All roads will lead to the Lagos Oriental Hotel this week as creative leaders, financiers, and policymakers gather for the Africa Film Finance Forum Summit 2025. At the heart of the summit is Bolaji Abimbola, who is championing a bold vision to unlock Africa’s untapped $20 billion goldmine in the film economy.
Themed “What Will It Take to Build a $20B Film Economy?”, the forum seeks to chart pathways where capital, creativity, and commerce intersect to reposition African storytelling as a global economic force.
A New Frontier for African Film
Africa’s film industry—best known through Nollywood, now the world’s second-largest movie producer—has dazzled audiences worldwide with rich cultural narratives. Yet despite its cultural impact, the sector remains undercapitalized. Industry players estimate that billions of dollars are left untapped due to fragmented distribution channels, weak financial structures, and the absence of coordinated policy support.
Bolaji Abimbola believes this gap is an opportunity rather than a limitation. “Film is more than entertainment; it is an economic driver, a tool for job creation, and a form of soft power that can position Africa at the center of global storytelling,” he said ahead of the event.
From Struggle to Global Recognition
The rise of Nollywood in the 1990s was fueled by resilience and creativity rather than institutional support. Independent filmmakers, often with little more than handheld cameras, created stories that resonated across Africa and its diaspora. Within two decades, Nollywood grew into a multi-billion-dollar industry, contributing significantly to Nigeria’s GDP and employing millions.
But as global platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Showmax expand their presence in Africa, the limitations of existing financing and distribution frameworks have become glaring. This is the gap the Africa Film Finance Forum seeks to close.
The Summit: Building a Roadmap
On Day 1 (September 16, 2025) at 12:00 PM (WAT), the Main Stage Area of Lagos Oriental Hotel will host the opening session. The panel—comprising investors, filmmakers, policymakers, and technology innovators—will dissect practical strategies for transforming storytelling into sustainable economic value.
Among the themes expected to dominate discussions are:
- Structured film financing through equity, bonds, and blended funds.
- Leveraging diaspora capital to co-finance African productions.
- Technology and blockchain as tools for transparent distribution.
- Policy frameworks to enable film as an official economic sector.
- Public-private partnerships to scale up infrastructure for film production and distribution.
Industry watchers say the event could serve as a catalyst for attracting investment into Africa’s film industry, mirroring the growth trajectories of Hollywood and Bollywood.
Why This Moment Matters
Africa has already proven its storytelling power; now it must prove its financial muscle. If backed by structured financing, the continent’s film economy could contribute billions more to GDP, create millions of jobs, and establish Africa as a global cultural powerhouse.
“The goldmine is there—it’s just waiting to be tapped,” Abimbola remarked. “What we are doing at this summit is building the roadmap that will ensure Africa’s stories don’t just inspire the world, but also create wealth for Africa.”
Registration Still Open
Participation in the summit is still open to industry stakeholders, students, and enthusiasts who want to be part of this historic convergence.
👉 Register Now at www.africafilmfinanceforum.com
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