 |
| Image:Facebook |
The first-ever Entertainment Week Africa (EWA) has firmly positioned Lagos as a rising hub for creative-economy innovation, putting film and screen culture at the centre of its 2025 launch.
Spread across top venues including Livespot Entertarium, Eko Hotel, EbonyLife Place, and Alliance Française, the week-long event created a dynamic ecosystem for premieres, screenings, networking, and industry advancement.
With a curated programme that elevated African storytelling, the festival delivered a strong statement about the continent’s growing cultural influence.
EWA’s screen programme showcased 93 films, blending African titles with international works that highlighted both emerging and established talent.
Films such as Chronicles of Afrobeat, The Herd, Dust to Dream, and Mama Nike & Magazine Dreams drew the biggest crowds.
Each screening was followed by intimate director sessions, allowing filmmakers to break down the creative process behind their work. EbonyLife Place and Alliance Française became vibrant hubs for these premieres and conversations, reinforcing Lagos’ position as a major player in global film culture.
One of the most impactful components was the highly focused Story Lab, a four-day screenwriting workshop designed to close the creative gap in storytelling on the continent.
Led by respected industry professionals Lani Aisida, Nicole Asinugo, and Dami Elebe, and supported by Netflix, Amazon Prime, Africa Magic, and NdaniTV, the programme selected eight writers from a pool of fifteen.
Over the course of the workshop, participants developed six polished loglines and pitch-ready concepts—immediate, tangible outcomes that give new African stories a real shot at development and production.
Between November 18 and 23, the event attracted 28,683 pass holders from more than eight countries. Filmmaking, media, and business consulting professionals dominated the attendee list, pointing to a rising appetite for structured industry engagement.
This year’s theme, “Close the Gap,” came alive through programming that bridged talent, capital, policy, and distribution.
The festival hosted 35 panels, 22 workshops, and 20 masterclasses that explored critical issues such as distribution challenges, financing, and creative entrepreneurship—areas long identified as barriers to the growth of the African film ecosystem.
EWA’s success was amplified by strong corporate support. Blue Pictures Entertainment, Circuits Global Solutions, Africa Magic, Showmax, MTN, Wonder Media Kind, MBO Capital, and Regal Stone Capital played major roles as content market partners.
Industry heavyweights like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Blu Pictures, and NdaniTV also contributed significantly to building a framework that strengthens film business on the continent.
Founder Deola Art Alade emphasised the long-term vision behind the initiative. According to her, EWA aims to become a major part of Lagos’ “economic, intellectual, and artistic capital” over the coming years, and the success of the inaugural edition shows clear progress toward that ambition.
Looking ahead, the next edition of Entertainment Week Africa will run from November 17–22, 2026. Organisers have confirmed that the upcoming programme will expand pan-African participation and deepen industry engagement.
Registration is already open on the official platform, setting the stage for another milestone in Africa’s creative evolution.
#ExclusiveUpdate
#ViralContent
No comments:
Post a Comment