Akunna Cook's Next Narrative Africa Fund has named its inaugural cohort of nine film and television projects, the first wave of what the organization says will be $50 million in content funding over five years.
The structure splits into two pools: a $10 million non-profit grant fund for script development and a $40 million commercial equity fund for projects ready to be packaged or put into production. NNAF says it will back up to 20% of any single project's total production budget. All qualifying projects must bring at least 50% of production to the African continent. Over the five-year window, NNAF expects to support roughly 125 scripts on the development side and partially finance 20–25 projects through the commercial fund.
The nine projects were selected from more than 2,000 submissions. NNAF has also entered a strategic partnership with Parrot Analytics to produce an African entertainment landscape study using predictive data.
The Projects
"Beyond Day Zero" (South Africa) — Action film. The wealthy daughter of a water tycoon teams up with a gangster from the townships to lead a rebellion against her father and tear down the wall dividing their world. Produced by Trevor Noah and Sanaz Yamin; adapted by Amy Jephta from an original story by Toby and Kevin Schmutzler.
"Innocent" (Nigeria) — Mystery-thriller. A whodunnit set in Lagos. Directed by Arie Esiri from a script co-written with his brother Chuko. The Esiri Brothers' feature Clarissa, starring Sophie Okonedo, David Oyelowo, and Ayo Edebiri, was recently acquired by Neon.
"Skunk" (South Africa) — Action drama. Two fashion models mastermind a heist to steal government gold and buy back ancestral land. Written and directed by Amanda Lane. Thuso Mbedu stars and co-writes.
"Untitled Political Thriller" (Sierra Leone/UK) — Drama-thriller. At 25, a quiet Sierra Leonean soldier is thrust into power after a bloodless coup, only to find that ruling a country is far more dangerous than taking it. Directed and co-written by Rapman (Supacell).
"United States of Africa" (Ghana) — TV series, action spy thriller. Ghana, 1958: When the CIA, KGB, and MI6 turn the newly independent nation into a proxy Cold War battlefield, a former Ghanaian soldier is tasked with forming the first African spy agency. André Holland among the executive producers.
"Bako" (Nigeria) — Romance sci-fi. In a near-future Nigeria where aliens live alongside humans, their technology propels the nation into a boom that divides society, placing a once-in-a-generation love on the fault line of a changing world. Directed and co-written by Boma Iluma.
"The Return" (Ghana) — Comedy horror. During a weekend getaway in Ghana, seven Gen Z friends accidentally disrespect an ancient deity in their beachfront Airbnb. What begins as a celebration turns into a struggle for survival, forcing the group to confront their identity, heritage, and the power of honouring the past. Written and directed by Zoey Martinson.
"About Love & September Laws" (Sudan) — Drama. Sudan, 1983: as Sharia Law takes hold, a doctor, a translator, and a US reporter are entangled in love and resistance. Directed and co-written by Mohamed Kordofani, whose Goodbye Julia won at Cannes Un Certain Regard in 2023.
"Jollof Wars" (West Africa) — Comedy fantasy musical. In a world where chefs call on their ancestral spirits to cook, a talented orphan without a spirit must team up with a jaded heiress to reclaim the soul of West African cuisine before generations of recipes are erased from history. Directed by Kugali Media's Hamid Ibrahim. Banky W and Adesua Etomi star.
More to say about this — including on the Parrot Analytics partnership, for which no release timeline has been given, and at least two projects in the cohort have yet to attach directors — but for now, that's the news.
