The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), through its impact investment subsidiary, the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), announced on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, the appointment of One Street Studios as co-General Partner of the Pan-African Film Fund. With a mobilization target of up to $1 billion, this investment vehicle aims to accelerate the development of African film and creative industries.
Launched in May 2025 as part of Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) program, this fund is designed to finance the growth of African film, television, and immersive media sectors. The goal is to enhance the continent’s international competitiveness in audiovisual production and showcase African stories on a global scale. According to Afreximbank, based on data from UNESCO’s Institute of Statistics, the African film and audiovisual industry currently generates approximately $5 billion in annual revenue and supports over 5 million jobs.
Financing across the entire audiovisual value chain
According to the information, the Fund will invest in a diversified portfolio covering content creation, production infrastructure, and distribution networks. It will mobilize various financial instruments, including equity investments, quasi-equity, and structured financing solutions tailored to the needs of creative industries.
Investments will primarily target projects with high export and international distribution potential. To maximize their impact, they will be supported by partnerships with studios, streaming platforms, and international distributors to build a pipeline of high-value bankable opportunities.
Beyond financing, the Fund aims to address the sector’s key structural challenges. It will support the development and production of film and television content, strengthen the global distribution of African works, support the expansion of digital distribution platforms, and invest in film studios and post-production infrastructure. This integrated approach aims to build a sustainable and internationally competitive African audiovisual ecosystem.
An alliance between financial expertise and creative know-how
FEDA and One Street Studios will jointly manage the Fund as co-General Partners. This alliance combines FEDA’s financing capabilities with One Street Studios’ creative and operational expertise to establish an investment platform tailored to the ambitions of the African creative economy.
As a strategic partner, One Street Studios – an integrated production company linked to JVL Media, co-founded by actress Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, and Lavaille Lavette – will leverage its model combining financing, development, and content production from conception to distribution. The studio also aims to strengthen the ties between the African diaspora and the continent by supporting African-origin stories with international appeal. Its model integrates project financing, editing, and adaptation for the screen under one structure, with a particular focus on creators who are underrepresented.
This appointment is part of Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) strategy, which aims to make cultural and creative industries a driver of economic growth, job creation, and cultural influence for Africa. With this $1 billion fund, the bank aims to contribute to the emergence of an African audiovisual industry capable of competing with major global production hubs.
