The Baxu Maam Incubator has announced the six producers selected for its inaugural 2026 cohort, marking the formal launch of a new West African regional development program focused on building producing capacity and facilitating access to international co-production and financing markets.
The program is conceived and delivered by Yetu (Un)Limited, a pan-African film studio founded in 2023, and is supported by the French Embassy in Guinea, where the program is based.
The 2026 BM Access Cohort
The six selected producers represent five countries across West Africa:
- Kalista Sy of Kalista Production — Senegal
- Gahité Fofana of Bafila Films — Guinea Conakry
- Pedro Soulé of KS Cinema — Cabo Verde
- Amdy Moustapha of Nataal Production — Senegal
- Mada Ndiaye of Artmada — Senegal
- Med Leminme Rajel of Culturim Agency — Mauritania
Program Structure
The program focuses on the development of audiovisual projects and access to international co-production and financing markets. Participants will work through development roadmap sessions and participate in online industry keynotes before gathering in Conakry later this month for an in-person workshop week. A year-long tailored accompaniment follows.
Lead mentors for the cohort are Senegalese producer-director Angèle Diabang of Karoninka, and Solmaz Azizi, producer and head of development at Zentropa in Germany.
Strategic consultants include Anna Ciennick (Very Good Script, France), Nicola Ofoego (Black Mic Mac, UK/Jamaica), Souleymane Kebe (Sunuy Films, Senegal), and Sean Drummond (Be Phat Motel Story, South Africa).
The program's speaker lineup includes Moustapha Sawadogo of FESPACO, Aleksandra Zakharachenko of the Marché du Film at Cannes, Hedi Zardi of Atlas Workshop, Sébastien Onomo of Pathé Touch Studios, and Serge Noukoue of Okada Media, among others.
The program is directed by Yanis Gaye.
