• The significance of African Cinema.
• What the numbers say.
• Inspired template for regional filmmaking.
• Challenges and solutions.
• The Wire’s Favourite African Films so far.

Since inception, African cinema (marked by the 1963 short film Borom Sarrei by Senegalese director Sembene Ousman)  has disrupted the artform. From the simplest stories and execution to the grandest productions, it throws off notions of scale to be bold in its expression of cultural identity, heritage and future. Creatively, the medium has proven, across Africa, to be original and authentic, resonating at the highest artistic echelon.

The significance of African Cinema.

African cinema is certainly not just for art’s sake. It plays a major socio-economic role, leveraged with intention through education, culture and economic development and, perhaps most importantly, investment. African cinema is present, wins awards, and shifts culture at film festivals from Ouagadougou to Durban, Edinburgh, Cannes, Toronto, and Berlin.

What the numbers say?

As it is in the world right now, everything comes down to numbers – even Art – and African cinema is estimated to be operating at only an estimated quarter of its potential. The UNESCO report, “The African Film Industry: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for Growth”, released in 2021, reflects that across most of the continent the economic potential of the film and audiovisual sectors remains largely untapped, with the film industry continuing to be structurally underfunded, underdeveloped, and undervalued. According to the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACI), the industry generates $5 billion in annual revenue out of a potential $20 billion.

Inspired template for regional Film Making

Strategic planning and collective buy in between the film industry, business, and government has proven successful and profitable. For instance, “Nollywood” (as the Nigerian film industry is known) produces around 2,500 films a year. It has enabled the emergence of a local production and distribution industry with its own economic model. The real game-changer is the ongoing digital and revolution, which started some twenty years ago and was accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Challenges and solutions

There are no doubt challenges to African Cinema, and even in a sophisticated film producing industry such as is South Africa’s, much is required. Crowd funding might hold a lifeline for African film projects. Importantly the issue of African consumers needing physical spaces and places to consume local, national, regional and continental film is vital across the continent. Options like movie collections to be rented out at video shops and libraries, broadcasting on local, national, regional, or continental TV sets (not only on Pay-Tv channels), as well as local, national, regional, and continental film festivals, are important to actively connect African eyes to African films. From a business point of view the regional integration of the national film industries is a must and can broaden the customer base for local filmmakers. (The notion of national territories is outdated and keeps the African film industry small and isolated.) Notably – and as appreciated by the streamers – Africa has over a billion customers in market ready to disrupt a global Film industry. With the current North American strike, Africa could have reaped untold rewards had it been it ready to capitalize on the moment.

The Wire’s Favourite African Films this year so far.

2023 has thus far proven to be an exceptional year for African Cinema. These are the Wire’s Favourites. Add them to your viewing list. Remember, supporting African Cinema is more than watching a film, its about the celebration of our African culture, heritage, and our future.

Mami Wata

Nigerian C.J. “Fiery” Obasi’s third feature Mami Wata won the “World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury” Award for Cinematography at the Sundance Film Festival, and was picked up for distribution in the U.K. and U.S. He was also invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Obasi is best known for Nollywood horror and his dedication to Nigerian filmmaking has resulted in a visually striking, irresistible film.