Idris Elba and Tourism Minister Grace First Day of Africa Cinema Summit

The Africa Cinema Summit 2024 kicked off in Accra on October 7, at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, drawing notable figures such as British actor Idris Elba and Ghana’s Tourism Minister, Andrew Egyapa Mercer. Organized by Ghana’s National Film Authority (NFA), the summit focuses on the theme “Is Cinema Relevant in African Communities?” and aims to foster collaboration and growth within the African film industry. Idris Elba, an advocate for African cinema, emphasized the need for better infrastructure and distribution channels to elevate African stories both domestically and globally.

British actor Idris Elba who is also the Chairman of IE7 and The Akuna Group is headlining the three-day event, which is set to conclude on Thursday, October 10. Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Creative Arts, and Culture, Andrew Egyapa Mercer together with his Deputy, Mark Okraku Mantey, and industry stakeholders from across Africa, including Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Angola graced the event on its first day on Monday.

The CEO of the National Film Authority, Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante, delivered the keynote address to officially open the Second edition of the Africa Cinema Summit.

Idris Elba’s presence, along with other prominent figures in the industry, underscores the event’s importance in building a robust, self-sustaining African cinema ecosystem. The summit also included the premiere of Nollywood actress Omoni Oboli’s film The Uprising: Wives on Strike, highlighting the vibrant storytelling coming from Africa.