Africadelic: Memory of Princess Mumbi (Special Screening)
OT301, Saturday, November 7 at 06:45 PM GMT+1
Genre: Drama
Line up: Shandra Apondi Abraham Joseph Ibrahim Joseph
Open: 18:45 - 22:00 hrs
Tickets: € 10
Following the sold-out Dutch premiere in October, we are hosting a second screening of the much-talked-about 'retro-futuristic' Kenyan mockumentary film Memory of Princess Mumbi in Ventilator Cinema in Amsterdam on Saturday, November 7!
Time: 19.00 hrs (doors open: 18.45 hrs)
Title: Memory of Princess Mumbi
Director: Damien Hauser
Country: Kenya and Switzerland
Year: 2025
Length: 80'
Language: English with English subtitles
Extra: The short film Godpower (2026, 16’, dir. Geoff Browne)
About Memory of Princess Mumbi
Blending science fiction, romance and mockumentary, Damien Hauser’s inventive Afrofuturist film (although he rejects the label himself) reflects on memory, filmmaking and our relationship with technology, while asking what remains distinctly human in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. Set in 2093, Memory of Princess Mumbi follows young filmmaker Kuve as he travels to the fictional African kingdom of Umata to make a documentary about the aftermath of a devastating war that led to the rejection of modern technology and the return of ancient kingdoms. There he meets Mumbi, an aspiring actress who challenges him to make his film without artificial intelligence, relying instead on his own eyes, hands and imagination. As Kuve becomes increasingly fascinated by Mumbi and the world around her, his documentary gradually transforms into something more intimate. Their collaboration develops into a bittersweet romance, complicated by tradition, social expectations and Mumbi’s own future. Shot in Kenya on a micro-budget, Memory of Princess Mumbi combines live action, green-screen techniques and AI-generated imagery to create its Afrofuturist world. The use of AI is especially significant because technology is also central to the film’s story. Swiss-Kenyan filmmaker Damien Hauser, who took on multiple roles, including writer, director, cinematographer, editor and composer, deliberately combines new digital tools with a handmade, independent filmmaking approach, exploring the tension between technological possibilities and the fundamentally human nature of storytelling. Since premiering in the Giornate degli Autori section of the 2025 Venice Film Festival, the first Kenyan film selected for the section, Memory of Princess Mumbi has enjoyed a successful international festival run, with screenings at festivals including Toronto, BFI London, Zurich, Ghent and San Francisco. The film has also received several awards and distinctions, including the ZFF Critics Award at the Zurich Film Festival and the Golden Tulip for Best Film at the Istanbul Film Festival, establishing it as a striking example of inventive new African sci-fi cinema.
About Godpower
Set in the coastal surfing community of Tarkwa Bay, just off the coast of Lagos, Nigeria, Godpower (2026) tells the story of a local surf instructor struggling to provide for his family while navigating the harsh realities of everyday survival. When a tourist books a surfing lesson, Godpower sees an opportunity to earn enough money to buy his young son a birthday present. But as financial pressures and family responsibilities mount, he finds himself facing difficult choices that test his values and ultimately reveal that the most meaningful gifts in life cannot be bought. Inspired by the real-life experiences of Nigerian surfer Godpower Pekipuma, who also plays the lead role, the film offers an intimate portrait of fatherhood, resilience, dignity and the pursuit of a better life. Filmed on location in Tarkwa Bay, with members of the community appearing on screen, Godpower combines a portrayal of Nigeria's emerging surf culture with a story about love, sacrifice and survival. Directed by Geoff Browne, the film won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Short Film at the 2026 Dances With Films festival in Los Angeles.
About Africadelic
Africadelic is an Amsterdam-based non-profit organization and platform committed to the programming and promotion of African and African diasporic cultural creativity, diversity and activism in the Netherlands and beyond. The annual Africadelic Festival is an ode to the African continent and its worldwide diaspora, celebrating the cultural richness and profound influence of Afrodescendants, people of African descent, on global culture and society. Taking place from May 20-27, 2026, this year’s edition once again featured a vibrant week of events. Beyond the annual festival, Africadelic presents many events throughout the year, including this special screening of Memory of Princess Mumbi. For more information, visit www.africadelic.com.
https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/africadelic-memory-of-princess-mumbi-special-screening
