The Story⚡
Five days. One stage. Filmmakers, actors, producers, and policymakers gather in Lagos to map the next chapter of African cinema. From co-productions and AI tools to blockbuster case studies, the conversations begin on 2 November.
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The AFCM 2026 Industry Program runs from Monday 2 November to Friday 6 November at Twinwaters on the 4th Floor Main Stage. Each day carries a clear focus, moving from African storytelling and global partnerships to technology, diaspora voices, and the decade ahead. Below is the full schedule, session by session.
Day 1 · Monday 2 November 2026: Africa Day: The Future of African Storytelling
| Time | Session | Speakers | Moderator |
| 11:00 am – 11:50 am | Frames of the Future: Africa’s Creative Intelligence | Hannatu Musa Musawa (Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Nigeria); Chioma Ude (AFRIFF); Atinuke Babatunde (Canal+ / MultiChoice); Kene Okwuosa (Filmhouse Group); Maryam Ogaziechi (Dentsu Agyle); Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Actor and Filmmaker) | Baba Agba (SA to the President on Creativity) |
| 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm | Beyond Nollywood: Positioning African Stories for Global Audiences | Funke Akindele; Joel Chikapa-Phiri (International Sales Agent); Djimon Hounsou; Adebola Williams (Red Media Africa); Ramsey Nouah; Timi Adeyeba (Amplify Africa) | Seyitan Atigarin (Arise TV) |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch break | ||
| 2:00 pm – 2:50 pm | Africa in Partnership: Co-Producing Our Stories, Distributing Our Films | Vincho Nchogu (Kenya); Josh Olaoluwa (Nigeria); Juliet Ibrahim (Ghana); Ruth Nkweti (Cameroon); Alexandra Amon (France and Côte d’Ivoire) | Franciar (Zambia) |
| 3:00 pm – 3:50 pm | Canada–Nigeria Co-Production: What Can We Make Together? (Canada Media Fund with Telefilm Canada) | Miryam Charles; Katia Café-Fébrissy; Sabine Daniel (Play Productions); Henri Pardo (Black Wealth Media) | Shawn Faqua |
| 4:00 pm – 4:50 pm | Fireside chat: The Art of Becoming: Craft, Identity and Reinvention | Meagan Good, in conversation with Jennifer Okafor-Iwuchukwu (JLG) |
Day 2 · Tuesday 3 November 2026: Global Film & TV Day
| Time | Session | Speakers | Moderator |
| 10:00 am – 10:50 am | Film Is Business: Building Sustainable Production Companies | Joy Odiete (Blue Pictures); Tencha Christopher (Pathfinder Media); Zulumoke Oyibo (Inkblot Entertainment); Kunle Afolayan (KAP Productions) | Asurf Oluwaseyi |
| 11:00 am – 11:50 am | European Co-Productions & Distribution: Taking African Stories Global | Francis Nebot (iFind Pictures, France); Michael Davis (SonnenKindFilms, Germany); Alice Labadie (Le Pacte, France); Chioma Onyemwe | |
| 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm | Women Leading Africa’s Creative Future | Sheila Nortley; Ini Edo; Tsheipo Chikapa-Phiri (South Africa); Toyin Abraham; Iyabo Ojo | Nancy Isime |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch break | ||
| 2:00 pm – 2:50 pm | Financing the Creative and Film Industries: Institutional Financing and Private Sector (Powered by the World Bank) | Folajimi Alli-Balogun (MBO Capital); Samer Abdul Samad (IFC); Ann Marème Atayi (Bpifrance / Euroquity); Victor Orozco (World Bank Group); Renos Vakis (World Bank) | Nnamdi Okafor |
| 3:00 pm – 3:50 pm | Fireside chat: The Art of Becoming: Craft, Identity and Reinvention | Jonathan Majors, in conversation with Jennifer Okafor-Iwuchukwu (JLG) |
Day 3 · Wednesday 4 November 2026: Technology & Innovation Day
| Time | Session | Speakers | Moderator |
