Cannes Film Festival 2025: Filmhouse Group CEO Urges Industry to Build Global-Ready Structures

Monday 19th May - Cannes, France — West Africa’s leading entertainment company, Filmhouse Group, took center stage at the Nigerian International Film Summit (NIFS) during the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, leading a conversation on Nollywood’s evolving role on the global stage.

The session, titled “The Nollywood Conversations: A Deep Dive into Opportunities to Present African Stories for Global Screens,” unpacked the current challenges and future possibilities for African cinema, with Filmhouse Group presenting an integrated model of distribution, production, and global partnerships.

Represented by the Group CEO, Filmhouse Group, Kene Okwuosa and Chief Content Officer FilmOne Entertainment - Ladun Awobokun, Filmhouse executives outlined the company’s role in bridging African content with international markets. “We must invest in scalable ecosystems,” said Awobokun. “For Nollywood to thrive globally, structure and sustainability must meet creativity.”

Speaking on the panel, Kene Okwuosa reiterated, “The world wants African stories, but it’s our responsibility to ensure we’re creating the ecosystems to sustain that demand,” he said. “From licensing frameworks and exhibition strategies to co-productions and international distribution, we must build for scale, not just success.”

Filmhouse, through its distribution arm - FilmOne Entertainment, holds theatrical licenses in West Africa with major Hollywood studios including Disney, Warner Bros., Empire, Angel Studios and Sony. They also command a majority market share for distributing Nollywood titles. The company’s presence at Cannes signals a strategic push to expand Nollywood’s global footprint; not just through content, but by investing in infrastructure and engaging in policy that supports the industry’s long-term growth.

The conversation also featured exclusive previews of Filmhouse-backed projects including 77: The Festac Conspiracy, emphasizing a focus on high-production-value stories built for international audiences.

The session drew participation from policymakers, financiers, and creatives, reinforcing Nigeria’s role as a key player in the evolving global entertainment economy.