File:The Clapper (8132474534).jpg byThomas’s Pics, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Spotlighting the 2025 Wiki Loves Africa Videography Jury
The strength of Wiki Loves Africa lies not only in the thousands of inspiring submissions it receives each year but also in the brilliant individuals who lend their expertise, vision, and time to reviewing them. The contest would not be possible without these jurors, who carefully assess each entry and help ensure that the winning works reflect both technical excellence and the richness of the stories being told. Their dedication upholds the integrity and credibility of the competition while celebrating the creativity of contributors across the continent.
This year’s Videography Jury brings together an exceptional mix of filmmakers, photographers, Wikimedians, and creative leaders. Each juror brings a unique perspective shaped by years of experience in storytelling, visual culture, and community engagement. Their combined expertise ensures that the selected videos do more than meet technical standards—they also amplify voices, preserve cultural narratives, and shed light on African realities and aspirations that might otherwise remain unseen.
Through their insight, artistic experience and professional knowledge, the jury plays a vital role in honouring the power of African stories told through films that capture the Farm to Plate theme. By reviewing, discussing, and ultimately selecting the most impactful submissions, they help elevate the work of contributors and inspire others to document, share, and celebrate the continent’s diversity. Their contribution embodies the collaborative spirit of Wiki Loves Africa: a movement that thrives on community, creativity, and the belief that African perspectives deserve to be seen and celebrated worldwide.
Zack McCune (USA).
Director of Brand & Filmmaker | Videography Jury
Zack McCune is the Director of Brand at the Wikimedia Foundation and a filmmaker whose work has screened at 36 festivals across 20 countries. A sociologist by training, he authored the first academic study of Instagram in 2011 and has led creative storytelling for global brands such as MasterCard and Mountain Dew before joining Wikimedia in 2015. At the Foundation, he leads the Brand Studio, a global team that inspires public awareness and support for Wikipedia, reaching over 2 billion internet users annually.
Zack’s work doesn’t live in a traditional video portfolio, but his creative pieces—like hand-carved rubber stamp icons—have been celebrated for their cultural resonance. This includes a feature in the Noun Project spotlight that showcases his unique creative sensibility. blog.thenounproject.com
Additionally, in his role as Wikimedia Foundations Brand Direction, his team’s projects include the 2024 “Knowledge is Human” campaign, Wiki Minutes animation series, and other high-impact storytelling efforts.
« The Wikimedia brand is not a logo. It is a promise of a world where every single human can freely share in knowledge. » — Zack McCune, Brand Studio presentation (2023) (zackmccune.com)
Why he matters on the jury: Zack combines academic insight, brand storytelling, and filmmaking experience to bring a sharp and creative eye to how video can engage global audiences.
Sample work: Zack’s Portfolio
Benedicta Emmanuel (Nigeria)
Photographer & Videographer | Videography Jury
A rising talent in the Nigerian visual space, Benedicta began her creative journey in 2022 using only her mobile phone. Her focus on street scenes, nature, and candid everyday life reflects a new generation of storytellers.
During her National Youth Service Corps in 2023, she served as a lead photographer and videographer at the orientation camp, gaining hands-on experience in event coverage and storytelling. She now works at Film Avenue, a film production and cinematography firm, further honing her visual craft.
Why she matters on the jury: Benedicta brings a fresh, dynamic perspective from a new generation of African filmmakers, with a passion for authentic, everyday storytelling.
Sample work: Not publicly available. Watch this space!
Fayçal Rezkallah (Algeria)
Photographer & Festival Director | Videography Jury
Fayçal is a photographer based in Oran and the founder of ISOCLUB, an influential photography collective. Known affectionately as « Fay la Faille, » he is also vice-president of the Nomades Algériens association. Through workshops, exhibitions, and youth outreach, he promotes responsible cultural tourism and photography. (onorient.com)
From an interview on OnOrient:
“For Fayçal, from travel to photography there is only one step. Inspiration for a photo can come from a wild landscape or a Bedouin’s glance… As a true nomad, he often ventures south and immortalises beauty with his photos.” (onorient.com)
In his own words:
“I am more interested in portraiture and photography around the human being…” Facebook+1
“I mostly consider myself as an artist, loving meeting people and telling their stories through my work.” (Fay Rezkallah – photographer and volunteer for Wikimedia Algeria)
These reflections capture his ethos beautifully—rooted in place, human presence, and storytelling.
