GAH-13 · Film & Cinema
Best Story
Recognises the strength and originality of the underlying story.
ProposedCompetitive awardCore 2027–2028Winner: Not announced
- Eligibility
- Film released within the one-year period preceding the applicable submission deadline; of African production origin; completed and publicly exhibited; any language, with English subtitles where required for judging; original work with rights cleared. Short films: 40 minutes or less. Feature films: 60 minutes or more. Films of 41–59 minutes do not fall into any category and are not eligible.
- Eligible work period
- 2027–2028 awards cycle (dates to be confirmed)
- Geographic eligibility
- Participating African countries (five official films per country)
- Submission route
- Only through a participating country's National Selection Committee, as one of the country's five official films. No direct individual submissions.
- Required supporting materials
- Completed National Film Submission Form; secure screening link; poster; high-resolution stills; trailer; synopsis; complete credits; director biography and photograph; principal cast information; production company information; rights and clearance declarations; signed and stamped country declaration.
- Submission window
- Opening and closing dates to be announced
- Judging criteria
- Storytelling; direction; acting; cinematography; screenwriting; editing; sound; production design; costume; cultural relevance; originality; overall creative achievement.
- Scoring / evaluation
- Scoring method to be approved by the Judging & Ethics Committee.
- Jury & conflict of interest
- Independent continental jury under the Judging & Ethics Committee (proposed). Jurors disclose conflicts of interest and recuse where impartiality could be compromised. Juror identities remain confidential until final voting is complete.
- Shortlisting
- Continental eligibility and technical review by the Secretariat, then continental jury evaluation leading to official nominees (procedure to be approved).
- Voting & approval
- Final judging by the continental jury. Results are published only after authorised approval.
- Tie-breaking
- Tie-breaking procedure to be approved.
- Presentation
- Presented at the Grand Golden Arc Honors Award Night.
- Trophy
- Golden Arc Honors trophy (specification to be confirmed).