This week marked a milestone for the African film industry, as the inaugural Africa Cinema Summit was held in Ghana. Bringing together key players from across the continent, the summit aimed to foster collaboration and chart a path forward for African cinema.
With the recent success of films like the Nigerian thriller “The Black Book” on global streaming platform Netflix, it’s clear African cinema is beginning to realize its potential on the global stage. Driven by a new generation of talented African filmmakers and increasing accessibility of filmmaking technology, the continent’s stories are now reaching wider audiences worldwide. The African Cinema Summit aims to amplify already existing efforts.
As Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante, CEO of Ghana’s National Film Authority, noted, the Africa Cinema Summit hopes to capitalize on this momentum by strengthening partnerships between African nations, engaging youth, and developing effective promotion and distribution strategies for the digital marketplace.
The first day of panels and discussions at the Africa Cinema Summit focused on topics central to the film industry. Filmhouse Group Co-Founder Moses Babatope spoke about the importance of collaboration between African countries. Other sessions covered utilizing youth in cinema, marketing films to young audiences, and fostering the next generation of filmmakers.
Esteemed speakers at the Africa Cinema Summit included Carl Ampah from UNESCO, Ghanaian filmmakers Nana Asihene and Majeed Suhuyini, Adesola Ade-Unigbe from TikTok, and marketing experts from FilmHouse Group and Silverbird Cinemas. Their insights illuminated key opportunities and challenges facing content on the continent.
In her address, Juliet Asante isolated the need to make films that resonate with African youth, the continent’s largest demographic. “As storytellers and story lovers we have failed to get them into the cinemas,” she remarked. The summit marks a strategic effort to engage young audiences.
With a pan-African approach, the National Film Authority of Ghana has spearheaded this initiative, in partnership with Filmhouse Group and Silverbird Cinemas Ghana. Their commitment demonstrates a united vision to propel African filmmaking forward.
The Africa Cinema Summit promises to be a launching point for growing the industry across borders, embracing emerging technologies, and showcasing African cinema’s boundless potential to the world. As Asante urged, “This is just the beginning.”
Azadi Ash/Acheampong Magazine
