African film industry leaders are calling for stronger cross-border partnerships, increased investment and better distribution networks to help the continent’s productions reach wider audiences and become commercially sustainable.
The call was made at the Africa Film Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa, on October 15, 2026, where filmmakers, producers and industry executives discussed how to turn Africa’s storytelling talent into a more competitive and connected film business.
Held at MultiChoice City under the theme “Africa Is Our Studio: From Collaboration to Commerce,” the forum formed part of the six-day iKON Activate programme, which ran from October 14 to 19.
Humphrey Nabimanya, founder and CEO of iKON Awards, said African filmmakers needed to move beyond isolated national markets and build partnerships that allow them to share resources, exchange expertise and compete internationally.
“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,” Nabimanya said.
Nicola Van Niekerk, Senior Vice President at MultiChoice Group, similarly pointed to the need for stronger connections between African markets, audiences and distribution networks.
She said improving those connections would give local productions more opportunities to travel across borders and reach more viewers.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of treating filmmaking as both a creative pursuit and a commercial enterprise. Participants pointed to talent development, financial accountability, effective management and strategic marketing as essential elements in building sustainable production businesses.
South African actor, producer and creative entrepreneur Thapelo Mokoena challenged industry players to turn their ambitions into practical action by developing structures that can support long-term growth.
Matthew Nabwiso, a Ugandan actor, producer and director who serves as president of the National Producers’ Guild of Uganda, emphasised the responsibility of industry leaders to create opportunities for emerging talent.
“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,” Nabwiso said.
Audience development was another major focus, with participants stressing that the commercial performance of African productions depends partly on understanding what viewers want and consistently improving content quality.
Ernest Nkosi, a filmmaker and creative director at First Wednesdays Film Club, highlighted the value of market research, strategic marketing and investment in talent development. He said 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, stressed the importance of producing stories that reflect audiences’ lived experiences and cultural identities, particularly those of communities whose stories remain underrepresented.
The forum also gave emerging film professionals from the MultiChoice Talent Factory an opportunity to engage with established industry figures on collaboration, creative enterprise and the future of African storytelling.
Participants discussed how cross-border co-productions could allow filmmakers to pool resources, share technical expertise and combine creative perspectives while preserving the cultural identities of individual countries. They also identified infrastructure, government incentives, skills development and access to financing as important requirements for a more competitive industry.
The Johannesburg gathering built on previous iKON Activate engagements in Lagos, Nigeria; Nairobi, Kenya; and Kigali, Rwanda. Hosted by Mokoena, the programme promotes pan-African creative exchange, professional networking and co-production opportunities, while strengthening cultural and industry ties between Uganda and South Africa.
Both iKON Activate and the Africa Film Forum are initiatives of iKON Awards.
The fourth edition of the iKON Awards is scheduled for December 12, 2026, in Kampala under the theme “Beyond Borders.” The event is expected to celebrate African talent and promote collaboration across the continent’s film industry.
For African cinema, the message from Johannesburg was clear: talent and compelling stories remain essential, but stronger business structures, distribution partnerships and audience-focused strategies are needed to help productions cross borders and build lasting commercial success.