The iniative will train selected participants annually through a five-week residency in Europe culminating in participation in the Berlinale’s EFM.
The European Film Market (EFM) of the Berlinale has launched the Toolbox Distribution Academy, a new three-year training and networking initiative aimed at fostering the next generation of African film distributors. The programme seeks to enhance cross-continental collaboration with the European film industry, helping to establish a self-sustaining distribution infrastructure for African cinema while improving the visibility and reach of both African and European films across the two continents.
Developed in partnership with film industry experts Torsten Frehse and Fabian Massah, the new initiative builds on the success of their 2024 pilot project, AEDA (African-European Distribution Academy). The goal is to promote mutual exchange of knowledge and expertise in global film distribution, creating a comprehensive framework that encourages the circulation of diverse and inclusive content. The Toolbox Distribution Academy expands upon the existing EFM Toolbox Producers Programme, which has supported underrepresented filmmakers worldwide. Co-curated by Frehse, Massah, and newly appointed Programme Head Sata Cissokho, the academy will now operate under the EFM umbrella.
Primarily funded by the Creative Europe Media 360° scheme, the initiative also receives backing from Medienboard Berlin Brandenburg, MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg, Neue Visionen Filmverleih, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Filmfest Hamburg, European Work in Progress (EWIP), DOK Leipzig and the Goethe Institute Addis Ababa, among others.
Each year, the academy will select seven to ten African professionals for a five-week residency in Europe, culminating in participation at the Berlinale’s EFM. Over 30 intensive workshops will offer advanced training and mentorship from European distributors, sales agents and industry leaders. The curriculum covers marketing, audience development, business and legal frameworks, and the use of innovative technologies essential for navigating today’s evolving film landscape. Participants will also take part in several major industry events, including the International Film Distribution Summit (IFDS) during Filmfest Hamburg and DOK Leipzig.
Sata Cissokho said: “While significant resources and initiatives are already dedicated to the production of films in the Global South – often as co-productions with European partners – there remains a critical lack of continuous distribution infrastructures in many African markets. This gap limits local audiences’ access to stories that reflect their own realities, and reduces the potential for European films to find new audiences in Africa. More than a one-size-fits-all approach, our ambition with the Toolbox Distribution Academy is to provide the participants with result-oriented practical tools and share knowledge that they will then be able to adapt to their local realities.”
Torsten Frehse and Fabian Massah on the joint project: “We greatly appreciate the Berlinale’s endorsement and are delighted that the initiative has found a permanent home within such a short time.”
The new Toolbox Distribution Academy will run alongside the classic EFM Toolbox programme for producers, whose main funders are CE Media, Canada Media Fund and Hessen Film.
