African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), a leading pan-African multilateral financial institution, is committing up to $1 billion to Africa’s film and creative industries, marking one of the continent’s biggest financing moves aimed at turning entertainment into a major economic engine.

Through its development impact investment arm, the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), Afreximbank has appointed One Street Studios as Co-General Partner of the Pan African Film Fund, a vehicle designed to provide long-term capital for Africa’s fast-growing audiovisual sector.

The fund will invest across content production, creative infrastructure, distribution networks and digital platforms through equity, quasi-equity and structured financing solutions tailored to film and entertainment businesses.

Building Africa’s global entertainment pipeline

The Pan African Film Fund will focus on export-driven projects with strong international distribution potential, creating partnerships with global studios, streaming platforms and entertainment distributors.

Beyond financing films, the initiative aims to address some of the industry’s biggest challenges, including limited production infrastructure, fragmented distribution channels and insufficient access to growth capital.

The fund will support film and television development, production studios, post-production facilities, streaming platforms and exhibition networks while building a more competitive African film ecosystem.

Afreximbank expands creative economy strategy

The investment forms part of Afreximbank’s broader Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) strategy, which seeks to position Africa’s creative industries as a driver of economic growth, employment and global cultural influence.

“Africa’s creative industries are entering a defining moment,” said Lavaille Lavette, Chief Executive Officer of the Pan-African Film Fund and Managing Partner at One Street Studios / JVL Media.

“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.”

Emmanuel Assiak, Chief Executive Officer of FEDA, said African storytelling has significant cultural and commercial potential. “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,” Assiak said.

FEDA’s role in Africa’s investment landscape

The Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) is the impact investment subsidiary of Afreximbank, headquartered in Kigali, Rwanda.

The fund provides equity, quasi-equity and debt financing to address Africa’s estimated $110 billion financing gap while supporting trade development and industrial value chains.

FEDA invests across sectors including agribusiness, manufacturing, financial services, technology, transport and logistics, as well as infrastructure projects such as industrial parks.

One Street Studios brings creative financing model

One Street Studios is a production company focused on combining capital with creative development to finance, produce and distribute ambitious storytelling projects.

The company operates an integrated model covering project financing, publishing and screen adaptation, supporting creators from early development through global distribution.

Africa’s entertainment market enters a new investment era

Afreximbank’s $1 billion film fund highlights growing investor interest in Africa’s creative economy, where Nollywood, digital streaming and local content production are creating new opportunities for businesses, filmmakers and global entertainment partners.

By combining financing, infrastructure development and international partnerships, the Pan African Film Fund aims to strengthen Africa’s position in the global entertainment industry while creating sustainable economic opportunities for creators across the continent.