Filmmaker and actress, Funke Akindele, has advocated greater collaboration among filmmakers and support for emerging creatives to strengthen Nigeria’s film industry and expand its global reach.
Akindele made the call during a fireside chat at the Creative Africa Nexus, CANEX, WKND 2026, she stressed the importance of partnerships with young influencers, content creators and filmmakers in promoting creative works and reaching wider audiences.
She said collaboration remained essential to her marketing strategy, adding that engaging emerging influencers helped expand the visibility of her content and connect with new audiences.
According to her, identifying and working with grassroots creators was particularly important because of their creativity, audience engagement and inspiring success stories.
“I am not too big to be big. I don’t want to be big either. So don’t take me too big,” she said, emphasising that established creatives should remain accessible to emerging talents.
Akindele said she regularly reached out to young content creators, sometimes through direct messages, to explore opportunities for collaboration and promote her projects.
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She noted that the film industry needed intentional marketing, strategic partnerships and sustained audience engagement to remain competitive.
The filmmaker said understanding audience preferences through research and content consumption was essential to developing effective marketing strategies.
She added that promoting Nigerian films internationally required deliberate efforts to build partnerships and create opportunities for talents from other African countries.
Akindele said she remained committed to creating platforms for young filmmakers, writers and actors to showcase their talents and gain industry experience.
She stressed that resilience was equally important in sustaining a creative career, noting that rejection, fatigue and setbacks were inevitable.
According to her, creatives must remain focused on their purpose, re-strategise when faced with challenges and continue pursuing their dreams.
“Don’t give up on your purpose.
“Don’t give up on your dreams. You have to go back and re-strategise, think of a way you stand out of the crowd,” she said.
Akindele also emphasised the importance of giving back, saying the value of success should be measured not only by wealth but also by the lives and opportunities created for others.
She said her platform enabled her to provide opportunities for young actors and creative professionals to work and showcase their abilities.
She urged creatives to embrace inspiration and learn from others while maintaining their originality and protecting their creative identity.
She cautioned against attaching another person’s name to copied ideas or using another brand’s identity without permission.
NAN
