Legendary British actor Idris Elba has urged African filmmakers to focus on producing high-quality content that can compete on the global stage. Speaking at the second edition of the Africa Cinema Summit (ACS) held on October 7, 2024, in Accra, Elba emphasized the importance of prioritizing quality production values, especially with advancements in technology making professional-grade films more accessible.
Elba, who headlined the event organized by Ghana’s National Film Authority (NFA), noted that African cinema can achieve international success by first capturing the attention of local audiences across the continent. He encouraged filmmakers to invest in superior production techniques and pay attention to detail, stressing that there is no excuse for substandard films in today’s era of accessible technology.
“We have to focus on quality. The democratisation of equipment means we can all shoot on nice cameras with good mics, so there’s no excuse. We must meet the global standards,” Elba said, adding that African films must first resonate at home before aiming for international success.
The Africa Cinema Summit, running until October 10, 2024, aims to foster collaboration and growth in the African film industry.