Screen Connect Launches to Strengthen Pan-African Film Distribution and Collaboration
A groundbreaking film distribution platform, Screen Connect, has officially launched, aiming to transform how African films reach audiences across the continent. Spearheaded by three cultural entrepreneurs—Cassandra Onwualu of Nigeria, Marete Selvin from Kenya, and Mizero Kabano Yannick of Rwanda—the initiative promises to bridge a significant gap in the accessibility of African cinema within Africa itself.
The project was developed through a collaboration between Some Fine Day Pix and GIZ’s Moving Pictures program, both of which have supported a range of artistic ventures across the continent. Screen Connect is designed to foster cross-border film circulation and ease some of the major barriers faced by African filmmakers, including censorship clearance, logistical fragmentation, and limited exhibition opportunities in neighboring countries.
To mark its debut, Screen Connect facilitated the East African release of the Nigerian psychological drama Over the Bridge, directed by Tolu Ajayi. The film was screened in June 2025 at prominent venues in Kenya—Century Cinemax Junction, Garden City, and Two Rivers Mall—as well as Ciné Mayaka by Imitana in Rwanda. Each screening followed rigorous approval processes from national censorship and viewership boards. “If your film passes quality control and board certification, it’s allowed to screen,” said co-founder Onwualu, who also leads the Nigerian production company Ojiugo Arena.
Over the Bridge stars Ozzy Agu, Segilola Ogidan, Joke Silva, Deyemi Okanlawon, Chimezie Imo, and Paul Adam, and tells the story of Folarin, a high-ranking banker caught in the political and personal aftermath of a failed infrastructure deal. The film’s rich themes—identity, power, and unraveling mental health—earned it 12 nominations at the 2024 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, where it won Best Cinematography and Best Production Design.
After its world premiere in the UK through the Beyond Nollywood series in 2023, the film gained momentum on the festival circuit, showing at AFRIFF (Africa International Film Festival), the New African Film Festival in Washington, and opening the 31st New York African Film Festival.
Screen Connect is now gearing up to distribute more African films, both from Nigeria and other regions of the continent. However, according to Onwualu, the final decisions rest with local exhibitors: “Theatres have the final say in what screens commercially.”
The initiative follows in the footsteps of other regional film partnerships such as the East African Screen Collective and Cinéwax, but Screen Connect distinguishes itself with a broader, Pan-African focus and a commitment to long-term infrastructure building. “This is definitely a marathon, not a sprint,” said Onwualu. “We’re just getting started. Expansion into more countries is on the horizon.”
By enabling greater mobility for African stories and creating new viewing pipelines, Screen Connect is helping reshape the future of African cinema—making sure that films made on the continent are not just for global festivals, but for African audiences too.