Ake Dikhea? Festival of Romani Film

07/04/2026

31/03/2026

Bündnis für Solidarität mit den Sinti und Roma Europas
Parade 2026
15:00 Uhr Roma & Sinti
Memorial Berlin

02/11/2025

✨Looking back at this year’s Best Feature Film:
Missed Lives – The Dom People by Mehmet Kuyumcu


What a moment to remember!
At AKE DIKHEA? 2025, the Best Feature Film Award went to Missed Lives – The Dom People by Mehmet Kuyumcu — a deeply moving documentary that sheds light on the often-forgotten Dom community, one of the most marginalized groups in the Middle East.

Through honest storytelling and quiet strength, the film gives visibility to people whose histories have long been erased — turning pain into poetry and resilience into resistance.

A heartfelt congratulations to Mehmet Kuyumcu and his team for this important work that reminds us why we watch, listen, and believe in cinema as a space for truth.

08/10/2025

✨ at AKE DIKHEA? 2025 ✨
Get ready for an unforgettable evening at Kino Babylon Berlin! On Saturday, 11 October at 8 pm, we invite you to discover this year’s Short Film Competition – a vibrant selection of films that are poetic, bold, and deeply human. Each story opens a new window into the Roma experience, creativity, and strength. Don’t miss the chance to be moved, surprised, and inspired.

From poetic allegories like Twentieth Century Fresco (Hungary) and emotional journeys in Let’s Call It Love (Germany) to stories of resilience and identity in The Angry Bird and The Earth Beneath Margaret’s Feet (UK) – these films explore love, loss, survival, and heritage across generations.

With El Regalo .izagirre (Spain) celebrating sisterhood, Horo Ano Boro Kosovo) preserving cultural memory, and Reaching for the Rope (UK) confronting mental health struggles, the Short Film Competition brings together voices that move and inspire.

Don’t miss this evening of stories that matter – only at AKE DIKHEA? 2025 at
📍11/10/25 at 8 pm

07/10/2025

✨ at AKE DIKHEA? 2025✨
Join us at for three powerful stories that take us deep into questions of memory, justice, and resilience.

✨Friday, 10 October, 6 pm

MISSED LIVES – The Dom People by Mehmet Kuyumcu (Türkiye)
A moving and courageous documentary about Dom, Abdal and Romani families in Antakya — their daily lives, struggles, and survival after the 2023 earthquake. A raw and poetic testimony to erased histories and the strength of a community that refuses to disappear.

THAT BOY by Toby Gorniak (UK)
What happens when a Roma refugee and a former neo-Nazi meet face to face? A bold conversation about hate, forgiveness and transformation — a film about turning darkness into light.

✨Saturday, 11 October, 5 pm

DAJORI by Martin Páv & Nicolas Kourek (Czech Republic)
Following Marie, a woman who takes her sister’s nine children into her home, Dajori (Romani for “mother”) is a tender and powerful look at care, resilience, and love in the face of social exclusion.

💫 Experience stories that move, challenge, and inspire — all part of this year’s AKE DIKHEA? Competition for Feature Films.

06/10/2025

🎬 AVAZYA – Voices of Romani Film

Join us for a special Avazya event celebrating Roma voices, creativity, and collaboration!

From 12:00 PM we invite you to an AVAZYA Networking Brunch & Masterclass in the .salon.bln with members of this year’s AKE DIKHEA? Jury – a space to exchange ideas, build connections, and strengthen the visibility of Romani film professionals across Europe.

From 4:00 PM filmmaker Lisa Smith presents two films she has been part of — both offering powerful female perspectives on contemporary Roma culture:

ROMANY – a portrait of Lisa Smith herself as an independent and emerging filmmaker.
A BASKET FULL OF EGGS – follows Roma* activist Liza Mortimer on her journey through the archives of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, where she rediscovers the musical heritage of her family.

The AVAZYA Film Professionals Network was launched in 2022 during the 6th International Festival of Romani Film AKE DIKHEA? in Berlin. It is a continuously growing network that aims to increase opportunities and visibility for Romani film professionals, while advocating on a European level for equity, diversity, and inclusion within the international film industry.

