Takeaways

• African film leaders are calling for cross-border partnerships, co-productions and increased investment to help local productions reach wider audiences.
• Industry experts have highlighted audience research, quality content, talent development and strategic marketing as key drivers of commercial success.
• The Africa Film Forum was part of the iKON Activate programme, ahead of the fourth iKON Awards scheduled for December 12, 2026, in Kampala.

African filmmakers and industry leaders have called for stronger cross-border partnerships, increased investment and sustainable business structures to help the continent’s film industry reach wider audiences and compete globally.

The call was made during the Africa Film Forum, held on October 15, 2026, at MultiChoice City in Johannesburg, South Africa, under the theme “Africa Is Our Studio: From Collaboration to Commerce.”

The discussions focused on the need for African filmmakers to move beyond isolated markets and establish partnerships that promote resource sharing, skills development, stronger distribution networks and commercially sustainable film businesses.

Humphrey Nabimanya, founder and CEO of iKON Awards, said Africa’s storytelling potential and creative talent needed to be supported by collaboration across national borders.

“Africa has the talent, the stories and the cultural diversity to build a strong film industry. What we need is to move beyond working in isolation and create partnerships that allow us to share resources, learn from one another and build an industry that can compete on the global stage,” he said.

Nicola Van Niekerk, Senior Vice President at MultiChoice Group, echoed the call, highlighting the importance of connecting African markets, audiences and distribution networks to help local productions reach more viewers.

“Africa has no shortage of talent or compelling stories. The opportunity lies in building stronger connections between our markets, our audiences and our distribution networks so that our content can travel further and reach more people,” she said.

The forum also highlighted the need to approach filmmaking as both a creative pursuit and a business. Participants emphasised that investment in talent development, professional management, financial accountability and strategic marketing is essential to turning creative ideas into sustainable enterprises.

South African actor, producer and creative entrepreneur Thapelo Mokoena challenged industry players to translate their ambitions into practical action by establishing the structures needed to support long-term growth.

Ugandan actor, producer and director Matthew Nabwiso, who serves as President of the National Producers’ Guild of Uganda, stressed the importance of leadership in creating opportunities for emerging filmmakers.

“Leadership in this industry should also be about creating opportunities for others. We need structures that help emerging filmmakers develop their talent, gain experience and build careers, because the future of African cinema depends on the opportunities we create today,” he said.

Audience Engagement and Quality Content

Audience development emerged as another key topic, with participants urging filmmakers to understand viewer preferences and consistently improve the quality of African productions to strengthen their commercial appeal.

Ernest Nkosi, a filmmaker and Creative Director at First Wednesdays Film Club, emphasised the importance of market research, strategic marketing and investment in talent development.

He noted that understanding local audiences and learning from successful content markets could help African productions attract more viewers and expand into new territories.

Nwabisa Binase, Programme Manager at MultiChoice Talent Factory, highlighted the importance of creating content that reflects the lived experiences and cultural identities of audiences, particularly communities whose stories remain underrepresented.

The forum also brought together participants from the MultiChoice Talent Factory, providing emerging film professionals with an opportunity to engage with established industry players on collaboration, creative enterprise and the future of African storytelling.

Cross-Border Collaboration and the Future of African Cinema

Participants discussed how cross-border co-productions could help filmmakers pool resources, share technical expertise and combine creative perspectives while preserving the distinct cultural identities of individual countries.

They also identified supportive infrastructure, government incentives, skills development and access to financing as important factors in building a more competitive and sustainable African film industry.

The Johannesburg forum formed part of the six-day iKON Activate programme, running from October 14 to 19, 2026. Hosted by Mokoena, the programme promotes pan-African creative exchange, networking and co-production opportunities while strengthening cultural and professional ties between Uganda and South Africa.

The Johannesburg edition builds on previous iKON Activate engagements in Lagos, Nigeria; Nairobi, Kenya; and Kigali, Rwanda.

Both iKON Activate and the Africa Film Forum are initiatives of iKON Awards. The fourth edition of the iKON Awards is scheduled to take place in Kampala on December 12, 2026, under the theme “Beyond Borders,” celebrating African talent and promoting collaboration across the continent’s film industry.