Tracing the history of Africa's relationship to film festivals and exploring the festivals' impact on the various types of people who attend festivals (the festival experts, the ordinary festival audiences, and the filmmakers), Dovey reveals what turns something called a "festival" into a "festival experience" for these groups.

Introduction 1. Early Curatorial Practices, European Colonialism, and the Rise of 'A-list' Film Festivals 2. Afri-Cannes? African Film and Filmmakers at the World's Most Prestigious Film Festival 3. 'Where is Africa?' at the 2010 International Film Festival of Rotterdam 4. African Film Festivals in Africa: Curating 'African Audiences' for 'African Films' 5. Moving Africa: African Film Festivals Outside of Africa 6. The Rise of 'International' Film Festivals in Africa 7. Festive Excitement and (Dis)sensus Communis In Action at Two Film Festivals in Africa Conclusion

Lindiwe Dovey is Senior Lecturer in African Film and Performance Arts at the University of London, UK.