Atlantique - The Hague African Festival

• Date: 26 July
• Time: 14:00
• Location: Filmhuis Den Haag

During The Hague African Festival 2026, with Atlantique, we explore the meaning of independence, identity, and migration within the African diaspora, a magical realist love story about longing, departure, and homecoming.

In July 2026, The Hague will once again host The Hague African Festival, a celebration of African cultures, with ‘Beyond Independence’ as one of this year’s main themes. How does independence translate today into the experience of the African diaspora, life between here and there, the relationship to ‘home’, and the impact of post-colonial structures on identity, migration and belonging? We explore this through Mati Diop’s wonderful film Atlantique, a Senegalese love story about young people searching for a better life. It’s a topical subject, but presented in a slightly different way in this film, with a distinctive touch of magical realism.

Atlantique is the feature film debut of director Mati Diop. A mesmerizing film about growing up, first loves, and letting go. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Grand Prix.

In a suburb of Dakar, Senegal, the young love between Ada and Souleiman seems carefree. But behind the veil of romance lies a bleak future. Ada is about to marry another man, whom she does not love. Souleiman decides to leave the country by sea with a group of construction workers who have not been paid for months, in search of a better future. A few days after the boys’ departure, a sudden fire disrupts Ada’s wedding celebration, and the girls from the neighborhood are struck by a mysterious fever. Issa, a young police officer, begins to investigate.

Atlantique was the first film by a Black female filmmaker to be selected for the main competition at Cannes, and it was Senegal’s submission for the Academy Awards.

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