EbonyLife and Logical African Partners Launch $50 Million Afro Film Fund

Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife Group and Logical African Partners, the African investment arm of France’s Logical Pictures, have established a $50 million fund to finance African cinema. The new entity, named the Afro Film Fund, aims to support approximately 35 films over an eight-year period. This translates to between four and nine projects funded annually. The first disbursements from the fund are scheduled for late in the first quarter or early in the second quarter of 2027.

The investment strategy targets audiences across Africa and the global diaspora. Backers state the fund will finance productions that are commercially viable, culturally relevant, and internationally competitive. Selected films will be positioned for wider distribution outside the continent. The goal is to provide structured financing for filmmakers who have previously lacked access to consistent capital.

Abudu stated that the fund addresses a critical need for structured financing and will take African cinema to greater heights. Pape Boye, vice president of Logical African Partners, called the launch a new chapter for the industry. Boye noted that the fund seeks to unlock the potential of African cinema by combining investment with creative talent.

The partnership was formalized with a signing ceremony in Paris on Tuesday. French Culture Minister Catherine Pégard attended the event. She described the agreements as a concrete response by France to the transformation of screen industries. Pegend referenced the Lumière Summit in September, where the Audiovisual Next Gen program was also announced.

During the same event in Paris, Abudu signed a separate agreement with France’s CNC. This deal supports the Audiovisual Next Gen program, an 18-month accelerator for professionals under 35. Abudu will serve as the Global Ambassador for this initiative. The program is backed by EbonyLife, Netflix, the RTL Group, and Mediawan. The first cohort, which will consist entirely of women, is expected to be announced by the end of January 2027.

Abudu, who was born in London, leads the EbonyLife Group. The company operates in film and television production, cinema exhibition, and digital distribution. Her most recent project is EbonyLife Place London, a cultural hub in the United Kingdom. Logical Pictures Group, founded in 2016, expanded into the African market in 2024 by launching Logical African Partners. Boye joined the French group in 2023 to launch the production banner Black Mic Mac.

Black Mic Mac champions African and Middle Eastern talent. Its current slate includes the executive-produced revenge thriller 3 Cold Dishes. Abudu said the two new partnerships reflect a commitment to building a sustainable African creative industry. The agreements were signed in the presence of French cultural officials and industry leaders.