The inaugural AFRICA XCHANGE SUMMIT is set to premiere at the Film Festival Cologne 2025 on October 15 and 16, 2025. This two-day event will bring together leading industry professionals from across Africa and Europe in the fields of film, gaming, technology, and finance to foster dialogue and collaboration.
The summit aims to strengthen transcontinental connections by creating a unique platform for African experts to share their perspectives, ideas, and innovations. It marks a significant step toward connecting the German creative industries with the rapidly evolving creative and technological landscape of the African continent.
Renowned curator Nadia Denton, known for her work with the Berlinale’s European Film Market and the BFI London Film Festival, is curating the program. Denton is optimistic about the event’s potential to create new business opportunities and collaborations.
“I see the summit as a timely intervention and showcase for fresh perspectives where talent and experience will converge,” Denton said. “The program will bridge cultures, amplify authentic storytelling, and cast light into spaces where others have not yet dared to go. I am confident that the conversations facilitated during the summit will act as a catalyst for increased cross-sector working with impacts felt across borders.”
While the full program will be announced soon, a number of high-profile guests have already been confirmed, including:
- Jude Abaga (M.I Abaga), a highly successful Nigerian rapper, producer, and founder of the creative agency TASCK.
- Pamela Mutembei, Investment Director of Nairobi-based HEVA Fund, which supports the African creative industry.
- Mohamed Kordofani, the award-winning Sudanese filmmaker whose debut feature, Goodbye Julia, won the Prix de la Liberté at Cannes.
- Joel Chikapa-Phiri, a renowned South African film producer and founder of the Known Associates Group.
The AFRICA XCHANGE SUMMIT is supported by the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, the public film fund of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Walid Nakschbandi, the fund’s managing director, highlighted the importance of the event in promoting dialogue and creative partnerships.
“Africa is a continent full of dynamism, creativity, and cultural diversity—with growing significance for the global media landscape,” Nakschbandi said. “It is a central concern for the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW to bring cultures together, learn from each other, and build bridges across geographical and mental boundaries. This is exactly what we want to promote with our support—with a view to a shared creative future.”
The summit is being organized by Cologne and Nairobi-based Rushlake Media in collaboration with production company Die Gesellschaft DGS. Philipp Hoffmann, managing director of Rushlake Media, emphasized that the conference is essential for Germany’s cultural and economic future. “Global interest in African narratives and offerings—be it music, film, television, games, or fashion—is growing dramatically,” he said. “With the Africa Xchange Summit, we want to help increase the unfortunately still low level of interest and highlight the opportunities that can arise from cooperation.”