1955–1969 — The first African-directed cinema, emerging alongside independence movements.
1969 — Sarah Maldoror
Algeria, Angola
1963 — Ousmane Sembene
Senegal
1966 — Ousmane Sembene
Senegal, France
1968 — Djibril Diop Mambety
1969 — Timite Bassori
Ivory Coast
1955 — Mamadou Sarr, Paulin Soumanou Vieyra
1962 — Moustapha Alassane
Niger
1958 — Jean Rouch
France, Ivory Coast
1969 — Oumarou Ganda
1964 — Ousmane Sembene