The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has taken another step towards one of the continent’s biggest creative economy investment programs, appointing One Street Studios as Co-General Partner of the Pan-African Film Fund as it works to mobilize up to $1 billion for Africa’s film and audiovisual industries.
Afreximbank’s development impact investment arm, the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), announced the appointment, marking a significant milestone in implementing the Pan-African Film Fund. This investment platform provides long-term financing for African film, television, and immersive media businesses.
Launched in May 2025 under Afreximbank‘s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) program, the fund aims to strengthen Africa’s position as a global producer and exporter of audiovisual content by investing across the industry’s value chain rather than focusing solely on film production.
A $1 billion bet on Africa’s screen industries
According to Afreximbank, the Pan-African Film Fund is designed to mobilize up to $1 billion in investment for Africa’s film and audiovisual sector, making it one of the continent’s most ambitious creative economy financing initiatives.
Rather than limiting support to individual productions, the fund is expected to finance projects across the industry’s value chain through a combination of equity, quasi-equity and structured financing tailored to the needs of creative businesses. The objective is to provide long-term capital capable of supporting sustainable growth across the sector while positioning African storytelling as a globally competitive export.
The investment platform will prioritiz e projects with strong international distribution prospects and work alongside film studios, distributors and streaming platforms to expand the global reach of African content.
Building the infrastructure behind African storytelling
Beyond financing films, the Pan-African Film Fund seeks to address structural gaps that have constrained the growth of Africa’s audiovisual industry for years.
Investments will span film and television development, production, digital streaming platforms, exhibition infrastructure, production studios, post-production facilities and stronger distribution networks capable of moving African content across both continental and international markets.
The strategy indicates the switch in how creative industries are being financed. Instead of treating films as isolated projects, the fund recognizes that sustainable growth depends on strengthening the commercial systems that support production, distribution, and monetization.
If successfully implemented, the initiative could help build a more resilient ecosystem where creators have access not only to production financing but also to the infrastructure needed to take African stories to audiences around the world.
Why One Street Studios was chosen
Under the new partnership, FEDA and One Street Studios will jointly serve as Co-General Partners, combining financial expertise with industry experience to oversee the investment platform.
One Street Studios operates an integrated business model that combines financing, content development and production while supporting African-owned intellectual property from concept through distribution. The company also works to connect creators across Africa with the African diaspora, expanding opportunities for authentic African stories to reach international audiences.
Speaking on the partnership, George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, said the initiative would strengthen African ownership of its creative industries while deepening connections with the diaspora.
“The partnership between FEDA and One Street Studios is most timely and strategic as it serves as a crucial bridge uniting the diaspora with geographic Africa but also empowers our creative economy to take full ownership of our narratives, enabling us to produce what we consume and consume what we produce.”
Lavaille Lavette, Chief Executive Officer of the Pan-African Film Fund and Managing Partner at One Street Studios/JVL Media, described the initiative as a defining moment for the continent’s creative industries.
“Africa’s creative industries are entering a defining moment. Through the Pan-African Film Fund, we will mobilise long-term capital that supports creators, strengthens production capacity, and builds sustainable global distribution pathways for African storytelling.”
Similarly, Emmanuel Assiak, Chief Executive Officer of FEDA, said the investment platform is designed to unlock commercial opportunities while connecting African creative businesses with global audiences.
“African storytelling carries extraordinary cultural depth and universal relevance. Through the Pan-African Film Fund, FEDA is enabling creators to produce world-class content while connecting them with global audiences and long-term investment capital.“
Why this matters for Africa’s creative economy
The latest announcement reinforces Afreximbank’s broader CANEX strategy of positioning Africa’s creative industries as a driver of export growth, economic diversification, job creation and cultural influence.
Over the past few years, conversations about financing Africa’s creative industries have centered on supporting individual projects. The Pan-African Film Fund adopts a broader approach by investing in the systems that allow creative businesses to grow over the long term, from production and post-production to distribution and digital platforms.
If the fund delivers on its objectives, it could help address one of the sector’s longstanding challenges: the gap between Africa’s abundance of creative talent and the commercial infrastructure needed to scale it globally.
As governments, investors and development institutions continue to position the creative economy as a strategic growth sector, initiatives such as the Pan-African Film Fund point to a future in which African stories are supported by stronger financing, better infrastructure, and more sustainable pathways to global markets.
