**São Toméan filmmaker Jessica Lima wins PALOP New Authors Award at Kugoma 2026**
The 16th edition of the Kugoma – Forum de Cinema Mozambique, held in 2026, awarded several emerging filmmakers and audiovisual professionals. In the PALOP (Portuguese‑speaking African countries) category, São Toméan director Jessica Lima was named the winner of the New Authors Award for her short fiction film *Nxka Ba Sulu*, which explores contemporary relationships.
Lima’s competitors in the PALOP category were Grace Ribeiro of Cabo Verde and Denilson Nzala of Angola. The jury for the category comprised Emília Wojciechowska (Cabo Verde), Gabi Ueno, and António Maxlhaieie, the production director of Kugoma.
The awards ceremony also presented the Maxfilm Creative Awards, which recognize technical categories such as Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, and Best Costume Design. In the Maxfilm Creative segment, *Submergido* received the most attention, with Idelfonso Colaço winning Best Cinematography, Ariel Añez taking Best Director, and Dino Cumbane earning Best Actor. Moya Langa won Best Actress for her performance in *Chamas*.
Other notable recognitions at the event included:
* **Assane Ramadane** (Mozambique) – New Authors Award for *A Última Travessia*, a short film about illegal migration and human trafficking. The film also received awards for Best Sound Treatment and Best Pitch.
* **Gamito Fumane** – Honorable Mention for *Chamas*.
* **Afro‑Brazil Award** – Best Brazilian short film, awarded to *Um Oceano Inteiro*, produced by Carolina Porto and directed by Carine Fiúza and Bruna Dias.
Jessica Lima was born in Lisbon to São Toméan parents and grew up in São Tomé and Príncipe. She studied theatre and cinema at the East 15 Acting School in the United Kingdom. Her documentary *Chama-me Maria* (2022), which addresses violence against women in São Tomé and Príncipe, won Best Short Film at the São Tomé Fest Film.
The Kugoma 2026 also incorporated activities from FilmLab Mozambique and took place at the CCFM, Museu Mafalala, Chapa 100, and Netkanema.
Article and image source: expressodasilhas.cv
