The National Film Authority(NFA) of Ghana in partnership with Filmhouse Group (Nigeria) and Silverbird Cinema (Ghana) have unveiled speakers for the first Africa Cinema Summit scheduled for November 14-16, 2023 at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel, Accra.
The Africa Cinema Summit aims at providing a platform for stakeholders in the movie industry value chain across the world to discuss challenges and explore potential and opportunities in the African cinema space.
The event is premised on two pillars — producing more local content and increasing screen numbers in Africa.
Speakers for the event include John Michael Schreiner, senior vice president of theatre development, Imax Corp, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante, CEO of NFA, and convener of the summit, Moses Babatope, co-founder and deputy managing director of Filmhouse Group and Funmi Onuma, country manager of Silverbird Cinema, Ghana.
The rest are Ope Ajayi, distributor at Cinemax and president of the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria; Rob Arthur, co-founder and director of Entertainment Solution Services Ltd and Paguro Ideas Ltd, Marie Lora-Mungai, investor, strategic advisor, and entrepreneur specializing in the African creative industries and sports business; and Chief Alhassan Andani, founder and executive chairman of LVSafrica Limited.
Brief biography of the speakers for Ghana’s African Cinema Summit
Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante, CEO NFA of Ghana, and convener of the Africa Cinema Summit is an award-winning writer and producer, director and actress.
The multi-hyphenate who was adjudged Best Actress in Ghana in 2001 is also the Founding President of Black Star International Film Institute, organisers of Black Star International Film Festival (BSIFF).
Moses Babatop is Co-founder and Deputy Managing Director of Filmhouse Group (owners of Filmhouse Cinemas and FilmOne Entertainment).
He has over 20 years of experience in film exhibition, production, distribution, marketing, and cinema operations management gained from several markets including the United Kingdom and Nigeria
Funmi Onuma—Country Manager of Silverbird Cinema, Ghana (SBCG). Under her leadership, SBCG set the record of being the highest-grossing cinema in the whole of West Africa for ‘Black Panther’ in 2018 and the second highest-grossing cinema in Africa.
John Michael Schreiner is Senior Vice President, Théâtre Development, IMAX Corporation, Europe, Middle East, and Africa.
Rob Arthur—Co-founder and Director of Entertainment Solution Services Ltd ‘ESS’ and Paguro Ideas Ltd which was established in 2012. Rob has also worked in the UK and other international cinema sectors for over 30 years with companies such as Vue Entertainment, SBC International Cinemas; Warner Village Cinemas and UCI.
Marie Lora-Mungai –investor, strategic advisor, and entrepreneur specialising in the African Creative Industries and Sports Business, with 18 years of experience spanning 27 countries on the continent.