| 10:00 am – 10:50 am | The Vertical Film Revolution: Disrupting Traditional Cinema & What’s Next? | Jemilah Alghali (BET Media Group); Ifeoma Are (Digital Creative Africa Academy); Akin Pelumi Okelola; Teni Stuffman (Lebara Play) | Daniel Etim-Effiong |
| 11:00 am – 11:50 am | Is AI Filmmaking Replacing Originals? | Issa Sissoko (Amissa Studios, Canada); Leticia Bertrand (Kingsarch, USA); Ice Nwaeke (ICE Productions); Opeyemi Akintunde (LuckyBet NG) | Obinna Okerekeocha (Naija AI Festival) |
| 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm | Animating Africa: From African Imagination to Global Screens (Powered by COL) | Adeoyin Okuboyejo (Taeps Animation Studios); Ferdy Adimefe (Magic Carpet Studios); Uzoma Dunkwu; Shofela Coker; Nissi Ogulu (Creele Studios) | Ebuka Ude |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch break | ||
| 2:00 pm – 2:50 pm | Fireside chat: Beyond the Frame: African Identity, Hollywood and the Power of Our Stories | Djimon Hounsou, in conversation with Richard Mofe-Damijo | |
| 3:00 pm – 3:50 pm | The Making of a Nollywood Blockbuster: Ordinary People | Moses Inwang; Ramsey Nouah; Michelle Dede; Shawn Faqua; Jackie Appiah | Odera Collins (Event Host) |
Day 4 · Thursday 5 November 2026: Global Diaspora & Content Day
| Time | Session | Speakers | Moderator |
| 10:00 am – 10:50 am | The Creator Economy: YouTube, TikTok & Independent Distribution | Bimbo Ademoye; Blessing Obasi-Nze; Stan Nze; Uche Montana; Frederick Leonard | Tope Olowoniyan |
| 11:00 am – 11:50 am | Can African Faith-Based Cinema Turn into a Booming Commercial Market? | Kunle Falodun; Moses Babatope; Eliora Eberechukwu; Mike Bamiloye Jr.; Ololade Okedare | Doctor Macfoy |
| 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm | Who Owns the Story? Copyright, Intellectual Property & AI | Olumide Osundolire (Banwo & Ighodalo); Andrew Cutrow (3Point0, Los Angeles); Tayo Elesin; Elvira Salleras; LIRS | Lovelyn Aniekwe (Punuka Attorneys & Solicitors) |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch break | ||
| 2:00 pm – 2:50 pm | The Billion-Dollar Story: Positioning African Cinema as a Global Contender | Funke Akindele; Yaya DaCosta; Ifeoma Chukwuogo; Blessing Uzzi; Dexter Davis | Eku Edewor |
| 3:00 pm – 3:50 pm | African Youth Creators Hub | Adetutu Awosika; Maryam Apaokagi (Taaooma); Adeoluwa Prince Enioluwa; Bae U; Shanks | Hero Daniels |
| 4:00 pm – 4:50 pm | The Making of a Nollywood Blockbuster: Call of My Life | Blessing Uzzi; Uzoamaka Power; Andrew Yaw Bunting |
Day 5 · Friday 6 November 2026: The Future Starts Now
| Time | Session | Speakers | Moderator |
| 10:00 am – 10:50 am | Africa 2035: Predicting the Next Decade of Cinema | Ladun Awobokun (Filmhouse Group); Bukky George-Taylor (Nile Media Group); Niyi Akinmolayan (Anthill Studios); Mary Remmy Njoku (iROKOtv); Shuaibu Husseini (National Film and Video Censors Board) | Chineze Anyaene |
| 11:00 am – 11:50 am | Fireside chat: Opening Doors, Closing Chapters: The Stories behind AFRIFF Opening and Closing Films | Hakeem Kae-Kazim, in conversation with Chude Jideonwo | |
| 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm | Fireside chat: Styling the Diaspora: The Business of Styling Stars from Lagos to Hollywood | Ama K. Abrebese, in conversation with Latasha Ngwube |
In Summary
The AFCM 2026 Industry Program offers five focused days of panels, fireside conversations, and practical case studies. Mark the dates, and review the sessions that matter most to your work. The programme offers plenty to look forward to, and the best way to experience it is in the room.
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