Lugano – A new mobile film market platform focused on African cinema is set to launch during this year’s Cannes “Marché du Film,” scheduled to take place from May 12 – 20.
Titled “Nomadic Film Space,” the initiative aims to support African creative producers by expanding access to financing opportunities and industry networks across multiple countries and major film events.
Designed to connect African film projects with both private equity and institutional capital, “Nomadic Film Space” will operate as a traveling platform rather than from a single location, moving between African cities and international festivals to create temporary hubs focused on collaboration, networking and project development.
The project was developed in response to growing international demand for African storytelling, while also addressing long-standing challenges surrounding funding access and global visibility for filmmakers across the continent.
Extensive networking program
Nomadic Film Space will maintain a strong presence at this year’s Cannes “Marché du Film” through a series of networking events, workshops and investment-focused discussions centered on the future of African cinema.
Among its key events is the “Nomadic Film Space Networking Lunch,” which will bring together producers, financiers and institutional partners to discuss investment opportunities across the African film ecosystem.
The initiative will also host “Producing the Future: Innovative Financing Models for African Cinemas,” a workshop examining Africa’s changing film financing landscape, including Women in Film’s research across Nigeria and Kenya, alongside discussions on funding models and investment opportunities within the continent’s growing film industry.
Additional sessions include “From Investment to Screen: Canex Creations,” a case study presentation examining Afreximbank’s financing strategy for African film and audiovisual projects, offering insight into project funding, co-production structures and investment partnerships across territories.
The platform will also host the “African & Diasporic Audience Development Think Tank,” a traveling workshop launched last year that focuses on audience research and long-term revenue growth strategies for African cinema.
The Cannes edition will build on findings from its pilot program in Brazil while exploring new tools and frameworks for audience engagement across African and diasporic markets.
