African filmmakers and industry leaders are calling for stronger intellectual property protection, supportive government policies and fair co-production deals to build a globally competitive cinema industry.
The call was made during the second Docubox International Partnership Summit held from July 17 to 18, bringing together creative producers, distributors, policymakers and cultural leaders from across Africa and beyond.
Docubox East Africa Film Fund Executive Director Susan Mbogo said lasting partnerships are essential to the future of African cinema.
"The future of African storytelling depends on strong, meaningful partnerships," Mbogo said. "Through the Docubox International Partnership Summit, we are creating spaces where filmmakers, ecosystem builders and industry leaders move beyond conversations into lasting collaboration."
She urged governments, collecting societies and professional guilds to strengthen copyright enforcement, raise awareness about intellectual property rights and establish transparent policies to support a healthier creative economy.
While African filmmakers have historically delivered award-winning projects despite limited budgets and weak distribution networks, the focus is now shifting toward long-term sustainability and global competitiveness.
At the heart of this shift is co-production, which allows filmmakers, producers and financiers from different countries to collaborate on financing, development and distribution.
When structured fairly, co-productions provide access to larger budgets, international expertise and broader audiences.
Organisers said the summit has become a key platform for East Africa's independent film sector, allowing creators to connect directly with international partners on financing and long-term investment.
Alongside the summit, participants attended the Docubox Creative Producers Lab for fiction filmmakers and the Rough Cut Lab Africa for documentary creators. Five projects from the Creative Producers Lab will each receive Sh647,000 ($5,000) grants to support script development and production planning.
Kenyan film and television producer Njoki Muhoho noted that while local talent is gaining international recognition, the country's film industry remains in an incubation stage.
"The next phase of growth lies in telling stories rooted in African experiences while meeting international production standards," Muhoho said.
She urged filmmakers to embrace their cultural identity rather than imitating foreign cinema, adding that authentic African stories can resonate globally.
Muhoho said achieving this goal requires clear co-production regulations, tax incentives, accessible financing and credit policies tailored for creatives. She also encouraged filmmakers to build sustainable businesses around original content and retain ownership of their intellectual property rather than depending solely on grants.
Documentary Africa Executive Director Mohamed Said Ouma emphasised that successful international co-productions rely on strong producers who negotiate equitable deals.
Ouma noted that African producers frequently enter agreements without proper due diligence, allowing foreign financiers to claim majority ownership based on funding size.
"Research, script development and creative investment have real value and should carry equal weight during negotiations," Ouma said.
He added that governments can attract high-quality partnerships by improving copyright laws, offering tax incentives and simplifying licensing processes.
Chike Nwoffiah, a Nigerian filmmaker, arts consultant and founder of the Silicon Valley African Film Festival, said collaboration has become the industry's most valuable asset.
"We are moving away from seeing partnerships purely through the lens of funding," Nwoffiah said. "The best collaborations strengthen the entire ecosystem by sharing knowledge, opening markets and creating opportunities that outlive a single project."
He noted that although African films continue to win international accolades, many creators still struggle with financing, distribution and legal safeguards.
Nwoffiah added that understanding contracts, licensing and intellectual property is now just as critical for filmmakers as mastering storytelling itself.