The film industries of the 54 countries that make up Africa produced over two hundred feature films in 2014. This article fully lists all non-pornographic films, including short films, that had a release date in that year and which were at least partly made by an African country. It does not include films first released in previous years that had release dates in 2014. Nor does it include films made in countries such as France, Spain or the United Kingdom, which though they have territories in Africa are primarily non-African states, unless they are co-productions with African countries. Also included is an overview of the major events in African film, including film festivals and awards ceremonies, as well as lists of those films that have been particularly well received, both critically and financially. The year was particularly notable for the release of Timbuktu, the first Mauritanian film ever nominated for the Academy Award for best foreign language film.
Major releases
Opening Title Cast and Crew Details Country Genre(s) Ref.JANUARY 17Fishing Without Nets Director: Cutter Hodierne Cast: Eric Godon, Abdiwali Farrah, Abdikhadir Hassan, Idil Ibrahim, Abdi Kani, Reda Kateb Think Media Studios KenyaSomalia Drama 18Difret Director: Zeresenay Berhane Mehari Cast: Meron Getnet, Tizita Hagere Haile Addis Pictures Ethiopia DramaBad Land: Road to Fury Director: Jake Paltrow Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Elle Fanning, Michael Shannon, Kodi Smit-McPhee Screen Media Films South Africa Action Science FictionFEBRUARY 7Two Men in Town Director: Rachid Bouchareb Cast: Forest Whitaker, Harvey Keitel, Ellen Burstyn, Luis Guzmán, Brenda Blethyn Artists & Co Remake of Deux hommes dans la ville (1973) Algeria Drama 14Devil in the Detail Director: Shirley Frimpong-Manso Cast: Nse Ikpe Etim, Adjetey Anang, Ecow Smith-Asante, Ama Ampofo Sparrow Production Ghana Romance ThrillerMARCH 7Apaye Directors: Desmond Elliot, Niyi Akinmolayan Cast: Kanayo O. Kanayo, Mbong Amata, Belinda Effah, Clarion Chukwura Emem Isong Productions Nigeria Biography Drama 9Vessel Director: Diana Whitten Cast: Rebecca Gomperts Filmbuff Tanzania Documentary 28Render to Caesar Directors: Desmond Ovbiagele, Onyekachi Ejim Cast: Wale Ojo, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Omoni Oboli, Bimbo Manuel Mighty Man Entertainment Nigeria Crime ThrillerAPRIL 4Island of Lemurs: Madagascar Director: David Douglas Cast: Morgan Freeman Warner Bros. Madagascar Documentary 17Virunga Director: Orlando von Einsiedel Netflix Republic of the Congo Documentary 18Knocking on Heaven's Door Director: Desmond Elliot Cast: Ini Edo, Emem Isong Royal Arts Academy Nigeria Musical Romance DramaMAY 15Timbuktu Director: Abderrahmane Sissako Cast: Abel Jafri, Hichem Yacoubi Cohen Media Group Mauritania Drama 17Run Director: Philippe Lacôte Cast: Abdoul Karim Konaté Bac Films Ivory Coast DramaThe Salvation Director: Kristian Levring Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green, Eric Cantona, Mikael Persbrandt, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jonathan Pryce, Michael Raymond-James Nordisk Film South Africa Western 29Make a Move Director: Niyi Akinmolayan Cast: Ivie Okujaye, Tina Mba, Beverly Naya, Wale Adebayo Avizzle Productions Nigeria Dance MusicalJUNE 1Being Mrs Elliot Director: Omoni Oboli Cast: Majid Michel, Omoni Oboli, Ayo Makun, Sylvia Oluchy, Seun Akindele, Uru Eke, Lepacious Bose Dioni Visions Nigeria Romance ComedyJULY 3Desert Dancer Director: Richard Raymond Cast: Reece Ritchie, Freida Pinto, Nazanin Boniadi, Tom Cullen, Marama Corlett, Akin Gazi Relativity Media Based on the life of Afshin Ghaffarian Morocco Biography Drama 20Veve Director: Simon Mukali Cast: Lowri Odhiambo, Emo Rugene, Lizz Njagah Kenya Drama 22Aussie Rules the World Director: Michael Stringer McIntyre Cast: Brett Kirk, Andrew Demetriou, Kevin Sheedy, Mike Sheahan, Peter