Cannes Market Dailies

2ND EDITION OF AFROCANNES SETS SAIL THIS WEEK AT 76TH EDITION OF THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 

The second edition of the AfroCannes “in the business of diversity and inclusion in films” conference kicks off May 17-19 at the Hotel Gray d’Albion during the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. Headed by leading international programmer and producer Prudence Kolong, founder of Yanibes, the two-day forum has a mission to highlight the diversity and inclusion discourse at Cannes with a special focus on the African and African diaspora film business. AfroCannes will feature twenty sessions including panels, conversations, blitz talks, and cocktails May 17-19. 

Starting off with a conversation on diversity a the gate with casting directors, followed by an aparte with Jann Mardenborough, a Black british racer whose life story is the subject of the upcoming summer release “Gran Turismo”, a highlight on the East African film market place, and a debate on the future of the Nigerian film industry, the conference will close with a special, invite-only yacht reception in celebration of the forthcoming film RISE, which stars Jimmy Jean-Louis and Jimmy Akingbola, on May 19th.

Kolong has assembled an outstanding array of international sponsors including: NEOM, Deadline, Upscale Magazine, Reelworld Screen Institute, the National Films & Videos Censor’s Board of Nigeria, the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), The French Embassy in Nigeria, FilmHedge, HollyShorts Film Festival,  and Alta Global Media. 

The AfroCannes lineup includes a variety of marquee speakers including:

Richard Lawson (Black Terror), Jimmy Akingbola, Actor, UK, (Speaking on May 17th, for the movie presentation of Rise, and on May 18th for a tribute to Mr. Harry Belafonte); Nathan Adabadze, Senior Investment Manager, Media Finance Capital (final confirmation pending) (potentially speaking on the “Show Me the Money” panel on May 18th); Maurice Fadida, Producer, USA (speaking on May 17th on the movie presentation of Rise, and host of AfroCannes X RISE cocktail on May 19th); Lauren Ekué, Author, & Stylist, France; Jana Wolff, Head of Marketing for EFM/Berlinale, Germany;  Issraa Elkogali Häggström, Producer, Sweden & Sudan; Haneen Al Saleh, Producer, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Adam Morse, British actor, producer and director, Tonya Williams, Executive Director, Reelworld Screen Institute, Canada and many more. 

Conference Moderators include: Enyinna Nwigwe, Actor, Producer, Nigeria;  Steven Adams, Producer, Talent Manager and Co-Founder of Alta Global Media, USA; Simone McIntyre, Actress and Producer, UK + Jamaica; Ines Ben Zoubir, Documentary Film Director, Associate Professor, Tunisia; Diana Lodderhose, International Features Editor, Deadline; Zachary Ntim, International Film Reporter, Deadline; Baz Bamigboye, Hollywood Columnist & International Editor at Large, Deadline;  Angela Gordon, Director, Producer, USA. 

Prudence Kolong stated: “Film is a universal medium that allows people from all walks of life to tell stories steeped in reality or fantasy. It’s also a business that creates borders, based on stereotypical narratives, economics and politics. At AfroCannes, we believe that films are about connecting, exploring, uplifting and entertaining and more importantly, providing diverse and inclusive experiences and perspectives.”

AGENDA  DAY 1

AfroCannes Films in motion

M A Y 1 7 , 2 0 2 3 - D A Y 1

L A C R O I S E T T E  M E E T I N G R O O M - 1 S T  F L O O R H O T E L  G R A Y D ' A L B I O N

Speaker Lauren Ekué, Author, & Stylist, France Moderator: Simone McIntyre, Actress, Producer, UK + Jamaica

10.30 AM - 10.35 AM

Greetings Introduction by Prudence Kolong, Founder of Yanibes & AfroCannes Opening Remarks by the host and moderator, Enyinna Nwigwe, Actor & Producer, Nigeria Speaker Jana Wolff, Head of Marketing - EFM/Berlinale, Germany Moderator Enyinna Nwigwe, Actor, Producer, Nigeria Speaker Richard Lawson, Actor, Producer IUSA Moderator: Simone McIntyre, Actress, Producer, UK + Jamaica Speaker Issraa Elkogali Haggstrom, Producer, Sweden Speaker Ines Ben Zoubir, Documentary Filmmaker, Tunisia Speaker Haneen Al Saleh, Producer, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

