Trino Motion Pictures has announced the establishment of its Content Acquisition and Sales Division, a strategic move aimed at empowering young creative entrepreneurs and independent producers across Africa by giving their stories global visibility.
The initiative is designed to ensure that African cinema and television productions gain rightful recognition and market share internationally.
The announcement was made by the Managing Director of Trino Motion Pictures, Uche Okocha, during a cocktail party in Lagos, which also featured the graduation ceremony of the first cohort of the International Sales and Distribution Executives (ISDE) programme, organised by Trino Motion Pictures in collaboration with the Nigerian International Film Summit (NIFS). Twelve participants graduated from the maiden edition of the programme, receiving certificates after completing training focused on addressing a critical gap in the entertainment industry by equipping professionals with expertise in international sales, aggregation, licensing, and distribution.
Okocha described the initiative as more than a business expansion, but “a mission, a calling, and a movement” to reposition African content on the world stage. He noted that the new division will represent independent producers in major international markets for film and television content, while also investing in global sales infrastructure to strengthen Africa’s film and TV ecosystem. “African stories are not just underrepresented globally; they are undervalued and underestimated,” Okocha said. “Our producers are creating magic every day with grit, grace and passion, but many lack the bridge between powerful content and global visibility. That is where we come in—not as competitors, but as collaborators.”
He explained that the unit will focus on sourcing content from rising talents and independent voices who lack access to established industry infrastructure, ensuring their productions reach international platforms and audiences. Addressing distribution partners, Okocha said the company’s role was to complement, not compete. “Your work has laid the groundwork; ours is to add fresh bricks, new lanes, and more travellers on the journey. We are here to widen the highway, not reinvent the wheel,” he said.
Calling on storytellers, he added, “To the storytellers, the unseen artists crafting cinematic gems in silence—this is your call to action. We are here to scout, support and sell your content with the respect it deserves.” He also urged global partners to embrace African creativity, noting that the continent remains a powerhouse of culture and cinematic excellence. “With this bold step, our goal is simple. From Lagos to Los Angeles, from Accra to Amsterdam, from Nairobi to New York, we want Africa on every screen.”
Founder of NIFS, Ijeoma Onah, underscored the importance of investing in capacity building within the entertainment industry. She encouraged interested participants to look out for the next edition of the ISDE training, while revealing that the platform would sponsor at least five individuals to France in October for further knowledge exchange and also support eight sound engineers to travel for training. “We do hope that our interactions yield measurable outcomes. We really need to invest in capacity to improve Africans’ skill set in the entertainment industry,” she said.
