Following a successful pilot year in 2025, the African Producers Accelerator (APA) has selected the six participants who will take part in its 2026 edition.

The producers, who were chosen from 267 applications submitted across 31 countries, are South Africa’s Babalwa Baartman (“Good Madam”) and David Franciscus (“Street Trash”); Nigeria’s Mimi Bartels (“Adire”) and Abba Makama (“The Lost Okoroshi”); Ghana’s Kofi Owusu-Afriyie (“The Fisherman”); and Sudan’s Khalid Awad (“Goodbye Julia”).

APA is aimed at mid-career African producers ready to strengthen their companies, sharpen their strategy and scale their impact.

Run by Big World Cinema in partnership with Bertha Foundation and National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa, and in association with Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) and Central Film School, the 12-week programme offers tailor-made advisory and practical support designed around each producer’s specific company and slate. The programme starts in May and concludes at the end of July 2026.

Unlike traditional labs with fixed curricula, APA is tailor-made around the individual producer’s needs, goals and challenges, and support in overcoming them. Participants engage in weekly online 1:1 strategy sessions, curated masterclasses, and targeted consultations with leading international industry specialists based on the producer’s needs and goals.

The programme culminates in a five day in-person Lab in Cape Town where producers refine their company pitches and slates before presenting to a panel of investors. Participants will then move to the Durban FilmMart, where bespoke investor and fund meetings will be arranged, alongside a private networking dinner with international guests from funds, sales agents, festival programmers and distributors.

The APA programme provides access to experts specialising in world sales, IP, business affairs, development and financing.

The 2025 pilot cohort included producers whose achievements within the last year span winning a BAFTA, premiering at the Venice Film Festival, winning Best Debut Feature at the 69th BFI London Film Festival, the Tiger Award at the 2026 International Film Festival Rotterdam, and the SA–Netherlands Thuthuka Co-production Fund Prize.