Filmhouse Group has partnered with the Africa Film Finance Forum (AFFF) 2025 in a landmark collaboration designed to accelerate opportunities for African filmmakers. The three-day summit, held in Lagos from 16–18 September 2025, focused on building a sustainable Pan-African film economy that can compete globally while empowering local creatives.

A Gathering for African Film’s Future

The 2025 edition of AFFF carried the theme “Pan-African Film Economy: Building a $20 Billion Industry for 1.4 Billion People.” The summit brought together filmmakers, investors, distributors, and cultural leaders to explore frameworks for funding, distribution, and collaboration.

Ahead of the forum, on 15 September, Filmhouse hosted a pre-cocktail networking event in collaboration with the British Council. This gathering connected creatives with financiers and industry stakeholders, setting the tone for the larger discussions that followed.

Leaders Speak on the Partnership

Speaking on the importance of the initiative, Kene Okwuosa, Group CEO of Filmhouse Group, 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.”

Meanwhile, Ladun Awobokun, Chief Content Officer at FilmOne Entertainment, contributed to a roundtable titled “From Vision to Viability: What Financiers Need, What Filmmakers Must Deliver.” She emphasised FilmOne’s mission to position African storytellers for global visibility while deepening industry connections:

“At FilmOne Entertainment, we are committed to championing African storytelling and creating opportunities that amplify our filmmakers globally. Partnering with the British Council at AFFF gives us the platform to connect local talent with investors and industry leaders to build a thriving Pan-African film economy.”

Financing Meets Storytelling

Convener Mary Ephraim-Egbas framed the event as a turning point for aligning African creativity with capital:

“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. 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.”

A Milestone for the Creative Economy

Over the course of the summit, discussions centred on practical models for financing films, strengthening distribution channels, and fostering cross-border collaboration. With Filmhouse Group’s involvement, the forum reinforced the importance of partnerships in driving Africa’s film ecosystem forward.