Entertainment Week Africa (EWA) is gearing up for a milestone return to Lagos this November, and its fifth anniversary edition is putting African film firmly in the spotlight.
Scheduled to run from November 17–22, 2026, Entertainment Week Africa will celebrate five years of supporting Africa’s growing creative economy under the theme, “Five Years of Closing the Gap.”
One of the biggest attractions this year is the world premiere of University of Side Hustle, the first scripted feature film from Livespot Studios.
Written by Dami Elebe and executive produced by Deola Art Alade, the film represents a new chapter for EWA as the platform expands beyond bringing creatives together to actively developing and showcasing original African intellectual property.
African Film Takes Centre Stage at EWA 2026
Beyond the premiere, EWA 2026 is setting the stage for some serious conversations — and hopefully serious business — around the future of African cinema.
The Film & TV programme is expected to welcome filmmakers, producers, studios, commissioners, distributors, streaming platforms and investors from more than 18 African countries.
The goal is simple but important: connect African storytellers with the people, platforms and resources that can help their work travel beyond local audiences.
For Nollywood and the wider African film industry, this kind of access continues to matter as African productions gain more international attention and filmmakers explore new routes to financing, distribution and global partnerships.
Five Years of Building Africa’s Creative Economy
Since launching, Entertainment Week Africa has grown into a major meeting point for Africa’s creative industry.
Across its first four editions, EWA welcomed more than 67,800 attendees. Its 2025 edition alone attracted 28,683 pass holders, featured 93 film screenings and generated more than 800 million digital impressions.
Those numbers highlight just how much interest in African entertainment and storytelling continues to grow.
For its fifth anniversary, EWA plans to build on that momentum with initiatives including the EWA Content Market, Deal Room, Capital Desk and Creative Connect.
Rather than simply discussing challenges facing the industry, these programmes are designed to create practical opportunities for filmmakers and other creatives to meet investors, secure partnerships, explore funding and find distribution opportunities.
From Conversations to Creating African Stories
For Deola Art Alade, Convener of Entertainment Week Africa and Group CEO of Livespot360, the fifth anniversary represents more than another edition of the event.
She explained that EWA’s focus is increasingly on building systems that can help African stories reach wider audiences. The premiere of University of Side Hustle, she said, demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to creating original African intellectual property while connecting filmmakers to partnerships and market opportunities.
Darey Art Alade, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Livespot360, also pointed to the increasing international recognition of African cinema.
According to him, EWA wants African filmmakers to have access to the networks, opportunities and resources necessary to turn creative talent into sustainable careers and commercial success.
What EWA 2026 Could Mean for African Filmmakers
As African films continue to find audiences across cinemas, streaming platforms and international festivals, the conversation is gradually moving beyond visibility.
The bigger question is how African filmmakers can turn that attention into sustainable businesses, stronger distribution networks and long-term ownership of African stories.
That makes platforms such as Entertainment Week Africa increasingly important. Connecting creativity with financing, distribution and industry decision-makers could help more African productions move from promising ideas to commercially viable projects capable of travelling globally.
And with University of Side Hustle making its world premiere at this year’s edition, EWA appears ready to demonstrate what that transition can look like.
Entertainment Week Africa 2026 takes place in Lagos from November 17–22, 2026. Registration and speaker submissions are currently open.
