FilmLab Africa took centre stage at this year’s FilmAfrica Festival with a groundbreaking panel, “Unleashing the Potential of the African Cinema Value Chain through Development Programmes.” This session explored pivotal challenges and transformative opportunities within African cinema, emphasising sustainable growth and the sector’s impact on Africa’s creative economy. This event, held at the yearly Film Africa Festival, spotlighted a unique blend of education, mentorship, and creative expression, uniting top African filmmaking talent with influential industry leaders.
Through engaging panel discussions, moderated by Gbolahan Peter Macjob, screenings, and impactful networking sessions, the event underscored FilmLab Africa’s mission to develop and amplify African voices on a global stage. The day opened with an insightful panel featuring esteemed speakers, including Julian Alcantara, Colette Otusheso, Don Omope, Sukanmi Adebayo, and Nigerian government’s representatives. Project delivery partner, Olasunkanmi Adebayo of Afrowren Productions and UK support partner, Yemi Daramola of Darimedia led sessions covering topics from distribution strategies to leveraging cultural diplomacy for the African film sector.
Industry veteran Don Omope, a mentor to this year’s participants, emphasised the importance of storytelling rooted in authenticity, stating, “African filmmakers have the power to reframe global narratives about our continent. Programs like Film Lab Africa .