The Africa Film Finance Forum (AFFF) kicked off in Lagos on Tuesday, bringing together filmmakers, investors, policymakers, and tech innovators to chart a path for a $20 billion Pan-African film economy.
The three-day event, which runs from September 16 to 18, is themed ‘Pan-African Film Economy: Building a $20B Industry for 1.4 Billion People’.
It aims to connect creative talent with financial systems, policy frameworks, and technological innovation to transform Africa’s storytelling heritage into global economic power.
Speaking in a statement, Mary Ephraim-Egbas, convener of AFFF, said the economic potential of African storytelling remains untapped.
“This forum will bridge creativity and capital, ensuring African stories fuel wealth creation and global influence while preserving our heritage,” Ephraim-Egbas said.
As part of the forum, 1,000 young Nigerian and African creatives will undergo intensive training, mentorship, and networking within the film investment ecosystem.
The training is supported by the NNPC Foundation under its Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP), in partnership with AFFF.
Highlights of AFFF 2025 include an investor’s room & deal table, certified finance training for banks and investors, as well as policy roundtables.
There will also be a Cinetour session showcasing Africa’s film locations, and a FilmTech Track to spotlight innovations in production, distribution, and transparency.
Bolaji Abimbola, co-chair of AFFF’s PR and strategic communications committee, said the forum is about building economic systems for the creative sector.
“Film is more than art—it’s economic infrastructure. AFFF is building systems to create jobs, boost exports, and position Africa as a global content powerhouse,” Abimbola said.
Clarina De Freitas, also a co-chair, added: “This is the moment for Africa’s stories to shape the global market. With the right financing and platforms, our narratives can drive prosperity and ownership for Africans.”
AFFF was established as a pan-African platform to connect storytellers with capital, knowledge, and institutional partners.
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