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FilmHub, the innovative community cinema initiative developed by Fusion Intelligence, is expanding beyond Lagos through a strategic partnership with Café One a coffee and coworking chain with 17 locations across nine Nigerian states.
This collaboration will see new cinema hubs launched in Kaduna, Enugu, Uyo, and Owerri, beginning August 1, 2025.
The move is part of FilmHub’s broader goal to activate 50 community cinemas across Nigeria by the end of 2025, creating a new era of accessible and localized cinematic experiences. Following a successful pilot in Lagos earlier this year, the initiative aims to deepen communal engagement through curated Nollywood screenings in casual, tech-enabled spaces.
Speaking on the expansion, Kolade Adewoye, CEO of Fusion Intelligence, explained the advantage of partnering with Café One: “Café One has over 16 locations nationwide. Having just four on board immediately gives us more cities to experiment with and more communities to serve.”
The cinema concept is designed around adaptabilityconverting existing café spaces into immersive viewing environments equipped with projectors, surround sound, ambient lighting, and curated seating. Screenings will be held during evenings and weekends, capitalizing on moments when communities naturally gather.
The film lineup includes both recent Nollywood blockbusters and hidden gems that audiences may have missed during their theatrical runs. The first title set to be screened is Red Circle, directed by Akay Mason and distributed by Nile Entertainment. Tickets are affordably priced at ₦3,000, reinforcing the project’s accessibility.
According to Kelechi Nwozuzu, General Manager at Café One, the rollout transcends entertainment: “We believe community is built not just around coffee and coworking but also around culture, storytelling, and shared experiences. This isn’t just about watching a movie—it’s about experiencing it with your tribe.”
While the idea of neighborhood cinemas is exciting, FilmHub is also prioritizing content security and revenue accountability. Each venue will utilize Convoy, Fusion Intelligence’s proprietary encrypted streaming and playback system, which only decrypts content at the point of projection.
The system ensures that every screening is piracy-proof, with laptops locked down and venues compliant with distributor guidelines including the presence of CCTV surveillance.
From a financial standpoint, the initiative has integrated POS systems and digital payment solutions for real-time ticket reconciliation and transparent revenue tracking. Adewoye emphasized the importance of earning the trust of filmmakers and distributors: “We’ve built for content security and revenue transparency from the ground up. It’s the only way to gain the trust of distributors and filmmakers at scale.”
As Nigeria's cinema industry continues to evolve, FilmHub’s model addresses key gaps in access, distribution, and monetization particularly for cities underserved by traditional multiplexes. The café-cinema fusion offers a low-barrier, culturally rich experience for film lovers across urban and semi-urban centers.
With screenings set to kick off on August 1, 2025, and more titles to be added in the coming weeks, FilmHub’s community cinema project is poised to reshape how Nigerians engage with Nollywood—bringing stories closer to the people, one screening at a time.
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