The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has reaffirmed its commitment to transform Africa’s creative economy by mobilising up to $1 billion for the continent’s film and television industry through the newly established Africa Film Fund (AFF). The initiative represents one of the largest investment commitments ever made to Africa’s creative sector and is designed to address the industry’s longstanding financing gap while positioning African storytelling for global competitiveness.
The fund is being spearheaded through Afreximbank’s development impact investment arm, the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), under the bank’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme. It aims to provide patient capital for film production, post-production, distribution, exhibition, and supporting infrastructure across the continent.
According to Afreximbank, the Africa Film Fund will help unlock investment for high-quality African films and television series capable of competing in international markets. The bank believes the initiative will strengthen Africa’s creative value chain by improving access to financing, enhancing production quality, expanding distribution networks, and increasing global visibility for African content.
The investment comes at a time when Africa’s film industry led by major markets such as Nigeria’s Nollywood, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and Ghana is experiencing growing international demand through streaming platforms and digital distribution channels. Despite its strong creative potential, the industry continues to face challenges including limited financing, inadequate production infrastructure, and restricted access to international markets.
Afreximbank noted that the fund is expected to catalyse additional private-sector investment into the creative economy while supporting the development of sustainable film businesses across Africa. Beyond financing productions, the initiative will encourage investment in studios, production facilities, distribution platforms, cinemas, and other supporting infrastructure needed to strengthen the industry’s long-term growth.
Industry experts believe the initiative could significantly enhance Africa’s contribution to the global entertainment industry by creating employment opportunities for actors, producers, directors, writers, technicians, and other creative professionals. A stronger film ecosystem is also expected to boost tourism, cultural exports, intellectual property development, and foreign exchange earnings across the continent.
For Nigeria, which hosts Nollywood one of the world’s largest film industries by production volume the fund presents an opportunity to improve access to long-term financing, increase production quality, and expand the global reach of locally produced content. Analysts say Nigerian filmmakers and production companies could be among the major beneficiaries as the fund begins deploying capital across Africa. The initiative reinforces Afreximbank’s broader strategy of supporting Africa’s creative economy as a key driver of economic diversification, youth employment, and intra-African trade. By investing in one of the continent’s fastest-growing industries, the bank aims to strengthen Africa’s global cultural influence while creating sustainable economic opportunities for creative entrepreneurs.
