Filmhouse Group and Bread of Hope Foundation Bring First-Time Cinema Experience to Makoko Kids

L-R - Winnifred Wessels, (Head Of Marketing, Filmhouse Cinemas), Uchechi Ukpa, (Account Manager, FilmOne Entertainment), Shareefat Hayat Sarkis (Volunteer, Bread of Hope), Gift Akunne Akuagwuagwu, (Volunteers management, Bread of Hope), Felicita Ezulike (Volunteer, Bread of Hope) Taiye Elebiyo Edeni (Representative, Bread of Hope)

Lagos, Nigeria | April 13, 2025 — Last weekend, Filmhouse Group, in partnership with the Bread of Hope Foundation, hosted a movie screening for over 600 children in IMAX, Lekki. This initiative is part of their ongoing efforts to use storytelling as a tool for inclusion and transformation. It gave children from Makoko and other underserved communities their first cinematic experience, offering an entertaining and immersive movie screening, regardless of their background.

"We understand that cinema goes beyond entertainment and is a transformative force that shapes minds and broadens perspectives. As we continue to expand our footprint, our commitment goes beyond providing access to films; we are dedicated to ensuring that children, no matter their background, can experience the educational and transformative power of storytelling. Today's screening is a step in that direction; paving the way for a future where the next generation of creatives can be inspired and empowered by the stories, they see on our screen today. This is just the beginning of our broader mission to democratize creativity and ensure that cinema is accessible to all " stated Kene Okwuosa, Group CEO, Filmhouse Group, (Filmhouse Cinemas, FilmOne Entertainment, FilmOne Studios).

The children in attendance were introduced to King of Kings, a faith-based film distributed by Angel Studios and sub-distributed by FilmOne in West Africa. The film, which highlights themes of hope, courage, love, and resilience, tells the story of Jesus Christ through the eyes of a child, emphasizing the transformative power of faith and the enduring message of redemption. The screening created a captivating environment in which the children were not only entertained but also deeply immersed in the film's powerful messages, leaving them with a lasting sense of inspiration and hope.

Winnifred Wessels, Head of Marketing, Filmhouse Cinemas, shared, "It was evident from the children's reactions that the power of cinema - to create meaningful experiences cannot be overstated. This moment was a chance to offer children from different walks of life a shared experience that will remain with them through life. On a broader scale, this initiative aims to inspire and ignite the dreams of young minds who may one day pursue careers in the creative sector, particularly in filmmaking, animation, writing, and other forms of storytelling, providing them with a platform to imagine, create, and shape the future of entertainment."

This initiative is part of Filmhouse Group’s broader strategy to democratize access to cinematic experiences, ensuring that children from all social classes and backgrounds can engage with and benefit from the arts.