At CBC Television’s Glenn Gould Studio, two powerhouse filmmakers, Omoni Oboli and Patricia Bebia, launched a landmark partnership that could reshape how stories move between Africa and Canada — and beyond.

Their twin initiatives, NicaPro and the Future Reel Network, unite the creative force of Nollywood with the technical and storytelling strength of Canada’s screen industry. Together, they’re building an ambitious, women-led collaboration that turns cultural connection into creative strategy.

A Partnership Rooted in Shared Vision

Omoni Oboli, one of Nollywood’s most celebrated filmmakers, has built a global following through hits like Okafor’s Law and Wives on Strike. Her film Love in Every Word became the most-watched Nollywood movie on YouTube, with more than 28 million views.

Patricia Bebia, an award-winning Canadian filmmaker and co-owner of Afroglobal Television, has long championed diverse voices through her company Diamond Plus Media. Her feature The Life Coach won 16 international awards and screened theatrically across Canada, the U.S., and the Caribbean.

Together, these two trailblazers created NicaPro — a new production platform that will produce six feature films over three years, blending African creativity with Canadian artistry. “When Omoni and I first sat down together, we knew our stories deserve the world — and the world deserves our stories,” said Bebia.

Creating Pathways for Women in Film

Alongside the production slate, the Future Reel Network will focus on mentorship, training, and collaboration for women in film across both nations. “Through the Future Reel Network, we’re creating pathways for women to learn, collaborate, and lead,” said Oboli. “Because talent is universal, but opportunity is not.”

From both women’s perspectives, this isn’t just about co-producing — it’s about co-creating opportunity. It’s a step toward a sustainable, equitable model for cross-border filmmaking led by women who’ve proven what independent vision can achieve.

A Strategy for Shared Storytelling

Speaking at the launch, Joan Jenkinson, CEO of the Black Screen Office, framed NicaPro as more than a partnership — as a model for the future.

“What Patricia and Omoni are launching isn’t just a slate of films,” she said. “It’s a strategy for connection — for shared storytelling — and for building something bigger than either industry could do on its own.”

Jenkinson highlighted the importance of co-creation rather than extraction:

“It’s not about parachuting talent or importing trends. It’s about co-creating, co-investing, and co-owning stories that reflect both of our realities.”

The collaboration also drew support from Amb. Dr. Queen Blessing Ebigieson, President of Nigeria’s Association of Movie Producers, who called it “a powerful step toward a co-production treaty that unlocks opportunities, expands markets, and deepens ties.”

A New Era of Creative Diplomacy

This partnership marks a milestone for both industries — part cultural exchange, part economic alliance, and fully driven by purpose. As Jenkinson put it, “At the Black Screen Office, we’re always thinking about what it means to build a global pipeline for Black creators — how we connect our talent, our markets, and our audiences. NicaPro is doing that in real time.”

For the Black Screen Office, initiatives like NicaPro and the Future Reel Network signal the kind of bold collaboration that can redefine global storytelling — built on trust, shared ownership, and the leadership of women who know how to make vision real.