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Women on Chain Launches in Cape Town Ahead of HACC 2026
30 January @ 3:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Women on Chain: Empowering Women in Film and Blockchain
Cape Town, South Africa – The African Film DAO (AFD) has announced Women on Chain, a groundbreaking empowerment and innovation event taking place on 30 January 2026 at the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation. The event serves as a major satellite experience leading up to the third Hollywood African Cinema Connection (HACC) scheduled for October 2026.
Women on Chain aims to unite women operating in both the film and blockchain sectors, fostering collaboration and creative solutions that advance the position of African women filmmakers. This initiative aligns with the national recognition of the Total Shutdown movement, a reminder of the ongoing fight against gender-based violence in South Africa and the urgent need to strengthen women’s financial and creative autonomy.
Building Economic and Creative Ownership
At the center of this initiative is the African Film DAO’s commitment to ensuring that women not only tell their stories on screen but also hold tangible creative and economic stakes within the industry. The DAO traces its roots to Two Hues, a pioneering NFT-distributed film by award-winning filmmaker Weaam Williams. The film, created during the height of the Total Shutdown movement, became Africa’s first cinematic NFT release, showcasing how blockchain can provide new models for funding and distributing independent film.
Inspired by this innovation, the African Film DAO was formed to explore how decentralised systems, smart contracts, and blockchain technology can be utilised to transform film financing, rights management, and revenue opportunities for creatives across the continent.
A Programme Built for Innovation
Women on Chain will feature The Women on Chain Panel, bringing together leading figures from film and blockchain. The programme also includes a curated selection of films created by women. In addition, Holocene Labs will introduce a new DApp (Decentralised Application) from its suite of proprietary technologies, offering practical tools to support emerging filmmakers.
Tickets are available via Quicket through the event website, with an early bird rate of R300 until 15 December. The full programme is also accessible online.
Industry Partnerships Strengthening the Movement
The African Film DAO has aligned with key partners including HerDAO and Sisters Working in Film and TV, organisations that share a commitment to providing women with greater access, representation, and influence in both film and technology sectors.
Women on Chain seeks to bridge multiple worlds – film, blockchain, finance, media, and culture – while establishing new standards for industry participation. By convening innovators, technologists, filmmakers, and activists, the event aims to support a future in which African women are creatively empowered and economically liberated within the film ecosystem.
As Women on Chain launches a year of continental engagement ahead of HACC 2026, the African Film DAO invites collaborators, filmmakers, supporters, and partners to join the movement and help reshape the future of African cinema.
More information and contact details are available on the official website.
Purchase Ticket:
https://www.quicket.co.za/events/348914-women-on-chain/#/Related Events
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