At this year’s Berlin Film Festival, Africa’s growing screen industries have three titles in the main competition, marking their presence on the global stage. However, there is still untapped potential on the continent, and this was a key topic of discussion at a conference held on Saturday by the European Film Market, in partnership with Prudence Kolong’s consulting firm Yanibes.
The event, called AfroBerlin, aimed to provide a platform for filmmakers from Africa and the diaspora to share stories and experiences and give them a voice. It brought together industry professionals from Africa and Europe, highlighting the ways in which the often-marginalized African screen industries have gained international recognition.
Veteran Mauritanian-Malian auteur Abderrahmane Sissako’s “Black Tea” and French-Senegalese director Mati Diop’s “Dahomey” were both featured in the main competition at the festival, alongside Nelson Carlos De Los Santos Arias’s “Pepe,” a co-production between the Dominican Republic, Namibia, and Germany, with Lupita Nyong’o heading the jury.
Challenges in film and TV production in Africa and its diaspora were discussed at the conference, including issues with financing, infrastructure, and funding opportunities on the continent. Additionally, concerns were raised about the commitment of global streaming platforms to Africa, following Amazon’s decision to halt original content production on the continent.
The discussion also highlighted the need for more trans-Atlantic collaboration between countries in the global South, as well as the importance of African creators seizing control of their narratives.
Overall, the conference emphasized the potential for African content to find a global audience, despite the challenges faced by the continent’s screen industries. Kolong stated “There’s always room for more” African representation at international film festivals.