I Once Took a Bank Loan to Make a Film – Kunle Afolayan

During a discussion on the podcast Limitless Africa, Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan shared his unconventional approach to funding his film projects, including taking bank loans, a method not typically aligned with standard film financing ethics. He said he took a loan to make some of his films before securing a deal with Netflix.

But then if you go all out, use your money. People don’t know. I used my money to make a film. I’ve taken a bank loan, which is actually against the ethics of film funding. But I’ve always looked for every possible way to fund film before this Netflix intervention and partnership came. So I think in the next five years, it will be safe to say that there will be more young filmmakers doing great things.” he stated.

The rise of streaming services in Africa

Afolayan spoke about the increasing presence of major streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in Africa, which he views as a positive shift towards recognizing and investing in African storytelling. 

“Well, I think it’s going to get better. One, Netflix is not the only one operating in Nigeria. Now you have Amazon [Prime Video], and you have a lot of people trying to come in. Why are they coming? It’s because there’s something here. And it means it’s because there’s something in Africa. There’s something in the continent,” he said.

During the interview, Afolayan expressed optimism about the future of African films on streaming platforms, predicting significant growth in the next five years. He emphasized the continent’s unique perspectives and storytelling methods, which have attracted attention from global audiences and investors alike.

The filmmaker highlighted the historical limitations faced by francophone African films, which were often funded by European countries but rarely accessible to local audiences. He stressed the importance of creative freedom, noting the positive changes as investors begin to allow more autonomy in storytelling.

“So again, if we have some of these guys who are investors, but at the same time, who allow you to stay creative and do your thing without necessarily controlling how you tell your narrative, then I think it’s a great thing for Nigeria and for Africa. Unlike before, when most of the Francophone films were funded by Europe, France, Germany, Belgium and all. And most of these films, yeah, great production value, but even the citizens and indigenes of all of those countries actually don’t get to see the films,” he said.

Afolayan, who secured a three-film deal with Netflix in 2021, advised fellow filmmakers to utilize whatever resources available to them and to maintain a strong work ethic. “But then if you go all out, use your money,” he stated, encouraging filmmakers to be proactive in seeking funding and support for their projects.