Day Four - Monday, May 19th, 2025
9.00 - 10.20 AM
IN CONVERSATION WITH ERNEST WHITE II
For 10 to 15 minutes, Ernest White interviews AfroCannes’ key guests, where they'll explore their careers, experiences, and future opportunities. The interviews are recorded.​​
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Ernest White II is a producer, journalist, and keynote speaker. He is the founder and CEO of Presidio Pictures, executive producer and host of award-winning television travel docu-series “FLY BROTHER with Ernest White II” (PBS), and executive producer and lead writer of award-winning true crime/history podcast, “Deadman's Curse: Slumach's Gold” (Corus/CuriousCast).
9.05 - 9.20 AM | Aron Abreham Neguse
Program Director, Ethiopian International Film Festival,
Ethiopia
9.45 - 10.00 AM | Deepti Chawla
Executive Producer, Filmmaker, India
3.05 - 3.25 PM | Maria Gal
Actress, Brazil
9.25 - 9.40 AM | Yassine Azzouz
Actor, Producer, France + Algeria +
Tunisia
10.05 - 10.20 AM | Kenny Gravillis
Award Winning Graphic Designer, Founder, Gravillis Inc., USA
4.05 - 4.25 PM | Emerson Dindo, Director, Executive Producer, Brazil
God Knows Best by Nicole Asinuga 12.30 PM
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Dobo by Yodit Tadesse 12:00 PM
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77: The Festac Conspiracy by Izu Ojukwu by 2.00 PM at the Palais des Festivals, Screening RoomG
NA
Nigeria Screens X Osahon Okunbo Foundation
12.00 PM
MUSIC MATTERS
10.30 AM - 11.00 AM Panel discussion 22
The Unsung Hero: How Music in Film Impacts Revenue and How to Capitalize on It
Film is a powerful storytelling medium, weaving together visual narratives and compelling performances. But often overlooked is the profound impact of music. From setting the mood to amplifying emotional resonance, music is the unsung hero that breathes life into cinematic experiences and, more importantly, significantly impacts a film's revenue potential.
Speakers:
Alessandra Lo Savio, Film Producer, Founder Alacran Group, Italy
Kelly Woolfolk, Entertainment Lawyer, USA
Sydney Levine, Founder, SydneysBuzz, USA + Germany
Moderator: Simone McIntyre, Actress, Producer, Jamaica + UK
11.00 - 11.05 AM Break
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MEET THE SALES AGENT
11.05 AM - 11.55 PM Panel discussion 23 (Roundtable Talk)
Without a sales agent, independent filmmakers often struggle to find global distribution. Agents act as the bridge between creators and the international market. Meeting the film sales agent matters as it determines the future of any given film’s global visibility, revenue, and overall success. Meeting a sales agent isn’t just about sales—it's about forging a partnership that can make or break your film’s international life.
Speakers:
Alan Green, Vice President of Sales, OneTwoThree Media, USA
Carlos Alperin, Chief Publishing Officer, Galloping Entertainment, Australia
Claire Diao, CEO, Sudu Distribution, France + Burkina Faso
Mili Cumic, Partner, Locomotive Entertainment, UK
Steven Adams, Talent Manager, Founder, Alta Global Media, USA
Moderator: Kylie Figueroa, Producer, UK
11.55 - 12.00 PM Break
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THE NEW NIGERIAN FILM INDUSTRY: VISION 2030 + NOLLYWOOD 5.0
12.00 - 2.45 PM - Panel Discussion 24
12.00 - 12.30 PM
Screening of "God Knows Best" by Nicole Asinugo - 30 min
12.35 - 2.00 PM
Panel Discussion A - 30 min followed by a Brunch Cocktail, hosted by Osa Okunbo Foundation & Screen Nigeria
The Making of God Knows Best with:
Nicole Asinuga, Director
Wini Efon, Lead Actress
Kaliné Njoku, Composer
Moderator: Fumbi Ogunbanwo
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2.10 - 2.55 PM
​Panel Discussion B - 45 min
The Nigerian film industry “Nollywood” since 1906, remains the world’s 3rd largest in terms of revenue, after Hollywood and Bollywood, and second in terms of production. In 2025, A Nigerian film joins Cannes Official selection, with Nigeria opening a pavilion at the Marché du Film, a significant stride for the largest African film market. Nollywood has always been a phoenix, rising from the ashes of economic hardship and infrastructural challenges. From the gritty realism of the early video films to the slicker, higher-budget productions of recent years, the industry has consistently reinvented itself. This trajectory, marked by technological advancements and evolving storytelling, has led us to the cusp of Nollywood 5.0. But what exactly defines this new era? And how has the journey from its humble beginnings shaped the landscape of 2030?