Why he matters on the jury: Fayçal’s deep experience in visual arts and curating international festivals ensures a strong cultural and professional lens on video submissions. He brings a nomadic, human-centred perspective—one that deeply values context, cultural authenticity, and photography as community storytelling.
Sample work: Faces from the Wikimedia Movement
Muhammed Amine Benloulou (Algeria)
Film Director & Wikimedian | Videography Jury
Muhammed is a Wikimedian, film director, artistic manager, and hip-hop culture researcher. He directed the WikiGhonya project, served as a community liaison for the Wikimedia Sound Logo team, and managed the Wiki For Climate Change 2023 campaign in the Maghreb region. His short documentary The Black Panthers of Algeria: A Story of Struggle in the Land of Revolutions explores the ties between the African American liberation movement and the Algerian revolution.
“I look for emotional stories that transmit an intangible quality and captivate viewers on a deep, human level. These photographs or films stand out for eliciting strong emotions, telling captivating stories, and connecting with people in ways that go beyond technical perfection.” (Wiki In Africa Newsletter, August 2024)
Why he matters on the jury: Muhammed brings a rare blend of activism, storytelling, and cultural sensitivity—ensuring the jury recognises stories of resistance and identity that resonate not just visually but socially and historically.
Sample work: The Black Panthers of Algeria: A Story of Struggle in the Land of Revolutions
Timothy Akolamazima (Uganda)
Documentary Photographer | Videography Jury
Timothy is a documentary photographer based in Kampala, passionate about visual storytelling that raises awareness and inspires change. He focuses his lens on the real-life stories in his community, while also capturing the beauty of nature, wildlife, and sports—particularly tennis. He earned the Young Photographer Award in 2021, a testament to his emerging talent and commitment.
“All the free time that came with the lockdown allowed me to contemplate on what I wanted and it also helped me identify myself as a photographer. I realised I love documentary photography more as opposed to the many other forms of photography… I realised what keeps me going as a photographer is telling other peoples stories as authentic as I can.” (A photographer creative#2_of_22)
Why he matters on the jury: Timothy brings a socially conscious perspective to judging, grounded in storytelling that elevates community life, sport, and nature through deeply authentic visuals.
Sample work: Net gain: Uganda’s small but lively tennis scene – a photo essay (The Guardian)
Adel Nehaoua (Algeria)
Civil Engineer & Wikimedian | Videography Jury
Adel is a civil engineer and long-time Wikimedian who has been active since 2009. He contributes across Arabic and French Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikisource, and Wiktionary, and serves as an administrator on Arabic Wikipedia and Arabic Wikisource. With over 231,000 global edits, he is active in Wikimedia governance, strategy, and user groups, including Wikimedia Algeria and Wiki World Heritage. Adel has also served as a jury member for multiple Wikimedia contests.
From a Diff article on translation:
“[Adel] remains one of the consistent translators with more than one thousand five hundred translated articles in the Arabic Wikipedia community. He does not have specific translation topics, but uses the tool for any article that interests him.” (Content Translation and people that use the tool)
Why he matters on the jury: Adel’s deep experience in Wikimedia projects and governance ensures fairness, inclusivity, and movement-aligned perspectives in judging.
Sample work: Contributions across Arabic Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia governance initiatives.
Thank You to Our Jury
The heart of Wiki Loves Africa is its vibrant community—and at its core are the dedicated jurors who generously contribute their expertise, perspective, and artistic eye each year. We are deeply grateful to them for helping us celebrate and honour the powerful, multifaceted stories captured through African lenses.
Watch this space for a detailed rundown of the 2025 Wiki Loves Africa International Winners, recently announced at Wikimania in Nairobi!
#WikiLovesAfrica #WLA2025 #AfricanVisualStorytelling #MeetTheJury
