At the Africa Cinema Summit in Accra, Idris Elba, the British actor with African roots, took center stage as an advocate for the future of African cinema. Elba, known for his roles in films like “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” and “Beasts of No Nation,” emphasized the untapped potential of African cinema and the need to develop infrastructure, distribution, and audience engagement across the continent.
Highlighting the importance of African stories, Elba called for an Africa-first approach, focusing on domestic success before international recognition. He praised grassroots filmmaking efforts but stressed the need for local distribution networks independent of global platforms like Netflix. Optimistic about Africa’s young filmmakers, Elba is actively investing in the industry through his production companies and sees opportunities to build a self-sustaining African film ecosystem.
Driven by his passion for storytelling, Elba urged African filmmakers to take control of their creative futures and amplify their work. His vision for African cinema is one of growth, reaching both local and global audiences.