Speakers:
Chioma Ude, Founder, AFRIFF (African International Film Festival), Nigeria
Baba Agba, Special Assistant to the President on Creativity, Fed. Min. of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy,
Nigeria
Dr Ali Nuhu, Managing Director, Nigeria Film Corporation, Nigeria
Moderator: Ernest White II, CEO, Presidio Pictures, Canada + USA
2.55 - 3.00 PM Break
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SCANDINAVIA IN FOCUS
3.00 - 3.45 PM Panel Discussion 25
Normalizing Care & Building Global Bridges in the Film Industry
As filmmaking becomes ever more global, a new approach is urgently needed — one that places care, connection, and collaboration at the heart of international production. This 40-minute panel will explore how principles of care and sustainability can redefine global film practices, create more inclusive partnerships, and foster innovative Afro- European collaborations.
Speakers:
Olivier Guerpillon, Producer, Fox in the Snow Films, Malmö, Sweden
Emma Kalmeval, Project Manager, Film & TV Drama, Swedish Institute, Sweden TBC
Lisa Nyed, Head of Documentary and International Relations, Film i Skåne, Sweden
Lene Børglum, Producer, Founder, Space Rocket Nation, Denmark
Helene Granqvist, CEO, Pitch Coach & Producer at Nordic Factory Film & President WIFT Sweden, Sweden
Ene Katrine Rasmussen, Head of Industry & Training National Film School of Denmark, Denmark
Moderator: Filson Ali, Producer, Founder, Camera X, Sweden + Somalia
3.45 - 3.50 PM Break
GRAPHIC DESIGN
3.50 - 4.10 PM Conversation 3
More Than Just a Pretty Picture: The Vital Role of Film Poster Design and Graphic Design in Film-making
Film-making is a collaborative art, a symphony of moving images, sound, and narrative. While the director, actors, and cinematographers often take center stage, a crucial, often overlooked, element contributes significantly to a film's success: graphic design, particularly in the form of the film poster. Beyond just a promotional tool, these visual elements play a pivotal role in attracting audiences, communicating the film’s essence, and even contributing to its overall narrative.
Speakers:
Art Sims, Award Winning Designer & Film Marketing Specialist, USA
Moderator: Kylie Figueroa, Associate Producer, UK ​
4.10 - 4.15PM Break
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VISUAL STORYTELLING
4.15 - 5.00 PM Panel Discussion 26
Africa: Beyond the Single Story - Why It's Not a Monolith
The narrative surrounding Africa has been painted with broad strokes, often portraying it as a single entity plagued by poverty, conflict, and a lack of development. Africa is made of 54 sovereign countries with various level of economic growth, technology adoption, political landscape... Africa is a continent of vast diversity, and its diaspora spans the globe representing over to 2 billion people, encompassing a multitude of cultures, thousands of languages, and billions of lived experiences. Migrations stories, slave trade, pastoral vignettes of village life, extreme poverty are not the only narratives and perpetuate a monolithic representation of African and Afro-Descendent people and culture. By embracing the beauty, complexity, and cultural richness and aesthetics, filmmakers create films that are not only visually stunning but also deeply meaningful and impactful.
Speakers:
Aron Abreham Neguse, Program Director, Ethiopia International Film Festival, Ethiopia
Yolande Bogui, Film & TV Producer, Founder, Emmaus Productions Executive Director, Association des Producteurs de
Séries de Côte d'Ivoire
Aicha Abbouzied Kraus, Producer & Curator, France + Morocco
Adonijah Owiriwa, Producer, “76”, “77. The Festac Conspiracy”, Founder, Adonis Productions, Nigeria
Steven Adams, Talent Manager, Founder, Alta Global Media, USA
Moderator: Kyle Figueroa, Producer, UK
5.00 - 5.05 PM Break
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BUDGETING FILM PROMOTION
5.05 - 5.45 PM Panel Discussion 27
Budgeting for the Short or Long Haul: Festivals, Screenings and Marketing
Film promotion is an ongoing process that requires persistence and dedication. Festival attendance, screenings, website, social media, email marketing, online press kits, online advertising, publicity: where, and how to spend on a shoestring budget? And more importantly: Why?
Speakers:
Nici Brueckner, Producer, Founder, World Color Studio 22, Germany + Senegal
Tiffany Toney, Actress, Producer, Founder, Sensory Films, USA
Karimah El Mohmood, Filmmaker, Entrepreneur, Germany + Morocco
Natasha Preville, Founder, The Brixton Film Festival, UK
Moderator: Karen McMullen, Film Editor, Director, Urbanworld Film Festival, USA
5.45 PM End of AfroCannes
From 9.00 PM Obi House X AfroCannes Afterparty (by invitation only)