AfroBerlin Program
Day 1 | Sunday, February 15, 2026
Panel 1
9.05 AM
9.55 AM
INTERNATIONAL CO-PRODUCTION MODELS & CASE STUDIES
Topic: Bridging Continents, Crafting Legacies: The Future of International Co-Production ​​​​
Why co-production matters now more than ever? International co-production isn't merely a logistical arrangement; it's a philosophy that recognizes the inherent value in diverse perspectives. For creators in Africa, the diaspora, and various diverse and displaced communities, co-production offers a powerful conduit to amplify their voices on a global stage, bypassing traditional gatekeepers and tapping into new markets. It's about ensuring that stories from these vibrant communities are not just heard, but celebrated and understood worldwide.
Key Talking Points: Navigating multi-country financing & accessing diverse funding streams including grants, tax incentives Co-production treaties and market entry strategies Creative exchange and cultural diversity in storytelling Shared risk and increased production value
Panel 2
10.00 AM
10.40 AM
BREAKOUT ROLES: EXCELLENCE IN FRONT AND BEHIND THE SCREEN
Topic: Beyond the Horizon - Breakout Roles, Global Impact, and the Architects of Tomorrow (the casting directors & agent panel)
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The breakout moments we witness are rarely accidental. They are often the culmination of years of dedication, resilience, and a fierce determination to be seen and heard. Whether it's an actor delivering a performance that resonates universally, a director with a unique vision, or a writer crafting compelling narratives that challenge the status quo, these breakout talents are igniting conversations and fostering a deeper understanding across cultures. This panel celebrates the rise of breakout talents across continents, highlighting how key performances and creative achievements redefine representation in global cinema. The session examines the systemic structures supporting diversity, and how sustained inclusion builds cultural milestones across industries.
Key Talking Points: Breakout roles as milestones for representation Pillars of progress: systemic inclusion across casting, writing, and directing The future is now and the value of generational legacy through diversity in creative ecosystems
Panel 3
10.45 AM
11.30 AM
​TECHNOLOGY: INNOVATION, ETHICS, AND THE FUTURE OF CREATIVE PRODUCTION
Topic: Tech, Al, and the Global Creative Renaissance: Re-imagining Storytelling from the Ground Up
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The African Creative Renaissance is about more than just catching up to the West. It's about leapfrogging outdated models and defining a new, inclusive, and ethically grounded future for global storytelling. It's about using the most advanced tools available to tell the oldest stories we know, ensuring that our legacy is not just preserved, but actively evolved for generations to come. The tools are here. The innovators are ready. The stories are waiting. Let's build this future, together. Innovators and producers explore how emerging technologies - from Al and AR to predictive analytics are reshaping film production, marketing, and audience engagement. This session dives into both the opportunities and ethical implications of the digital creative revolution.
Key Talking Points: Al in storytelling and production Copyright, royalties, and ownership Cost efficiency and sustainability through tech Data-driven audience development
Panel 4
11.35 AM
12.15 PM
​EMERGING TRENDS IN STORYTELLING
Topic: The Power of Presence with New Voices, New Visions
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A deep dive into the evolving narratives defining African, Afro-European, and diaspora cinema and diverse and displaced communities storytelling. This session examines the intersection of commercial viability, artistic innovation, and audience engagement in shaping the next generation of global storytelling. One of the most defining characteristics of this current wave is its undeniable commercial success. The notion that "niche" stories cannot appeal to a global mainstream audience has been thoroughly refuted. The economic engine of this shift is perhaps most visible in Nollywood, Nigeria's film industry, which has become a giant, demonstrating that high-volume, locally driven content has substantial international appeal.
Key Talking Points: Commercial and art house balance The power of adaptation from book to screen Audience-centered storytelling strategies
Panel 5
12.20 PM
1.10 PM
​UK INDUSTRY PANEL - BRIDGING CREATIVE MARKETS
Topic: Bridging Worlds: The UK Industry Panel Ignites Cross-Continental Creative Collaboration
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The global storytelling landscape is more interconnected than ever, and at the heart of this vibrant evolution lies the power of collaboration. In a landscape where access to markets and funding opportunities are shrinking, co-production and co-creation are increasingly being looked at in order to get projects off the ground. Since the UK exited the EU, global markets have been integral to the UK film industry and co-production a priority for filmmakers. This is even more pertinent for historically marginalized filmmakers who typically have less opportunities to tell their stories. This panel will explore what these avenues look like for storytellers from the Black diaspora and the challenges and creative opportunities they provide. Our expert panel will speak to their own experiences navigating this terrain and dive into the practicalities and immense potential of bridging creative markets across the UK, Africa, the Caribbean, South America and Europe. The aim is to unlock new avenues for funding, market access, and innovative co-production models that can truly bring diverse and authentic narratives to life. A space where cultural understanding meets commercial strategy, all with the shared goal of championing inclusive storytelling that resonates globally.
