Afro Film Music Day Program
Day 3 | Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Panel 19
9.10 AM
10.00 AM
THE BEAT BEHIND THE SCREEN
Topic: Black Music, African Beats, Film, and the New Global Storytelling Economy ​​​​
A dynamic opening conversation on how African music continues to shape global cinema and visual storytelling. This panel explores the transformative power of African music in global cinema, highlighting how Black music and Afrobeats are reshaping storytelling on screen. Industry leaders, composers, and filmmakers discuss the cultural, creative, and economic impact of African sound, examining how it drives audience engagement, expands markets, and opens new opportunities for cross-continental collaboration. Attendees will gain insights into the evolving role of African music in shaping the narratives and rhythms of the global film industry.
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 20
10.10 AM
15.00 AM
SYNC, LICENSING & THE SOUND ECONOMY
Topic: Turning Music into Opportunity - Rights, Royalties, and Revenue Models for African Creators
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Exploring sync deals, publishing, and partnerships that allow African soundtracks to travel globally. This panel delves into the business side of African music in film, exploring how creators can maximize revenue through rights management, royalties, and innovative distribution models. Experts in music publishing, synchronization, and licensing share practical strategies for monetizing soundtracks, building sustainable careers, and expanding African music's reach across global platforms. Attendees will gain actionable insights into turning creativity into opportunity while protecting and profiting from their intellectual property.
Key Talking Points: The uncanny valley and the human touch: the fear, however, is clear: will Al actors replace humans? Acting in the Global South: Experimenting with new forms of storytelling, using film to address social issues, preserve cultural heritage, and challenge dominant global narratives. Thriving in the global market place by tapping into universally understood emotions while honoring specific cultural contexts.
Panel 21
11.10 AM
12.00 PM
TECH, AI & THE FUTURE OF SOUND DESIGN
Topic: From Algorithms to Emotion - How AI, AR, and New Tech Are Shaping the Future of Film Sound
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Innovators and audio engineers discuss how technology enhances African creativity in cinema. This panel examines the cutting-edge intersection of technology and African film music, exploring how AI, AR, and other emerging tools are transforming sound design and storytelling. Innovators, composers, and audio engineers share how technology enhances creative expression, streamlines production, and opens new global opportunities for African cinema. Attendees will gain insight into how tech-driven solutions can elevate emotion, narrative impact, and cultural resonance in contemporary film scoring.
MASTERCLASS
12.10 PM
1.10 PM
1 - CRAFTING EMOTION THROUGH SOUND
Topic: A creative deep-dive led by a top film composer or sound designer.
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Participants explore techniques for scoring emotion, rhythm, and cultural tone in African cinema. This hands-on session, led by a renowned film composer or sound designer, offers participants an in-depth exploration of scoring techniques for African cinema. Attendees will learn how to craft emotion, rhythm, and cultural tone through music, gaining practical tools to enhance storytelling and create soundscapes that resonate both locally and globally.
Masterclass host: TBC​​​
Event
1.10 PM
2.10 PM
SOCIAL CALENDAR
Networking Lunch & Partner Showcase
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Curated meet-ups between filmmakers, composers, music producers, and investors. Featuring Country Partners and Music-Tech Exhibits.
Panel 22
2.20 PM
3.10 PM
DIASPORIC VOICES—AFRICA'S SONIC IDENTITY IN GLOBAL CINEMA
Topic: The Cross Cultural Sonic Dialogue on Representation in Film Music
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This panel brings together African and diasporic musicians, composers, and filmmakers to explore how African sound and rhythm are shaping global cinema. Through cross-cultural dialogue, participants will examine how African music influences narrative, redefines representation, and strengthens the continent's sonic identity on the world stage. Attendees will gain insights into the creative and cultural impact of African music across diverse film markets.
Panel 23
3.10 PM
4.00 PM
THE BEAT BEHIND THE SCREEN
Topic: Black Music, African Beats, Film, and the New Global Storytelling Economy
​​
A dynamic opening conversation on how African music continues to shape global cinema and visual storytelling. This panel explores the transformative power of African music in global cinema, highlighting how Black music and Afrobeats are reshaping storytelling on screen. Industry leaders, composers, and filmmakers discuss the cultural, creative, and economic impact of African sound, examining how it drives audience engagement, expands markets, and opens new opportunities for cross-continental collaboration. Attendees will gain insights into the evolving role of African music in shaping the narratives and rhythms of the global film industry.
Panel 24
4.10 PM
5.10 PM
FILM MEETS FASHION & RHYTHM EXPANDING CREATIVE ECONOMIES
Topic: Exploring how Visual Identity, Rhythm, and Culture Collide to Shape Global Storytelling and Industry Innovation
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Exploring collaborations across film, fashion, and music and how Afrobeats aesthetics influence global branding and visual culture. At the intersection of film, fashion, and music, a new wave of Afro-diasporic creators is transforming how the world experiences culture on screen and beyond. This session examines how cinema's visual language, Afrobeats' rhythm, and fashion's expressive power are merging to create dynamic creative economies across Africa, Europe, and the diaspora. From the red carpet to the streaming screen, visual storytelling now drives branding, tourism, and global cultural identity. Through collaborations between filmmakers, designers, musicians, and digital innovators, creative expression is evolving into a multi-industry ecosystem that fuels jobs, exports, and influence. This panel brings together stylists, directors, brand innovators, and fashion houses to explore how aesthetics, rhythm, and representation not only tell stories - but build new markets. Together, they'll unpack how the look, the sound, and the soul of African creativity are redefining the business of culture.
SHOWCASE
5.20 PM
6.20 PM
MUSIC IN MOTION - FILM X SOUND COLLABS
Pitch and presentation session featuring new film-music collaborations, composer reels, and short sound-driven films. ​​​​
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Event
7.30 PM
10.30 PM
SOCIAL CALENDAR
Closing Mixer & Sound Party​​
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