Idris Elba will headline the second annual Africa Cinema Summit, organized by the National Film Authority of Ghana, from October 7 to 10 in Accra.
Joining Elba, a Golden Globe winner and chairman of the IE7 and The Akuna Group, will be Fiona Lamptey, former Netflix executive and co-founder of Juno Studios, along with Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer, Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture.
The summit will be held at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra, focusing on the theme “The Relevance of Cinema in African Communities.”
Organizers plan to engage speakers in discussions about the rise of local content production and consumption, advocating for cinema investment, and enhancing cinematic experiences for Africa’s underserved lower-income audiences.
Participants will include representatives from countries such as Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Angola, alongside executives from the African diaspora and investment organizations like Afreximbank and IFC.
“Africa has long been a leader in communication and storytelling, yet many innovative narratives from the continent remain largely overlooked,” Elba stated in a message to Deadline. “I’m excited to be part of this year’s Africa Cinema Summit, where we’ll explore how Africans, both on the continent and in the diaspora, can elevate the cinema and content ecosystem, bringing global attention to our vibrant and dynamic Africa.”
The summit is organized by Tim Yaw Struthers, Moses Babatope, and Funmi Onuma of the National Film Authority, in partnership with Nile Media Entertainment Group and Silverbird Cinemas.
Last year’s inaugural summit brought together representatives from 20 African countries, focusing on how to tailor cinematic opportunities to each region’s unique characteristics. This meeting led to significant advances in the regional industry, including a commitment from Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo to introduce a film tax incentive, which was later enacted as a 20% tax rebate.
“The key to growing local content and enhancing cinema offerings on the African continent is collaboration,” said Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante, CEO of the National Film Authority of Ghana. “The sector remains resilient, with local content flourishing in countries like Nigeria. Africa holds immense potential for market growth in cinema, and our mission is to turn that potential into reality for our communities. I look forward to welcoming our esteemed guests to Accra.”
