Makemation, Africa's First Ai Feature Film, Heads to Harvard Kennedy School for Exclusive Screening and Policy Dialogue

Rise Interactive Studios, the multi-sector creative economy powerhouse, is proud to announce that its groundbreaking AI-themed feature film, MAKEMATION, will be showcased at Harvard University Center for African Studies on March 4, 2026.​

The exclusive event, scheduled during Harvard Worldwide Week, will feature a Lightning Talk on bold AI innovation in Africa, a full screening of the film and a high-level panel discussion with the film’s Executive Producer and Harvard Kennedy School alumna, Dr. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji.

By featuring MAKEMATION during Harvard Worldwide Week, an annual celebration of Harvard’s global reach, the University is positioning African AI innovation at the center of international academic and policy discourse. The film tells the compelling story of 17-year-old Zara Sodangi, who harnesses AI to build affordable diagnostic health tool, demonstrating the transformative power of STEM, ethical leadership and collaborative problem-solving.

This showcase follows Rise Interactive Studios’ successful 2025 partnership with Harvard’s Center for African Societies and Economies (CSASE), where the studio served as Lead Local Partner for the launch of the landmark Afrobeats Inaugural Policy Report in Lagos.

Beyond entertainment, MAKEMATION serves as a showcase for revolutionary tech projects such as AI4TraffickKontrol, Cerebral BCI and SheDetectIt Bra. This screening signals the film’s growing role as a licensed educational resource and social impact platform, designed to inspire complex problem-solving and youth-led progress in education and entrepreneurship.

“Bringing MAKEMATION to Harvard Kennedy School is a testament to the fact that African stories, told with ambition and excellence, belong on the world’s most influential stages,” said Dr. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji. “We are leveraging cinematic intellectual property (IP) to simplify complex technologies and influence global perceptions of African innovation.”

Prior to this Harvard showcase, MAKEMATION has earned critical acclaim at:

· AfricaNext@UNGA (Microsoft Research Lab, New York)

· The Global AI Summit (Saudi Arabia)

· The UNDP Marketplace

· Kenya Innovation Week

· A successful 4-week cinematic run across Nigeria.

ABOUT RISE INTERACTIVE STUDIOS

Rise Interactive Studios (RIS) is a multi-sector creative economy powerhouse operating at the high-stakes intersection of Film, Music, Literature, Fashion and Technology. As the architects of the African narrative, RIS leverages deep data and cinematic excellence to build intellectual property (IP) that resonates locally and competes globally. RIS serves as the strategic gateway for the world to engage with the soul of Africa.