Established in 2025, the Toolbox Distribution Academy is a professional development and networking initiative focused on nurturing emerging film distribution professionals across Africa.
By Adedamola Jones Adedayo
The European Film Market (EFM) has unveiled nine African participants for the second edition of its Toolbox Distribution Academy, an initiative aimed at strengthening film distribution across Africa. The 2027 cohort brings together participants from Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Zambia, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Selected from Kenya are Dancurf Brown, Michelle Abuti and Gloria Nkatha. Brown is a filmmaker known for directing films including Poker (2019) and A Family Portrait (2024). Abuti is a media entrepreneur with a background in theatre production, and the founder of Singano, a platform dedicated to increasing visibility and access to African cinema through curated recommendations, screenings and critical reviews. Nkatha is a film critic and marketer, and the curator of the Talk Film To Me podcast and blog, where she facilitates conversations about African cinema.
Representing Ethiopia are Mihiret Worede Woldeeyesus and Hiwot Muluneh Sugebo. Woldeeyesus is a film producer and Head of Distribution at African Alliance Films, an Ethiopia-based distribution and sales company; Sugebo is a sustainability and impact professional whose work spans creative production, programme management, and community development.
Ghana’s Najilau Dramundu Atta Abdul Karim joins the cohort, bringing in experience that cuts across animation, filmmaking and visual storytelling. She is the founder of 9th March Studios, a Ghanaian entertainment and media production company involved in film, video and related creative work.
Zambian filmmaker Emmanuel Mwape “Chungu” is also part of the 2027 cohort. Mwape is the founder of Delicama Films, a Lusaka-based independent film production company, and Chawama Theatre Club. He is also Festival Director of the Zambia Short Film Festival, which provides a platform for emerging Zambian filmmakers.
From Uganda, the cohort includes Ivan Tusabe, a screenwriter, producer and director who is the founder of Ewaka Cine Films, a Kampala-based production company working across film, documentary, and commercials. Tusabe is also an alumnus of the MultiChoice Talent Factory, New York Film Academy, and has previously participated in training at Red Sea SeriesLab.
Rounding off the selection is Habibu Diliwa, a Tanzanian filmmaker, curator and arts manager. He is also Festival Director of Kilimanjaro Film Festival, also known as KiliFilmFest, providing a platform for filmmakers to showcase the cultural richness and heritage of Africans around and beyond the continent through storytelling.
Established in 2025, the Toolbox Distribution Academy is a professional development and networking initiative focused on nurturing emerging film distribution professionals across Africa. By fostering partnerships between African and European players in the film industry, the programme seeks to strengthen the continent’s distribution landscape and help African films reach broader audiences internationally.
Each year, seven to ten selected African professionals undergo a five-week residency in Europe, which ends with participation in Berlinale’s European Film Market. Participants receive advanced training and mentorship from seasoned European distributors, sales agents and industry experts across major areas of film distribution.
With the latest cohort attracting professionals from production, criticism, curation, marketing, sales and distribution, the Toolbox Distribution Academy raises awareness about the need for sturdier distribution expertise within the continent’s cinematic landscape.