South African actor, producer and media entrepreneur Thapelo Mokoena has conducted a high-level masterclass for Ugandan filmmakers under the Africa Film Forum, an initiative of the iKON Awards.
The session was held on February 13, 2026 at the Reach A Hand Uganda offices in Lungujja as part of Mokoena’s official visit ahead of the iKON Awards 2026 “Beyond Borders” engagements. The forum attracted leading Ugandan film personalities, including Mathew Nabwiso, Nana Kagga and Saha Vibes, following an invitation from iKON Awards Founder and CEO Humphrey Nabimanya aimed at strengthening continental collaboration in film.
Blending personal career experiences with practical industry insights, Mokoena delivered a forward-looking address that centred on sustainability, strategy and cross-border partnerships in Africa’s creative economy.
Reframing Film as a Business
A key message throughout the masterclass was the need to treat film as a structured, long-term business rather than solely a creative pursuit.
Mokoena challenged filmmakers to normalise conversations around return on investment, intellectual property protection, structured ownership and long-term monetisation. He observed that while many African productions are improving in technical quality, insufficient focus is often placed on distribution systems, content cataloguing and rights management.
“A film should still be earning for you ten years from now,” he emphasised, urging creatives to view their projects as investable assets capable of generating sustained value through licensing, syndication, resale and adaptation across multiple markets.
He encouraged filmmakers to think beyond box office revenues and explore television rights, streaming partnerships and international co-productions as part of broader revenue strategies. His remarks fed into a growing continental dialogue about building a resilient creative economy anchored on long-term value creation.
Collaboration as a Growth Strategy
Another major theme was collaboration. Mokoena described African cinema as “a family coming together,” stressing that partnerships between countries such as Uganda, Nigeria and South Africa are critical to scaling the industry.
He pointed to emerging projects born out of relationships built through the iKON platform, including an upcoming Netflix-commissioned production, as evidence that strategic alliances can unlock funding, distribution networks and technical exchange.
“South Africa is a journey we are embarking on together,” he said, calling collaboration not optional but necessary for competitiveness in a globalised market.
He also addressed the hesitation among smaller production houses to share resources, urging industry players to adopt a more unified approach.
Mathew Nabwiso, President of the Producers Guild of Uganda, echoed the call for unity, noting that growth cannot happen in isolation. He encouraged filmmakers to produce stories with impact, highlighting opportunities for partnerships with institutions such as the Uganda Tourism Board that are seeking compelling content to showcase Uganda’s identity.
Nabwiso further stressed the importance of guild membership and structured industry organisation, arguing that proper data collection is essential in demonstrating the film sector’s contribution to the national economy.
“Without data, we cannot demonstrate our value,” he said, reinforcing the argument that film must be recognised not only as art but also as a measurable economic sector.
African Stories, Told Authentically
In his opening remarks, iKON Awards Founder Humphrey Nabimanya explained that the Africa Film Forum was established to ensure African stories are told by Africans.
“We wanted to create a space where African creatives can collaborate and tell our stories authentically — not have them told for us,” he said.
Under the iKON Awards umbrella, several platforms have been developed to strengthen the ecosystem, including Ikon Activate, the Ikon Young Filmmakers Fellowship, the Ikon Fund and the Africa Film Forum.
Nabimanya revealed that the 2026 edition of the awards received over 200 submissions, with 40 percent coming from other African countries — a reflection of the initiative’s expanding continental reach. The awards ceremony is scheduled for August.
Film as a Driver of National Development
Also in attendance was Uganda’s Special Presidential Envoy on Tourism and Trade, Rosa Malango, whose presence highlighted the increasing recognition of film as a catalyst for tourism, trade and national branding.
Discussions at the forum underscored a broader industry shift — from survival to sustainability, and from isolated productions to a coordinated continental movement.
The masterclass ultimately signalled a strategic step toward positioning Ugandan cinema within Africa’s expanding creative economy. With new partnerships forming and collaborative projects already in motion, the Africa Film Forum engagement marked more than an exchange of ideas — it reflected a shared ambition to build an enduring industry for future generations.
