A groundbreaking step toward unifying African cinema is underway as Screen Connect, a new Pan-African film distribution initiative, prepares for its debut with the Kenyan theatrical release of “Over the Bridge”, a psychological thriller from Nigeria. The film is set to premiere in cinemas across Nairobi on June 6, 2025.
Screen Connect was incubated in 2024 under the Some Fine Day Pix and GIZ’s Moving Pictures program. With its mission to address long-standing distribution challenges within the continent, the initiative aims to bring culturally rich, high-quality African films to audiences across Africa—from Kigali to Lagos, Nairobi to Johannesburg.
“It’s unfortunate that even with the growing global appetite for African stories, African audiences still struggle to access films from other parts of the continent,” said Cassandra Onwualu, Nigerian co-founder of Screen Connect. “We want Kenyan audiences to be able to watch great Nigerian films, and vice versa. Through strategic partnerships with filmmakers, distributors, and cinemas, Screen Connect will bridge these gaps, elevate African storytelling, promote local talent and contribute to the growth of the African film industry.”
Joining Onwualu on the Screen Connect leadership team are co-founders
(Kenya) and Mizero Kabano Yannick (Rwanda). Together, they are leveraging their regional expertise and networks to chart a new course for African storytelling.
“Over the Bridge” marks their first theatrical release and follows the unraveling of Folarin, a successful investment banker whose life is upended after a major government project fails. The film explores themes of corporate ambition, personal identity, and the psychological toll of high-stakes power games.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Tolu Ajayi—known for his work on MTV’s “Shuga Naija” and Showmax’s “Diiche”—the film stars Ozzy Agu (“Castle & Castle”), Segilola Ogidan (“A Naija Christmas”), Joke Silva (“Blood Sisters”), Deyemi Okanlawon (“Blood Sisters”), Chimezie Imo (“Breath of Life”), and Paul Adam (“La Femme Anjola”).
“Over the Bridge” is a modern parable that moves from rustic and rarefied scenes in a fisherman’s boat to the duels and double-dealing of the corporate boardroom,” said Ajayi. “I was drawn to this story by memories of a corporate internship in my late teens, where I observed the so-called ‘masters of the Nigerian financial universe’ during the Lagos financial boom of the 1990s. That experience shaped my understanding of stories about corporate power, personal sacrifice, and the social consequences that come with success, revealing the truth that having it all often means bearing it all.”
The film has already made waves on the African awards plane, securing 12 nominations at the 2024 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), including Best Director, Best Movie, and Best Editing. It won Best Cinematography and Best Production Design, affirming its critical acclaim.
Kenyan audiences will have the chance to experience the thrill of “Over the Bridge” throughout June at Century Cinemax Junction, Garden City, and Two Rivers.
Beyond its first release, Screen Connect plans to expand its portfolio to other African countries, offering a sustainable distribution model that prioritizes local content and regional storytelling.
As the African film industry continues to grow in both output and global interest, Screen Connect’s rise signals a vital new chapter—one where African films can finally travel freely without impediments.
Watch the trailer for “Over the Bridge” here.
