African cinema took centre stage at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, thanks to a landmark partnership between Del-York Group and the world-renowned festival. The inaugural African Film Spotlight, themed “Cross-Continental Collaboration & The Power of Partnership,” championed the continent’s vibrant storytelling and creative potential, drawing significant support from Afreximbank, Bank of Industry, and UN Women.
According to a statement, the initiative, spearheaded for Del-York by celebrated actress and director Stephanie Linus, brought together Africa’s leading filmmakers, producers, financiers, and cultural policymakers. Linus emphasised the platform’s mission to unlock new narratives and deepen international creative ties, calling it “a catalyst to reshape Africa’s global creative footprint and fuel enduring, cross-border partnerships.”
A significant highlight was the presence of CANEX Creations Inc., Afreximbank’s newly formed subsidiary dedicated to investing in Africa’s creative industries. CANEX hosted a high-level Deal Room, where numerous African filmmakers pitched projects for funding, underscoring Afreximbank’s commitment to financing African films and intellectual properties with global appeal.
Del-York Group, a driving force in Africa’s creative renaissance, also has a key role in the Kebulania Lagos State Film City Project. This comprehensive approach, linking local infrastructure development with international exhibition, exemplifies Del-York’s vision for building a robust creative ecosystem. This historic collaboration at Tribeca not only amplifies African storytelling but also solidifies the continent’s creative economy as a frontier for investment, innovation, and soft power diplomacy.
