South African actor, producer, and media entrepreneur Thapelo Mokoena led a masterclass for Ugandan filmmakers as part of the Africa Film Forum, an initiative of the iKON Awards.
The session, held at Reach A Hand Uganda’s offices in Lungujja, was part of Thapelo Mokoena’s official visit ahead of the iKON Awards “Beyond Borders” engagements for the 2026 edition. The forum brought together prominent figures from Uganda’s film industry, including Mathew Nabwiso, Nana Kagga, and Saha Vibes, among others.
The engagement followed an invitation by iKON Awards founder and CEO Humphrey Nabimanya, as part of ongoing efforts to deepen continental collaboration in film and television.
Film as a Business
In a keynote address that blended personal experience with industry strategy, Thapelo Mokoena urged Ugandan filmmakers to rethink how they approach cinema, not only as art, but as a scalable business.
“Film must be approached as a business,” he said, calling for a stronger focus on return on investment, intellectual property protection, structured ownership, and long-term monetisation.
He noted that while many African filmmakers invest heavily in production quality, distribution systems, and rights management often receive less attention. According to Mokoena, sustainable filmmaking lies in building assets that generate value long after release.
“You must create something that can still earn for you ten years from now,” he said, highlighting opportunities in licensing, syndication, television rights, and streaming deals.
His remarks echoed broader conversations across Africa about transforming film into a long-term economic driver rather than a one-off creative output.
Collaboration as Strategy
Collaboration emerged as a central theme of the masterclass. Mokoena described African cinema as “a family coming together,” underscoring the importance of cross-border partnerships, particularly between Uganda, Nigeria, and South Africa.
He referenced emerging projects born from relationships fostered through the iKON platform, including a forthcoming production commissioned by Netflix.
For Mokoena, collaboration is not optional but strategic, opening doors to co-productions, funding, distribution networks,s and technical exchange. He also urged established African creatives to actively watch and support Ugandan films on global platforms to boost visibility.
However, he cautioned that reluctance among smaller production houses to share resources remains a challenge across the industry.
Industry Unity and Data
Speaking at the forum, Producers Guild of Uganda president Mathew Nabwiso reiterated the call for industry unity.
“We need to work together a lot more,” he said, emphasising that meaningful growth depends on collaboration rather than competition.
Nabwiso also highlighted the importance of storytelling with impact, pointing to opportunities with institutions such as the Uganda Tourism Board, which increasingly seeks film content that promotes national identity.
He stressed the value of guild membership and data collection, noting that credible industry statistics are essential for demonstrating the film’s economic contribution.
“Without data, we cannot demonstrate our value,” he added.
African Stories, African Voices
In opening remarks, iKON Awards founder Humphrey Nabimanya said the Africa Film Forum was established to ensure authentic African storytelling led by African creatives.
“We wanted to build a space where African creatives can come together to tell our stories, not have our stories told for us,” he said.
He revealed that the 2026 iKON Awards attracted more than 200 submissions, with 40 percent originating from other African countries, a sign of the initiative’s growing continental reach. The awards are scheduled for August.
Film and 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 driver of tourism, trade, and national branding.
Discussions at the forum reflected a sector increasingly aware of storytelling’s power to shape identity, promote destinations, and unlock economic opportunity.
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As Uganda strengthens partnerships with South Africa and other African markets through the iKON platform, the industry appears to be shifting from survival to sustainability, and from isolated productions to a unified continental movement.
“This is about building something that lasts,” Mokoena implied, not just for today’s filmmakers, but for future generations.
About the iKON Awards
The iKON Awards is an annual Ugandan film and television celebration that recognises excellence, creativity, and innovation across the country’s creative sector. The platform aims to spotlight outstanding talent and projects that elevate Uganda’s film industry locally and globally.
