Festival Yarha

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Arts & CultureYaounde
DatesDates TBA · Usually JanuaryCheck locally before booking
Duration8 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsYarha's defining feature is its exclusive
Language["fr"]Currency: XAF
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Festival Yarha in Yaounde

Festival Yarha, the International Week of First Films, is a Yaounde film festival founded in 2014 by Sylvie Nwet and Patricia Moune and run by the YARA association, dedicated specifically to directors' debut features and shorts. Its week-long programme of screenings, workshops and professional meetings gives newer filmmakers a platform distinct from Cameroon's broader film events.

Sixteen prizes handed out at the close of a single edition give a sense of how competitive Festival Yarha's programme runs beneath its festive surface.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Yarha's defining feature is its exclusive focus on first-time filmmakers rather than a general slate spanning all career stages: every film in competition is a director's debut work, giving the programme a rawer, more varied character than a standard festival built around established names

02

The mystery stays covered

Its organiser, YARA, evolved from a cultural association into a government-recognised NGO in 2024, formalising a decade of the festival's work supporting new directors

03

The city starts moving

The pairing of public screenings with dedicated professional meetings between emerging and established industry figures gives newer filmmakers direct access to critics and festival professionals that a screening-only event would not offer

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

Symbols

Custom

Festival Yarha is documented as a recurring arts-culture festival in the Eventisimus atlas.

Participation

Calendar

Some moments are open to visitors; others belong to local participants. Follow barriers, steward instructions, and local etiquette.

Place memory

Place

The strongest version of the event is the one tied to Yaounde, not a generic copy of the same category elsewhere.

The local code

Meaning

Yarha's defining feature is its exclusive focus on first-time filmmakers rather than a general slate spanning all career stages: every film in...

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually January

Getting around

Use Yaounde transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.

What to wear

Casual, comfortable clothing suits both the screenings and the workshop sessions; this is a working festival rather than a red-carpet event, and Yaounde's cinema-going audience dresses...

Safety

At Festival Yarha, agree on a meeting point and plan food, water and the return route before crowds thicken.

Where to stay

Stay near workable transport in Yaounde, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

["fr"] · XAF

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map3.87 N, 11.52 EOpen in Google Maps

Yaounde, Centre, Cameroon

Nearest airportNSI — Yaoundé Nsimalen
TransportUse Yaounde transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.
Stay areaStay near workable transport in Yaounde, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Yaounde via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Yaounde, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for January.Compare faresFestival gearCasual, comfortable clothing suits both the screenings and the workshop sessions; this is a working festival rather than a red-carpet event, and Yaounde's cinema-going audience dresses informally. Bring a light layer for air-conditioned screening rooms.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Cameroon and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Festival Yarha?

Festival Yarha is listed for Past edition: 25 January–1 February 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Festival Yarha take place?

The festival is listed in Yaounde, Cameroon. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

8 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Yaounde, Centre, Cameroon

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLicicine.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually January
Source statusOfficial source linked
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