To foster dialogue and collaboration between African filmmakers, financiers and industry stakeholders, Filmhouse Group has held a 3-day summit in partnership with Africa Film Finance Forun (AFFF).
The summit, which took place in Lagos from September 16-18, 2025, also provided a platform to explore opportunities, share insights, and strengthen the African film ecosystem.
On Monday, September 15, ahead of the main programme, Filmhouse Group sponsored the Africa Film Finance Forum 2025 pre-cocktail event in collaboration with the British Council. It was a networking session that brought together filmmakers, investors and cultural leaders. The event provided a space for meaningful conversations and connections, reinforcing commitment to nurturing collaboration and growth within Africa’s creative economy.
With the central theme: ‘Pan-African Film Economy: Building a $20 Billion Industry for 1.4 Billion People’, the summit brought together stakeholders to explore practical frameworks that can unlock Africa’s creative potential.
Over the course of the 3-day event, Filmhouse Group took an active role in ensuring that African voices are amplified and positioned for global engagement.
In his remarks at the event, Kene Okwuosa, Filmhouse Group’s CEO, said: “This partnership represents an important investment in Africa’s creative sector. By collaborating with the Africa Film Finance Forum, we are helping to open new avenues for funding, distribution and collaboration that will benefit filmmakers and audiences across the continent.”
Ladun Awobokun, Chief Content Officer, FilmOne Entertainment, who participated in a roundtable session, stated: “At FilmOne Entertainment, we are committed to championing African storytelling and creating opportunities that amplify our filmmakers on a global scale. Partnering with the British Council at the African Film Finance Forum gives us the platform to connect local talent with investors and industry leaders to build a thriving Pan-African film economy.”
Convener, Africa Film Finance Forum (AFFF), Mary Ephraim-Egbas, commented: “Africa’s film economy sits at a defining crossroads. For too long, our stories have carried immense cultural weight but lacked the financial frameworks to unlock their full potential. What we are doing at AFFF is deliberately designing those frameworks aligning creativity with capital, and storytelling with strategy.
“The partnership with Filmhouse Group reflects exactly the kind of synergy Africa needs: an industry leader with proven capacity joining forces with a platform that bridges filmmakers and financiers. Together, we are charting a path toward a $20 billion Pan-African film economy, one that is globally competitive, structurally sustainable and deeply reflective of the aspirations of 1.4 billion Africans.”
The African Film Finance Forum 2025 was a landmark event, with discussions exploring funding models, distribution strategies, and cross-border collaborations.
Filmhouse Group’s participation highlights the importance of partnerships in building a Pan-African film ecosystem capable of generating both cultural and economic impact.