FitzSimons, Paul Roos, Bachar Houli, John Longmire, David Wenham, Tadhg Kennelly, Adam Goodes Second Nature Films South Africa Documentary Sport 28The Blue Elephant Director: Marwan Hamed Cast: Karim Abdel Aziz, Khaled El Sawy, Nelly Karim, Mohamed Mamdouh, Dareen Haddad, Sherin Reda, Mohamed Shahin, Lebleba Arabia Cinema Production & Distribution Egypt DramaAUGUST 2Dry Director: Stephanie Linus Cast: Stephanie Okereke, Liz Benson, William McNamara, Darwin Shaw, Olu Jacobs, Paul Sambo Silverbird Film Distribution Nigeria Drama 11The Giver Director: Phillip Noyce Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Odeya Rush Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Alexander Skarsgård, Katie Holmes, Cameron Monaghan, Taylor Swift The Weinstein Company Based on The Giver by Lois Lowry South Africa Science Fiction Drama 15Hector and the Search for Happiness Director: Peter Chelsom Cast: Simon Pegg, Toni Collette, Rosamund Pike, Stellan Skarsgård, Jean Reno, Christopher Plummer Koch Media Based on Hector and the Search for Happiness by François Lelord South Africa Comedy Drama 24Twilight of Shadows Director: Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina Cast: Samir Boitard Algeria DramaSEPTEMBER 5Beats of the Antonov Director: Hajooj Kuka South AfricaSudan DocumentaryStories of Our Lives Director: Jim Chuchu Cast: Kelly Gichohi, Paul Ogola, Tim Mutungi, Mugambi Nthiga, Rose Njenga, Janice Mugo, Allan Weku, Maina Olwenya, Louis Brooke, Judy Gichohi The NEST Collective KenyaSouth Africa Drama 6Impunity Director: Jyoti Mistry Cast: Francis Chouler South Africa Thriller 7The Good Lie Director: Philippe Falardeau Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Arnold Oceng, Ger Duany, Emmanuel Jal, Corey Stoll, Sarah Baker, Kuoth Wiel Warner Bros. Pictures Kenya Drama 13Outpost 37 Director: Jabbar Raisani Cast: Adrian Paul, Reiley McClendon, Rick Ravanello IFC Films South Africa Science Fiction Action Thriller 27Eyes of a Thief Director: Najwa Najjar Cast: Khaled Abol Naga Algeria DramaOCTOBER 1October 1 Director: Kunle Afolayan Cast: Sadiq Daba, Kayode Olaiya, David Bailie, Kehinde Bankole, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Nick Rhys, Kunle Afolayan, Femi Adebayo, Bimbo Manuel, Ibrahim Chatta, Demola Adedoyin, Deola Sagoe Golden Effects Pictures Nigeria Thriller 9Dazzling Mirage Director: Tunde Kelani Cast: Kemi 'Lala' Akindoju, Kunle Afolayan, Bimbo Manuel, Yomi Fash Lanso, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Seun Akindele Mainframe Film and Television Productions Based on Dazzling Mirage by Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare Nigeria DramaNorthmen: A Viking Saga Director: Claudio Fäh Cast: Tom Hopper, Ryan Kwanten, Ken Duken, Charlie Murphy, Ed Skrein, Anatole Taubman, Leo Gregory, James Norton, Darrell D'Silva, Johan Hegg, Danny Keogh The Salt Company South Africa Historical Action 25When Love Happens Director: Seyi Babatope Cast: Weruche Opia, OC Ukeje, Beverly Naya, Oreka Godis, Gideon Okeke, Bukky Wright, Desmond Elliot, Wale Ojo FilmOne Distribution Nigeria Romance Comedy 3130 Days in Atlanta Director: Robert Peters Cast: Ayo Makun, Ramsey Nouah, Richard Mofe Damijo, Desmond Elliot, Vivica A. Fox, Lynn Whitfield, Karlie Redd, Majid Michel, Omoni Oboli, Racheal Oniga, Yemi Blaq, Juliet Ibrahim Nigeria Romance ComedyNOVEMBER 7Material of the Future Director: Vern Moen Cast: Alec Baldwin Malawi Documentary 11Ojuju Director: C.J. Obasi Cast: Gabriel Afolayan, Omowunmi Dada, Kelechi Udegbe, Chidozie Nzeribe, Brutus Richard, Meg Otanwa, Paul Utomi Fiery Film Nigeria Horror Thriller 14A Place in the Stars Director: Steve Gukas Cast: Gideon Okeke, Segun Arinze, Matilda Obaseki, Yemi Blaq, Femi Branch, Dejumo Lewis Silverbird Film Distribution Nigeria Crime ThrillerDECEMBER 14The Sea Is Behind Director: Hisham Lasri Cast: Malek Akhmiss Morocco Drama
Minor Releases