PAWA, DPL to establish Film Africa Network
By Editor
IN a major step towards revitalizing and connecting the African film industry across the continent, the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) and Ghana-based film production company Driving Park Ltd (DPL) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to launch Film Africa Network (FAN). The partnership will see the establishment of a continent-wide film exhibition platform that brings African feature films to cinemas and television screens in all 54 African countries.
FAN will harness PAWA’s expansive network of national writers’ associations and cultural institutions, combined with Driving Park’s production and distribution expertise, to foster a new era of creative collaboration, cultural pride, and economic opportunity in African cinema.
“This is more than an MOU—it is a commitment to the future of African storytelling,” said Secretary General of PAWA and author of the film adapted novel Tenants of the House Dr. Wale Okediran. “Through this partnership, we will amplify African voices, promote intra-African cultural exchange, and support the development of an inclusive and sustainable film ecosystem.”
Under the agreement, PAWA will designate national representatives in each country to coordinate local screenings, educational outreach, and community engagement activities. Driving Park Ltd, led by veteran journalist, filmmaker and its Executive Producer, Ruby Ofori, will manage content acquisition, film production partnerships, and the operational logistics of distribution across both cinema and television platforms.
Film Africa Network will provide a reliable distribution channel for African filmmakers across the continent, enable simultaneous exhibition of films in multiple African countries, promote African languages, cultures, and narratives through coordinated subtitling and programming as well as leverage advertising and sponsorship models to ensure financial sustainability and fair compensation for content creators.
“This initiative addresses a critical gap in the African film value chain—distribution,” said Ofori. “By linking filmmakers directly to audiences in every country, we will unlock new revenue streams, build demand for locally produced content, and elevate African cinema to its rightful global standing.”
The partnership between PAWA and Driving Park Ltd signals a powerful new chapter in the evolution of African cinema—one driven by Africans for Africans and shared with the world.
Dr. Okediran (second right) and Ruby Ofori (second left) flanked on the right by Mr. Louis Mensah (PAWA’s Treasurer) and Caroline Addo (Secretary to the PAWA SG) at the signing ceremony at PAWA House, Accra, Ghana
