Golden Globe-winning actor Idris Elba made a powerful appearance at the Africa Cinema Summit in Accra, Ghana, championing the future of African cinema.
Born to a Sierra Leonean father and a Ghanaian mother, Elba has always felt a deep connection to the continent, and his presence at the event highlighted his commitment to elevating African storytelling on the global stage.
Elba, known for roles in films like Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and the Ghana-shot Beasts of No Nation, spoke passionately about the untapped potential of African cinema. “African cinema is not young.
We’ve been around for a long time,” he said, emphasizing the rich film heritage of French-speaking Africa. However, he pointed out that African stories have yet to make a significant impact on the global film landscape.
At the summit, which brought together film industry stakeholders, Elba stressed the need for better infrastructure, distribution networks, and local support to help African filmmakers reach wider audiences both at home and abroad.
“We need bums on seats,” Elba urged. “The future relies on us… our own distribution. We must fill the cinemas with our people first.”
Elba’s vision focuses on building African cinema’s success domestically while also pursuing international recognition.
Through his production companies, IE7 and The Akuna Group, Elba has been actively investing in African talent and creative industries, furthering his goal of shaping the future of cinema on the continent.
