The African film industry : trends, challenges and opportunities for growth

The production and distribution of film and audiovisual works is one of the most dynamic growth sectors in the world. Thanks to digital technologies, production has been growing rapidly in Africa in recent years. For the first time, a complete mapping of the film and audiovisual industry in 54 States of the African continent is available, including quantitative and qualitative data and an analysis of their strengths and weaknesses at the continental and regional levels.The report proposes strategic recommendations for the development of the film and audiovisual sectors in Africa and invites policymakers, professional organizations, firms, filmmakers and artists to implement them in a concerted manner. The AFRICAN FILM Industry Foreword Contents Executive summary Introduction Information and data by region Acronyms 1. Pan-African trends shaping the future of the continent’s film and audiovisual sector A slow but encouraging formalization of the sector The digital revolution Cinemas: adapt or die The complex liberalization of the audiovisual sector The beginning of a long-awaited boom in production The education challenge Intellectual property and the piracy curse Persisting challenges in gender equality and freedom of expression Safeguarding Africa’s film and audiovisual archives The African Continental Free Trade Area and hope for more pan-African collaboration New partners: The United States and China 2. Strategic development and growth models THE NOLLYWOOD MODEL: Commercial, home-grown, thriving THE AUTEUR MODEL: Rich cultures, diverse voices THE SERVICE MODEL: Servicing the global market THE FESTIVAL MODEL: Soft power and the law of attraction A film and audiovisual “starter-pack” toolbox 3. National mappings ALGERIA ANGOLA BENIN BOTSWANA BURKINA FASO BURUNDI CABO VERDE CAMEROON CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC CHAD COMOROS CONGO CÔTE D’IVOIRE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO DJIBOUTI EGYPT EQUATORIAL GUINEA ERITREA ESWATINI ETHIOPIA GABON GAMBIA GHANA GUINEA GUINEA-BISSAU KENYA LESOTHO LIBERIA LIBYA MADAGASCAR MALAWI MALI MAURITANIA MAURITIUS MOROCCO MOZAMBIQUE NAMIBIA NIGER NIGERIA RWANDA SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE SENEGAL SEYCHELLES SIERRA LEONE SOMALIA SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH SUDAN SUDAN TOGO TUNISIA UGANDA UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA ZAMBIA ZIMBABWE Annex: Key dates in African cinema