The hidden costs of telling African stories

Actors film a night scene for the police thriller October 1, directed by Kunle Afolayan, in rural Akure, southwest Nigeria, August 26, 2013.

Photo credit: Reuters

Every filmmaker has that one moment, the point when storytelling shifts from pure art to a test of navigating an industry. For many on the African continent, that moment comes early.

Despite a surge in film production and a rapidly evolving ecosystem, African filmmakers still find profit elusive. Distribution has gone digital, and funding conversations have become part of the creative process.