The Next Narrative Africa Fund (NNAF), founded by Akunna Cook, recently announced its first wave of film and television projects aimed at elevating African storytelling. With a substantial US$50 million funding commitment over the next five years, this initiative promises to focus on script development and production support for nine groundbreaking projects from Africa and its diaspora, including contributions from prominent figures like Trevor Noah, the Esiri Brothers, and Rapman.
On March 12, Cook revealed the inaugural lineup, stating that the NNAF will allocate US$10 million in grants for script development. Once filmmakers submit a polished script suitable for production, the fund will deploy US$40 million in equity investment. The goal is to support around 125 scripts and finance 20 to 25 projects, contributing up to 20% of each project’s total production budget. Filmmakers will be responsible for securing the remaining funding, with the option to collaborate with other companies.
A key requirement for qualifying projects is the commitment to conduct at least 50% of production on the African continent. Cook emphasised the fund’s purpose, saying, “We aim for our funding, both on the non-profit and for-profit sides, to be catalytic.” This initiative has sifted through an impressive pool of over 2,000 submissions to curate its initial lineup—a selection that represents an estimated US$60 million in production value.
In partnership with Parrot Analytics, NNAF also plans to utilise predictive data to analyse and enhance the African entertainment landscape. Notable projects selected for funding include:
- Beyond Day Zero (South Africa) – This action film, produced by Trevor Noah, examines the oppressive wealth gap through a rebellion orchestrated by a water tycoon’s daughter.
- Innocent (Nigeria) – A mystery-thriller set in Lagos, directed by Arie Esiri, this film promises a captivating ‘whodunnit’ experience.
- Skunk (South Africa) – An action drama about fashion models who execute a heist to reclaim ancestral land, with Thuso Mbedu starring and co-writing.
- Untitled Political Thriller/Drama (Sierra Leone-UK) – Directed by Rapman, this drama follows a soldier whose rise to power reveals the complexities and dangers of leadership.
- United States of Africa (Ghana) – An action spy thriller set during the Cold War, where a Ghanaian soldier forms the continent’s first spy agency to safeguard independence.
- Bako (Nigeria)- A romance sci-fi film exploring societal divisions in a future where aliens coexist with humans.
- The Return (Ghana)- A comedic horror film highlighting the clash between modern culture and ancient deities.
- About Love & September Laws (Sudan) – Set in 1983 Sudan, this drama delves into the impacts of Sharia law. The NNAF’s diverse slate not only aims to foster world-class storytelling but also seeks to drive economic development across Africa, creating jobs and enhancing the region’s artistic landscape.
