Idris Elba has been confirmed as the headliner for the second annual Africa Cinema Summit, organized by the National Film Authority of Ghana, which will take place from October 7 to 10 at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.
The Golden Globe winner, who serves as chairman of the IE7 and The Akuna Group, will share the spotlight with notable figures such as Fiona Lamptey, a former Netflix executive and co-founder of Juno Studios, and Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer, Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
This year’s summit will focus on the theme “The Relevance of Cinema in African Communities.” Organizers have indicated that discussions will center around the rising trend in local content production and consumption, strategies for promoting cinema investment, and innovative ways to enhance cinema experiences for Africa’s underserved lower-income audiences.
Participants from various African nations, including Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Angola, are expected to attend, along with executives from the African diaspora and representatives from investment bodies such as Afreximbank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
“Africa has been at the forefront of communication and storytelling for centuries, but sadly this innovation and the complex stories originating on the continent have been largely unnoticed,” Elba stated in a press release to Deadline. “So, I am thrilled to be part of this year’s Africa Cinema Summit, where the focus will be on how Africans, on the continent and in the diaspora, can propel the cinema and content ecosystem to new heights and bring global awareness to our rich, dynamic, youthful and vibrant Africa.”
The summit is being organized by National Film Authority executives Tim Yaw Struthers, Moses Babatope, and Funmi Onuma, in collaboration with Nile Media Entertainment Group and Silverbird Cinemas.
Last year’s inaugural summit attracted representatives from 20 African countries and emphasized exploring cinematic opportunities tailored to the unique characteristics of each region. The discussions resulted in significant advancements for the regional film industry, including a commitment from Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo to implement a film tax incentive. This tax credit was officially passed a few months later as a 20% tax rebate.
“The only way to grow local content and increase the cinema offerings on the African continent is to work together,” remarked Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante, CEO of the National Film Authority of Ghana. “The sector remains resilient, with local content stepping up in countries like Nigeria to fill content gaps. The continent holds the largest potential market growth for cinema, and our work is to make that potential a reality that benefits African communities. I look forward to welcoming our esteemed guests to Accra, Ghana.”
