Meet Ebenezer Kwaning, BSIFF’s Young Curator

At just 22, Ebenezer Amankwah Kwaning is already building a career across filmmaking, technology, business, and storytelling.

Now, the young Ghanaian filmmaker is taking on a new role. He has been appointed Festival Curator of the BSIFF Youth Film Festival.

The appointment puts Kwaning at the heart of a festival designed to give young people a stronger voice in cinema.

For the Black Star International Film Festival (BSIFF), the idea is clear. Young people should not only attend festivals, submit films or serve on juries. They should also help shape the future of the festival itself.

Kwaning will play a key role in making that happen.

BSIFF Young Curator — *Ebenezer Kwaning, appointed to curate BSIFF’s Youth Film Festival*

The filmmaker, director, cinematographer, and creative entrepreneur is currently pursuing a BFA in Film Directing at the University of Media, Arts and Communication – Institute of Film and Television (UniMAC-IFT).

His work in film has already earned recognition. He was previously named Overall Best Television and Film Student and Best Editing Student at the Ghana Media School.

His experience also extends beyond the classroom. Kwaning works across film, technology, business, and storytelling. These areas have helped him develop a broad understanding of the creative industry.

He is also familiar with BSIFF.

As part of the BSIFF team, Kwaning has worked across festival planning, production, communications, filmmaker coordination, and programming.

That experience gives him a strong understanding of how a film festival operates. It also gives him insight into the needs of filmmakers and audiences.

His new role therefore comes at an important point in his creative journey.

As Festival Curator, Kwaning will help shape a youth festival that reflects the interests and ideas of his generation. The program will look beyond traditional filmmaking.

It will include areas such as film, animation, mobile storytelling, gaming, interactive experiences, and emerging technology.

This wider focus reflects the changing ways young people create and consume stories.

Today, a story can begin with a camera phone, a computer, an animation program, or a game engine. Young creators are also using new technologies to experiment with different forms of storytelling.

The BSIFF Youth Film Festival aims to create space for that creativity.

Its vision is centered on films by young people and films for young people.

Kwaning’s appointment also highlights a growing opportunity for young creatives to take leadership roles within Ghana’s film industry.

At 22, he brings the perspective of a filmmaker who is part of the generation the festival is being built to serve.

His role will therefore go beyond selecting films. He will help contribute to the identity and direction of a festival designed to encourage young people to create, experiment, and lead.

For BSIFF, the message is simple: young people should not have to wait for permission to lead, build, and imagine what comes next.

With Kwaning now helping to shape the festival, the next generation of Ghanaian filmmakers will have a young creative voice helping to build a platform for them.