Key Talking Points: UK film council grants and partnerships Cross-market collaboration Distribution and creative exchange
Speed Meetings
1.20 PM
2.10 PM
​IN CONVERSATION WITH DJIMON HOUNSOU, HOSTED BY TYRON RICKETTS
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A special In Conversation With session featuring Djimon Hounsou, hosted by actor and producer Tyron Ricketts on his home ground at AfroBerlin. Inspired by Actors on Actors, the discussion brings together two Black actors-turned-producers reflecting on their journeys across African, European, and Hollywood film industries. A candid exchange on craft, authorship, resilience, and shaping narratives on a global stage.
Djimon Hounsou, Actor, Producer, Benin + America Tyron Ricketts, Actor, Producer, Founder, Panthertainment, Germany + Jamaica (TBC)
Panel 6
2.20 PM
3.15 PM
​FROM AFRICA & DIASPORA TO THE WORLD: CO-PRODUCTION & INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
Topic: A Compelling Model for Creative Industry Growth
As African and Black diasporic cinema gains global visibility, co-production and international collaboration are emerging as key drivers of creative and economic growth. Filmmakers across Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean —particularly Afropean and diasporic creatives—are forging partnerships that reflect shared histories, contemporary realities, and future-facing visions while expanding access to financing, expertise, and global audiences. From festival-acclaimed features and documentaries to animation and digital series, these collaborations are redefining authorship, ownership, and representation, strengthening diverse creative ecosystems, amplifying underrepresented voices, and positioning African and Black storytelling as a vital force in the global creative economy.
Panel 7
3.20 PM
4.05PM
PROMOTION, ​DISTRIBUTION & RELEASE STRATEGY
Topic: Reaching Audiences in a Changing Media Landscape: How Independent Distributors Can Break the Monochromatic Mold
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The distribution ecosystem across Africa is undergoing a profound and rapid transformation. Driven by massive corporate consolidation and the shifting focus of global streamers, the playing field has become intensely competitive, yet paradoxically, less diverse. With the recent powerful merger between Canal+ and Multi-choice, and the erratic influence of global behemoths like Netflix and Amazon, the market structure risks becoming alarmingly monochromatic. For independent distributors and creators of African and Afro-European films, this presents an existential challenge-but also a fertile ground for innovative and disruptive strategies. The question is no longer if independent African cinema can reach a global audience, but how it circumnavigates the powerful new gatekeepers. This panel dissection explores the evolving release strategies, focusing on the opportunities that emerge when traditional structures fail.
Key Talking Points: Festival-to-Platforms deals Innovative marketing and recoupment strategy Distribution and creative exchange
Panel 8
4.10 PM
4.25 PM
​AFRO FILM MUSIC PREVIEW
Topic: Building Bridges
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In this focused industry insight, Christoph Becker shares perspectives on building stronger bridges between African and Afro-diasporic film music composers and the global film and music marketplace. The session explores how visibility, collaboration, and access can help amplify voices, create lasting creative currency, and open new pathways for composers within international film productions.
Key Talking Points: Creative control & autonomy vs quantity & quality control Show me the money: monetization opportunities Convergence; traditional filmmaking and multi-platforms and multi-format content creators
Panel 9
4.30 PM
5.10 PM
​FILM FINANCING
Topic: The Script Flips: New Financing Models Reshaping Cinema Globally and in the Global South
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Filmmakers challenges were often compounded by limited institutional funding, volatile currencies, and a general lack of access to traditional European production finance structures. But the script is flipping. A quiet revolution is underway, fueled by digital platforms, shifting consumer behavior, and, most surprisingly, the deep pockets of major non-traditional players: brands. Instead of merely being sponsors, global and regional brands (think telecom companies, beverage conglomerates, or technology firms) are stepping in as genuine equity partners or even chief financers. They aren't just buying ad space; they are investing in the entire narrative ecosystem. The evolving financing landscape in the Global South is more than just a financial trend; it's a cultural shift. By welcoming non-traditional investors-be they global brands, technology platforms, or empowered local communities.
Key Talking Points: Brands are the new studios: the rise of branded content as equity. Hyper-local and hyper-connected: community-driven financing. Beyond the box office: cross-sectoral funding.
Panel 10
5.15 PM
6.00 PM
​CAREER GROWTH, TRAINING & SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
Topic: The Lens Forward: Advancing Filmmaking Skills & Global Collaboration in Africa & the Global South
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It's not about European "aid," but about fostering partnerships that acknowledge and leverage the distinct strengths and challenges of each region. Investment in local infrastructure, sustained funding mechanisms, and policies that protect intellectual property and ensure fair wages are essential for truly empowering the film industries of Africa and the Global South. The future of filmmaking is vibrant, diverse, and interconnected. By focusing on robust local skill development and forging strategic, respectful international collaborations, Africa and the Global South are not just ready to tell their stories they are poised to captivate the world. The lens is indeed forward, and the view is spectacular.
Key Talking Points: Mentorship program & residencies Online learning Innovative marketing and recoupment strategy Distribution and creative exchange
Event
7.30 PM
10.30 PM
​SOCIAL CALENDAR & CALENDAR
BFI Cocktail Reception
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