New Film Distribution Initiative Connects African Audiences with African Stories

Screen Connect, a new Pan-African film distribution network, is set to premiere its first theatrical release in Kenya this June.

The initiative will launch with Over the Bridge, a psychological thriller from Nigeria, screening at Century Cinemax Junction, Garden City, and Two Rivers cinemas from 6 June.

Screen Connect was developed in 2024 under the Moving Pictures program by GIZ and Some Fine Day Pix. Its goal is to improve access to African films across the continent by addressing long-standing distribution challenges.

The initiative is led by Nigerian film producer Cassandra Onwualu, Kenyan filmmaker Marete Selvin, and Rwandan creative director Mizero Kabano Yannick.

According to Onwualu, audiences across Africa continue to face limited access to films from neighboring countries, even as demand for African stories grows globally.

“We want Kenyan audiences to be able to watch great Nigerian films, and vice versa,” she says.

“Through partnerships with filmmakers, distributors, and cinemas, we aim to connect audiences, support local talent, and grow the African film economy.”

Over the Bridge will be the first of several films released through the Screen Connect platform as the team expands operations in cities including Kigali, Nairobi, Lagos, and Johannesburg.