Creative Africa Content Pavilion Announces Shortlisted Projects for the Best of Africa Pitch at MIP London

Daniel Etim Effiong is an accomplished filmmaker and actor who transitioned from a career in Chemical Engineering to pursue his passion for storytelling. He made his acting debut in 2011 and quickly gained recognition for his breakout role as Folarin Coker in the critically acclaimed Ndani TV web series Gidi Up (2012). Daniel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Filmmaking from the prestigious South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance (AFDA) and a Master’s in Audio Visual Communications, providing him with a solid foundation in both the technical and creative aspects of filmmaking.

Daniel has directed high-profile TV commercials for global brands such as Shell, Unilever, and Reckitt Benckiser. He has also starred in several Nollywood hits including Blood Sisters (2022), A Weekend to Forget (2023), Broken Hallelujah (2024), Something About the Briggs (2025). Most recently, he has taken on the roles of producer, director, and lead actor in his debut narrative feature film, The Herd, showcasing his ability to seamlessly blend creative vision with performance excellence.

Gbolahan Peter Macjob is an Emmy nominated BBC journalist with over 30 years’ experience who has produced and presented some of the most riveting contents across the BBC World Service platforms including documentaries, podcasts, features and news reports.

In the summer of 2025, he released his first feature film titled Ireke: Rise of the Maroons which made its debut at the Cannes Film Market followed by theatrical release across the UK, Nigeria and Canada for a combined 10 weeks.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0b9lzpx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce2J5JPTuqI

Emmanuel Iren is a Nigerian filmmaker and founder of Narrative Entertainment, a film company committed to telling culture-shaping stories that engage faith, society, and human experience.

His work explores themes often avoided in mainstream conversation, creating space for honest reflection and dialogue across diverse backgrounds. “What About Us?” marks his producer debut and reflects his interest in storytelling that invites audiences to examine life, belief, and personal philosophy.

Through film, Emmanuel hopes to spark meaningful conversations that linger beyond the screen.

Aderogba Arimoro is a Nigerian writer, director, and producer, and the founder of Paladin Creative. He works across film and television, developing premium scripted content with strong cultural grounding and international market appeal. His projects span drama, legal thrillers, and socially driven narratives, and have been supported by leading African and international funding bodies. Aderogba’s work focuses on character-driven storytelling, institutional power, and moral complexity, often exploring where personal choices intersect with larger systems. He has written and developed multiple series for the African market and international audiences and is currently building a slate of premium scripted projects positioned for global distribution.

Karen Jeynes is a Venice TV Award-nominated Director and two-time International Emmy-nominated writer and producer. With over 20 years of experience, she is a leading voice in South African prestige content, recently serving as Head Writer and Co-Director of the global hit Recipes for Love and Murder (Acorn TV/M-Net). As an Executive Producer at Both Worlds Pictures, Karen specializes in high-concept narratives that bridge local authenticity with global appeal, including the Prime Video/ARD comedy-drama The Morning After. She is a champion for nuanced, inclusive storytelling, and brings a rigorous eye to every project, ensuring African stories that hold their own on the world stage.

Tola Odunsi, often credited as Bobby Boulders when he is directing the photography is a Nigerian Director, Producer, Director of Photography and Talent Manager. His work includes commercials, film, music videos, television and reality TV shows. He is best known as the creator, director and executive producer of the hit Series, The Men's Club. He is a recipient of many accolades including the Gage Awards and Hapa Awards USA for best African Series. His works are known for their unique visual and narrative styles.

Tola launched his Production and Talent Management Company, Urban Vision, in 2013 having previously served as Manager at Storm Records where he over saw the Company's expansion globally.

Moving into filmmaking, Tola created, executive produced and directed a ten episode series, The Island (2017) which was well received. Tola began his feature film directing career with a romantic drama called From Lagos With Love, which was released in theaters in 2018. His Series, The Men's Club (2018- Present) Assistant Madams and Flawsome ( 2022) have each received enthusiastic global reviews, successfully eclipsing several show records.

Tola is currently one of the industry’s top power brokers, representing an impressive roster of Nollywood’s most exciting and dynamic artists including Sharon Ooja, Sola Sobowale, Enado Odigie, Titi Kuti as well as other Major Actors, Models, Musicians and Reality TV Stars. His clients have appeared in major movies, campaigns and commercials across the globe. Urban Vision is ranked as one of the Key Players in Talent Management and Production in Nigeria.