 2 . 3 0 P M B R E A K 1 2 . 3 5 P M

S t r a t e g i c   I n s i g h t s  F i l m i n g  w i t h o u t   b o r d e r s  i n   K e n y a  a n d   R w a n d a

Kenya is home to a host of incredible talent in front and behind the camera, as well as a diverse landscape which makes it a very attractive filming location. Rwanda has fast transformed into a strategic East African hub with investments in key sectors including the creative industries. How does the East African film mindset and business model compare to continental juggernauts, Nollywood in Nigeria and South Africa? How to further enhance the visibility of East African filmmakers on the global stage, create more bridges and empower local creatives?

1 . 2 0 P M B R E A K M A Y 1 7 , 2 0 2 3

Speaker via Zoom Cajetan Boy, Writer-Director, Kenya Moderator: Angela Gordon, Producer, USA Speaker via Zoom Nkurunziza Mufuth, Art Director Rwanda Speaker Jill Samuels, Founder, Films Without Borders & Producer, UK Speaker via Zoom Jim Shamoon, Producer, Kenya Speaker via Zoom Mario Zvan, Producer, Kenya + Croatia

2.20 PM BREAK 2.25 PM

Debate The African brand in films: from indigenous to global What defines an African film? And what is the African brand in films? How is it marketed? Or how could it be marketed? How do platforms/FAST tread with the diverse and varied content coming from the African continent? Should it be treated as a monolith? Are streamers redefining or defining the African brand in films? Is there an indigenous, authentic African film brand? Speaker Chioma Ude, Founder, Africa International Film Festival, Nigeria Speaker Ibrahim Llateif, Producer, Tunisia Speaker NuNu Deng, Producer, South Sudan Speaker Coréon Du, Director, Producer, Angola Moderator: To be announced Speaker Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, CEO, National Film & Video Censors Board, Nigeria Moderator: To be announced Speaker Enyinna Nwigwe, Actor, Producer, Nigeria Speaker Chibie Louis-Okoye, Producer, Nigeria - Canada Speaker Ronya Man, Producer, Director, Coach, Nigeria

1 . 2 5 P M P a n e l d i s c u s s i o n N i g e r i a : A n e w t u r n i n g p o i n t

For an industry as old as Hollywood, with its first movie screened in Lagos in 1903, to becoming the 2nd largest film market in the world in terms of production and 3rd in terms of revenues, to have transformed creative industries across the continent into viable economic drivers, to welcoming all major streamers, what is the next chapter for film in Nigeria. Speaker via Zoom TFrancisca Ndinda, Youth Activist, Journalist, Kenya Speaker Chioma Ude, Founder, Africa International Film Festival, Nigeria Speaker Moses Babatope, Co-Founder, FilmOne, Nigeria

3 . 2 0 P M B R E A K 3 . 2 5 P M

S h o r t s c r e e n i n g + d i s c u s s i o n M å n g a t a : T h e R o a d t o t h e M o o n T

he story of Alya, a young astronaut of Nigerian descent, on a mission to the moon, who has an encounter that helps her overcome a traumatic event from her past. A movie that benefited from the European Space Agency aid.

Moderator: Enyinna Nwigwe, Actor, Producer, Nigeria Speaker To be announced Speaker Stefany Fruzzetti, Actress, Nigeria Speaker Antonio Padovani, Producer, Italy + German Speaker Maya Costa, Writer, Director, Italy

4.55 PM BREAK 5.00 PM

Strategic Insights En Aparté with Actors / Actresses What's missing from the diversity and inclusion narrative today for it to be fully beneficial to talents? What is diversity and inclusion "window dressing" and how does that impact the film business and ecosystem? What are opportunities for talents in emerging markets? Speaker Ramia Ayari Cherif, Actress, Writer, Producer, Tunisia Speaker Simone McIntyre, Actress, Producer, UK + Jamaica Speaker Enyinna Nwigwe, Actor, Producer, Nigeria Speaker Luka Peros, Actor, Croatia Moderator: Keni Desai, Founder, Urbnworx, UK Speaker Marco Ferreira, Music Producer, Brazil Speaker Caprice Crawford, Talent Manager,

8.30 PM End of AFROCANNES DAY 1 Session