Canal+ Group just premiered “Lagos Police Criminelle”, its first original series made in Nigeria. 📌 Co-produced with Lagos-based Asake Productions📌 Developed from “Lasgidi Cops,” rebooted for a pan-African audience📌 Distributed via Canal+ Pop and the myCANAL app📌 First episode free on YouTube (standard Canal+ promo model) Akoroko unpacks the behind-the-scenes action and broader context—Netflix bundling, […]
Category: The Latest
Cleo Diára on Her Cannes Win, the Silence That Followed, and What Still Hasn’t Been Said
Prefer to listen? This newsletter is now available in AI-generated audio. (Intro only) When Cleo Diára won Best Actress in Un Certain Regard at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, she became only the second African woman in the event’s 78-year history to receive any acting award—following South African actress Linda Mvusi, who shared the Best […]
Netflix in Africa, Q2 2025: What Changed, What Didn’t, and What Remains Unsaid
Africa remains invisible in Netflix’s Q2 earnings call, even after the CANAL+ bundling deal launched in 24 countries and TF1 entered the mix. 📌 Africa = 1% of EMEA revenue (~$30–45M)📌 No mention of Nigeria, South Africa, or Kenya📌 No mention of CANAL+ or TF1, and no known co-productions with either📌 Distribution expands, but no […]
Inside the UK–Nigeria Collaboration Behind MY FATHER’S SHADOW + Akinola Davies Jr’s Next Film Set
🎥 My Father’s Shadow was the first Nigerian feature ever selected for Cannes’ official program. What followed, and what comes next? 📌 UK-based producer Rachel Dargavel breaks down the collaboration 📌 Nigerian-set thriller “Delta Force Six” confirmed as Davis Jr’s next project 📌 Still no Nigerian premiere, despite international festival run 📌 Local infrastructure, power […]
Mapping Africa’s Co-Production Treaty Landscape (Report)
We’ve compiled a snapshot of Africa’s co-production treaty landscape: 48 agreements across 16 countries, mapped and analyzed. 📌 South Africa: 12 treaties; most globally connected📌 Morocco: 11 treaties; building intra-African links📌 Nigeria: first treaty ever, signed with Brazil in 2025📌 France still leads partnerships, but South–South connections increasing📌 Recent deals now cover streaming And more… […]
New Details on Next Narrative Africa Fund’s Grant Process: Impact, Investment, Readiness
I joined the hour-long July 14 public info session hosted by the Next Narrative Africa Fund to hear how the team is publicly framing its open call for script development grants. The session featured Akunna Cook (Next Narrative Africa), Samia Yakub (comms), and Darcy Heusel (Greenlight Committee chair). Much of what was shared confirmed details […]
Weekly Wrap-Up: July 7–13, 2025 (Every Newsletter Subscribers Received in the Last Week)
– Next Narrative Africa Fund Opens First Grant Call (What You Need to Know)– Malawi’s Film Sector Secures Rare Structural Win After Royalty Showdown– Correction: HEVA No Longer Involved in Next Narrative Africa Fund– Africa at Locarno 2025: Confirmed Projects, Structural Commitments, and Context– Africa at Venice 2025: Expanded Participation, Diverse Engagement, and Context– “Cordelia” […]
Next Narrative Africa Fund has opened its first script development grant call—HEVA no longer involved
The Next Narrative Africa Fund has opened its first public call for submissions. Initially announced in September 2024 during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the $40 million hybrid fund combines grantmaking and equity financing for African and African-diaspora film and television projects. Brass Tacks – 20K–100K USD per project– 6 to 10 […]
African Film, TV, Digital Media Sector Assessment for the First Half of 2025: Activity Is Rising, But the Ground Is Still Shifting
Halfway through 2025, African screen ecosystems have seen more activity than ever, but much of the core infrastructure is still under strain. For the first six months of 2025: 📌 Institutional activity rose: national film funds, co-production agreements, new platforms, early data transparency📌 Major global players expanded their reach across African markets, but without local […]
SICA 2025, Day 1: ORUN Studios Debut, Guinea-Bissau Accord, International Participation
Day 1 of SICA 2025—the three-day state-backed African content market in Abidjan—is in the books, opening with three clear moves: 📌 ORUN Studios launched with a cross-platform IP model📌 Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau signed an audiovisual agreement📌 International guests (U.S., Japan, France) added visibility and weight📌 AI, animation, and regional deals dominated early conversations Akoroko […]