Cologne is gearing up for a global celebration of storytelling, culture, and creativity as the Film Festival Cologne returns for its 35th edition from October 9 to 16, 2025.
This year’s event will welcome the Africa XChange Summit for the first time, offering a new platform to showcase Africa’s growing influence in film, technology, and the creative economy.
The African film industry has become one of the continent’s most promising sectors, with millions already employed across the value chain. Nigeria stands out as home to one of the world’s fastest-growing entertainment industries. According to UNESCO, Africa’s film industry could create up to 20 million jobs and generate 20 billion dollars in revenue each year.
“With the Africa XChange Summit, we want to offer African creatives a platform to showcase their talents and connect with a global audience. It is time to build an ecosystem to unlock new opportunities and improve access to financing and new capital for African filmmakers. We want to support them in bringing authentic African voices to international platforms while promoting job creation in one of the most dynamic markets of the future,” said Philipp Hoffmann, Managing Director at Rushlake Media.
Hoffmann’s company, based in Cologne and Nairobi, plays a key role in connecting African and global audiences through its multi-platform network. The growing visibility of African cinema is evident as more films from the continent reach major international stages, from Oscar nominations to screenings at Cannes.
The Africa XChange Summit will bring together representatives from funding organisations and initiatives such as HEVA Fund, Ubongo, and Known Associates to explore ways to strengthen Africa’s film ecosystem.
The event will open on October 15 with *My Father’s Shadow*, a Nigerian feature film by Akinola Davies Jr. The semi-autobiographical story captures a day in Lagos during the 1993 election crisis through the eyes of two young brothers. The film, which premiered at the Cannes International Film Festival, blends personal memory with national history and offers a vivid tribute to the Nigerian spirit.
Another key moment will be a conversation with Nigerian rapper and creative entrepreneur M.I. Abaga, who has used his platform to inspire social change and redefine African narratives.
The two-day conference is organised by Rushlake Media in partnership with the production company Die Gesellschaft DGS and supported by the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW. Its managing director, Walid Nakschbandi, described the summit as a bridge between cultures and a driver of creative collaboration.
“Africa is a continent full of dynamism, creativity, and cultural diversity – with growing significance for the global media landscape. The Africa XChange Summit at the Film Festival Cologne creates a valuable platform in North Rhine-Westphalia that promotes dialogue, opens up new perspectives, and paves the way for creative collaborations. For the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, it is a central concern to bring cultures together, learn from each other, and build bridges across geographical and mental boundaries,” Nakschbandi said.
The summit program was curated by film curator Nadia Denton, known for her work with the Berlinale’s European Film Market and the BFI London Film Festival.
More details and the full conference agenda are available on the official website (https://africa-xchange-summit.com).
