africa). The series create space for LGBTQIA+ people to share their own experiences while exploring identity, relationships, community, culture and equality.
LGBTQIA+ Representation – Scripted Series
The finalists are The Morning After (South Africa), Youngins – Season 3 (South Africa) and Blood Legacy (South Africa). The productions demonstrate the breadth of LGBTQIA+ representation in mainstream African television, exploring queer love, identity, friendship, family, culture and belonging as integral parts of larger narratives.
Meet The 2026 Judges
The winners will be selected by a judging panel bringing together expertise and lived experience across acting, filmmaking, broadcasting, production, festivals, localisation, accessibility and advocacy.
The 2026 Inclusive Lens Awards judging panel comprises Caleb Swanepoel, James Byrne, Jason Fiddler, Karen Jeynes, Kim Jayde, Lala Tuku, Lawrancia Mqwebu, Louise Callcott-Stevens, Thabile Ngwato, Tarha McKenzie, Tarryn Tomlinson and Tongai Furusa.
EarCandy partners with the Inclusive Lens Awards
The 2026 Inclusive Lens Awards are proudly sponsored by EarCandy, a localisation, dubbing, subtitling and audio production company focused on connecting audiences with African stories across languages and cultures. EarCandy provides content localisation in more than 30 African mother-tongue languages.
Our dedication to authentic, diverse and inclusive content has earned us this market leadership and aligns us deeply with the Inclusive Lens Award. As proud sponsors, we support a movement that champions communities, projects and individuals creating real impact on and off screen.says Louise Callcott-Stevens, CEO of EarCandy.
The 2026 Inclusive Lens Awards take place on 29 October during FAME Week Africa in Cape Town. For the full list of finalists and more information about the productions selected, visit the official FAME Week Africa Inclusive Lens Awards page.
