Uganda’s creative industry received a huge boost after the Pearlwood Film Awards unveiled the nominees for the 2026 edition, with Busoga Women’s Representative Rachael Magoola calling on the country to invest in young storytellers and strengthen the nation’s growing film industry.

Speaking through a statement presented at the unveiling ceremony held at the Uganda National Cultural Centre, Magoola said the awards have grown into much more than an annual celebration, describing them as a national movement that is shaping the future of Uganda’s creative sector by nurturing talent, promoting quality storytelling and celebrating artistic excellence.

“The announcement celebrates outstanding achievements by learners, filmmakers and schools, recognising excellence in filmmaking while inspiring a new generation of African storytellers,” Magoola said.

The unveiling of the nominees marks one of the most significant milestones on the Pearlwood Awards 2026 calendar after months of technical assessment and professional review of productions submitted by schools and filmmakers from across Uganda.

Magoola said the awards continue to provide a credible platform that recognises creativity while preserving Uganda’s cultural identity through film.

“These are more than an awards ceremony. They represent a national movement dedicated to nurturing creativity, encouraging quality storytelling, promoting film as an educational tool and positioning Uganda’s creative industry for greater growth and recognition,” she said.

Following the announcement of the nominees, organisers confirmed that the Public Voting Campaign will officially open on August 8 and run until October 10, 2026, giving audiences across Uganda and beyond an opportunity to support their favourite films and performers.

However, organisers stressed that the winners will not be determined by popularity alone. Public votes will complement the work of an independent panel of respected film professionals who will assess every production based on artistic quality, technical excellence and overall creative merit.

Magoola said the independent jury had been carefully selected to uphold integrity, impartiality and professionalism throughout the judging process.

“The public recognition reflects not only artistic excellence but also audience engagement and market appeal,” she noted, adding that the composition of the independent jury would be officially unveiled at the appropriate time to safeguard the credibility of the exercise.

Beyond the voting process, nominees will also participate in the Nominee and Industry Dialogue on August 29, a forum expected to bring together filmmakers, students, industry leaders and other stakeholders to discuss the future of Uganda’s film industry.

The awards season will culminate in the Pearlwood Film Awards Gold Night on October 14, 2026, where outstanding filmmakers, actors, directors, editors and other creative professionals will be recognised for their contribution to Uganda’s rapidly growing film industry.

Magoola said the quality of this year’s nominees demonstrates the enormous creative potential that exists within Uganda’s schools and film community.

“The nominees we are unveiling today demonstrate the extraordinary potential that exists across our schools, institutions and creative communities. Ugandan cinema is bright, diverse and globally competitive. Being nominated is itself recognition of excellence after a rigorous professional assessment,” she said.

In another major announcement, Pearlwood revealed that the 2027 Pearlwood High School Film Challenge will be held under the theme ‘Reimagining Our Core Values.’ The winning school will receive production support worth up to US$10,000 to produce its next film, while participating schools will only be required to make a modest commitment fee.

Magoola urged schools, filmmakers and the public to embrace the initiative, saying every vote cast during the competition would help build a stronger and more competitive Ugandan film industry.

“Every Ugandan, every school, every filmmaker and every lover of African stories has a role to play. Every vote is more than support for a favourite nominee; it is an investment in the future of Uganda’s creative industry, inspiring generations and building an industry capable of competing on the continental and global stage,” she said.

The 2026 Pearlwood Awards feature nominees across numerous categories, including Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Editor, Best Cameo Actor, Best Cameo Actress, Best Professional Supporting Actor, Best Professional Supporting Actress and Short Film of the Year, among others.

Organisers said the awards are being implemented through collaboration between filmmakers, schools, media organisations, cultural institutions and development partners with the aim of promoting legal film distribution, expanding Uganda’s creative economy and positioning the country’s storytellers for greater regional and international recognition.