Murphy Anawana, the chairman of Murphy-Ben International (MBI) and Aforevo TV, delivered a compelling message to African filmmakers and content creators at the Africa International Film Festival (Afriff) held in Lagos.

As a distinguished panelist during the key distribution and marketing strategies session for African filmmakers, Anawana emphasized the need to explore beyond conventional norms in the dynamic world of filmmaking. Drawing on his extensive experience, he shared insights into the evolving landscape of audience preferences, citing the success of his channels on a diverse content on platforms like YouTube.

Anawana stated, “I bring positive news to film producers. While traditional cinema may prescribe specific genres and actors, our experience with YouTube reveals diverse audience preferences. Movies thriving online might not fare well in cinemas, and vice versa.”

Addressing the crucial aspect of monetization, he added, “Monetization, notably from the West, underscores a demand for content rooted in African narratives. Our upcoming platform, Revo+, aims to broaden language accessibility, tapping into the global interest in diverse content.”
In a surprising revelation, Anawana disclosed, “Despite Nigeria topping viewership, more revenue flows from Western viewers due to higher ad rates and longer content engagement. The evolving landscape encourages filmmakers to explore beyond conventional norms.”

Murphy Anawana’s insightful remarks serve as a call to action for the Nigerian film industry to embrace innovation and cater to the changing preferences of a global audience.