“AVAZYA” means “Voices” in the Romani language — representing the diversity and plurality of Roma storytelling. The network follows an intersectional and multi-perspectival approach, and also welcomes non-Romani filmmakers from other marginalized backgrounds.

Historically, Romani filmmakers, stories, and perspectives have been excluded from the film industry. Racist narratives still dominate mainstream culture across Europe.
AVAZYA was founded to challenge this imbalance and make Roma voices visible in the global film market.

06/10/2025

✨ We’re happy to present this year’s Specials at AKE DIKHEA? ✨

In these films, we encounter powerful and deeply personal stories that connect history, memory, and identity.

GRANDMA, MOTHER, ME offers a strong female perspective on Swedish Roma* and ‚Traveler’ life, exploring family history and the process of confronting trauma and shame.

WESLEY SWIMS follows a 14-year-old Sinto on his journey to Auschwitz, where he speaks with his great-grandfather, a survivor, about how to learn from history.

THE CLOSE combines intimate personal stories with an academic view on Roma culture, documenting the first archaeological excavation of an abandoned Roma* site in the UK.

WHERE THE LUPIN ONCE BLOOMED traces the history of the Sinti* — from their origins in India, through the persecution during World War II, to the present day.

Each of these films opens a window into resilience, remembrance, and the strength of Roma* and Sinti* voices across generations.

03/10/2025

✨ The wait is over – the full AKE DIKHEA? 2025 program is here! ✨

From October 9–12, we invite you to discover powerful stories, bold perspectives and unforgettable images.
This year’s selection brings together 17 films from across Europe and beyond – voices that resist, remember and reimagine.

We are proud to open the festival with the German Premiere of Chaplin: Spirit of the Tramp by Carmen Chaplin – a journey into memory, laughter and resistance.

Join us in celebrating Romani cinema – a space for dialogue, art and community.
Check the slides for the full program, save your dates and visit
👉 akedikhea.com for all details!

01/10/2025

✨Great Opening ✨
9.10.2025 | 19:30 | Babylon Kino 1

✨German premiere ✨

Chaplin: Spirit of the Tramp
by Carmen Chaplin
USA · 2024 · 90’ · English

In her feature-length debut, filmmaker Carmen Chaplin explores her family’s origins and traditions. Through exclusive interviews and never-before-seen archival materials from the Chaplin estate, the film uncovers the Roma heritage of the “Great Dictator” for the very first time.

Intimate conversations, film clips, family recordings, and contributions from contemporary Roma artists bring us closer to a story that was always there, yet rarely acknowledged.

Director: Carmen Chaplin
Script: Carmen Chaplin, Ashim Bhalla, Isaki Lacuesta, Amaya Remírez
Editor: Julia Juaniz
Music: Nathaniel Méchaly
Sound: Martín Guridi
With: Michael J. Chaplin, Geraldine Chaplin, Victoria Chaplin, Jane Chaplin, Christopher Chaplin, Aurelia Thierrée, Johnny Depp, Emir Kusturica, Tony Gatlif, Claire Bloom, Stochelo & Mozes Rosenberg, Lita Cabellut, Farruquito

We are proud to open AKE DIKHEA? Festival 2025 with this German premiere!

29/09/2025

✨ Meet our four-member AKE DIKHEA? festival jury! ✨

Heleen Gerritsen .heleen
Malve Lippmann
Riah Knight .knight and
Zejhun Demirov

This year, films from the Czech Republic, United Kingdom, United States, Türkiye, Hungary, Spain, Kosovo and Germany are competing for the title of „Best Film“ or „Best Short Film“ of the festival.

Our brilliant jury will make the tough decisions – but the audience gets a voice too! ✨
You will have the chance to vote for your favourite, and the Audience Choice Award will go to the film with the best average rating. ✨

Don’t miss it – check out the full programme at www.akedikhea.com (link in bio).

📸 Photo of Riah Knight: Duo Chen

10/07/2025

✨ Save the Date! ✨

We are excited to invite you to the 9th edition of AKE DIKHEA? - 9th Edition of the International Roma Film Festival

October 9 - 12, 2025 at Babylon Cinema & Grüner Salon, Berlin

Save the date - an inspiring program awaits you, with powerful films, thought-provoking discussions, and meaningful encounters!

More information coming soon.

Love,
The AKE DIKHEA Team

salon.bln