Strengthening African Cinema: The Pan-African Production Pathway
The Pan-African Production Pathway (PPP) initiative, launched in 2025 by the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) in collaboration with Canal + University, aims to elevate the standards of African cinema by nurturing a new generation of proficient producers. Scheduled to support approximately 40 African producers in 2026, this program is essential to cultivating a robust, profitable, and exportable cinema industry across the continent. The PPP builds on the Executive Master's in Film Production established by the Marrakech School of Visual Arts (ESAV), providing a comprehensive training framework designed to impart vital skills necessary for success in the cinematic landscape.
Following the successful completion of its inaugural cohort comprising 54 learners in 2025, the program will now conduct 10 intensive online sessions focusing on critical aspects of the production process, including project development, author relations, structuring proposals, financial engineering, contract negotiation, co-production, and distribution strategies. Participants will also benefit from four insightful conferences centered around African cinema, featuring esteemed figures from the Francophone film industry such as Dieudo Hamadi from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tunisian director Erige Séhiri, and film critic Catherine Ruelle, among others.
One participant from the 2025 cohort, Ineck Houngbedji, a 26-year-old from Benin, shared his experience, stating, "This six-month online course taught me far more than I had anticipated. The diverse backgrounds of the speakers enriched my understanding of various productions and perspectives within African cinema. It’s a remarkable opportunity that deserves to be continued." In addition to the online training, the program includes a three-month immersive internship that offers participants firsthand exposure to on-site realities, including international film shoots and attendance at the International Film Festival of Marrakech. This immersive experience is crucial for bridging theoretical knowledge with practical application, as highlighted by Armel Mboumba from Congo, who remarked, "The PPP has helped me refine my vision as a producer and understand the intersection between artistic ambition and economic reality." The ten finalists for the 2026 immersive internship were showcased at an international co-production roundtable during the Cannes Film Festival.
The OIF’s efforts through the PPP are aimed at addressing the structural challenges facing the film industry in the Global South, thereby supporting 134 emerging producers. As the PPP continues to foster a vibrant community of exchange and shared experiences, it will eventually facilitate co-productions between the newly trained producers and their mentors. This community-building is further enhanced through partnerships with existing initiatives, which play a pivotal role in participant recruitment and help secure international opportunities for them, including sponsorships for workshops such as the Berlinale ToolBox and the Open Doors at the Locarno Film Festival. This strategic support is instrumental in enabling these talented individuals to advance their careers and strengthen their production companies.
As reported by francophonie.org.
