Otumfuo Osei Tutu II with leadership of REFFA
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has offered his full backing for the Regal Film Festival and Awards (REFFA), an initiative founded by Ghanaian film producer, actress, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Selassie Ibrahim.
His Majesty’s endorsement came after Ms. Ibrahim led a high-profile delegation of Ghanaian and Nigerian film practitioners on a courtesy call to the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi to brief the Asantehene on the festival’s mission and upcoming activities.
Explaining the vision behind the initiative, Ms. Ibrahim stated that REFFA is designed to bridge the gap between content producers and consumers while reviving the Ghanaian film industry through strategic cross-border collaborations, particularly with Nigeria’s Nollywood.
“Our local industry has faced significant challenges, making it difficult to sustain our trade. Having completed part of my education in Nigeria, we decided to collaborate with Nigerian industry stakeholders to help put our film sector back on its feet,” she noted.
Ms. Ibrahim emphasised that REFFA encompasses masterclasses, networking opportunities, and professional recognition designed to position African cinema on the global stage.
“We train practitioners on content packaging, distribution, and scriptwriting. Just two weeks ago, we organised a masterclass on scriptwriting here in Kumasi because quality storytelling is crucial to breaking into the global market.
“REFFA is about impacting lives, building capacity, and creating jobs across the creative value chain—from screenwriters and technical crew to costume designers and hairstylists,” she explained.
Welcoming the delegation, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II commended the initiative, noting that unified action among top African actors and producers is essential to building investor confidence. “I recently read reports highlighting the difficulty your sector faces in attracting capital. Collaborative initiatives like this demonstrate to investors that putting money into African cinema yields real commercial returns. It is commendable that lead actors from Ghana and Nigeria have united for this cause. This will advance your profession, enrich society, and benefit Africa as a whole,” the Asantehene remarked.
Ms. Ibrahim disclosed that the main festival will take place from December 8 to 12, 2026, with over 300 film submissions received from 36 African countries. Ahead of the main festival, she announced a major public awareness float in Kumasi, which took place on Saturday, August 15, 2026, graced by the Queen Mother of the Asante Kingdom, Asantehemaa Nana Yaa Akyaa II.
