Tag: Trino

  • Trino unveils content acquisition, sales division

    Trino unveils content acquisition, sales division

    In a strategic move designed to empower young creative entrepreneurs and independent producers across Africa, Trino Motion Pictures, has established its Content Acquisition and Sales Division. It is also to give such stories global visibility, according to Managing Director Trino Motion Pictures, Mr. Uche Okocha.

    He described the initiative as more than a business expansion, but ‘a mission, a calling, and a movement’ to reposition African content on the world stage.

    According to him, the new division will represent independent producers in major international markets for film and television content, while also investing in global sales infrastructure to strengthen Africa’s film and TV ecosystem.

    Okocha, who spoke in Lagos on Tuesday, said, “African stories are not just underrepresented globally; they are undervalued and underestimated. Our producers are creating magic every day with grit, grace and passion, but many lack the bridge between powerful content and global visibility. That is where we come in—not as competitors, but as collaborators.”

    He stressed that the new unit will work to source content from rising talents and independent voices who may not have access to established industry infrastructure, ensuring their productions reach international platforms and audiences.

    Addressing distribution partners, Okocha said the company’s intention is to complement, not compete: “Your work has laid the groundwork; ours is to add fresh bricks, new lanes, and more travellers on the journey. We are here to widen the highway, not reinvent the wheel.”

    The initiative, he explained, is aimed at ensuring that African cinema and TV productions gain rightful recognition and market share globally.

    “To the storytellers, the unseen artists crafting cinematic gems in silence—this is your call to action. We are here to scout, support and sell your content with the respect it deserves,” Okocha said.

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    He called on global partners to embrace African creativity, noting that the continent is a powerhouse of culture and cinematic excellence.

    “With this bold step, our goal is simple.

    “From Lagos to Los Angeles, from Accra to Amsterdam, from Nairobi to New York, we want Africa on every screen.”

    Okocha noted that Trino Motion Pictures has distinguished itself through its operational advantage, particularly in access to high-end equipment and studio infrastructure.

    “We have a library of scripts and have built a database of over 400 writers. We have also engaged in partnerships to ensure our business advances on both local and global scales,” he said.

    The event also featured the graduation ceremony of the first cohort of the maiden edition of the International Sales and Distribution Executives (ISDE) programme, organised by Trino Motion Pictures in collaboration with the Nigerian International Film Summit (NIFS).

    The 12 graduands received their certificates after completing the programme, which was designed to address a critical gap in the entertainment industry by equipping professionals with expertise in international sales, aggregation, licensing, and distribution.

    Commending the initiative, one of the participants, Daleshawn Butler, described the platform as one of the best in the country.

    Butler said, “We appreciate the entire process of the training and we say thank you.”

    Meanwhile, Ms. Ijeoma Onah, Founder of NIFS, underscored the importance of investing in capacity building in the entertainment industry.

    She urged intending participants to look out for the next edition of the training, which would be announced soon.

    Onah disclosed that the platform would sponsor no fewer than five individuals to France in October to gain additional knowledge, while eight sound engineers would also be supported to travel for training.

    “We do hope that our interactions yield measurable outcomes. We really need to invest in capacity to improve Africans’ skill set in the entertainment industry,” she said. 

  • Trino, NIFS inaugurate ISDE, induct 12 creatives

    Trino, NIFS inaugurate ISDE, induct 12 creatives

    No fewer than twelve creatives were inducted at the weekend in Lagos by Trino Motion Pictures and the Nigerian International Film Summit (NIFS) at the maiden edition of the International Sales and Distribution Executives (ISDE) programme. The initiative is to address a critical gap in the entertainment industry.

    The cohorts are Adetayo Adebowale, Dr Sherif Adekunle, Ehinomen Azeta, Uneke Ekene, Faustina Okomayin, Lucy Adikwu, Mercy Akumute, Nneamaka Nwadei, Olatubosun Olasimbo, Precious lroagalachi, Daleshawn Butler and Temitope Sanni.

    The programme was also designed to equip professionals with expertise in international sales, aggregation, licensing, and distribution.

    At the core of the initiative is addressing a pressing need in the creative industry, where talented individuals produce high-quality content but often lack the knowledge and skills to effectively market and monetise their work globally.

    Managing Director of Trino Motion Pictures, Uche Okocha said that the training programme was conceived after the company’s two-year experience attempting to handle sales and distribution roles.

    He noted that a gap was encountered, which was a lack of structured pipelines for professionals and inadequate training facilities.

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    This realisation, he said, prompted the development of the programme.

    Highlighting the importance of identifying potential, building capacity, and creating opportunities to build a sustainable film industry, he disclosed that the training would feature both virtual and physical classes and would run for six months.

    “So the ISDE programme will have 12 finalists trained on the nitty-gritty of international sales and distribution for all formats: scripted, unscripted, TV formats, documentaries, films and all.

    “This will be for six months and will feature international executives as resources persons that have been in the sales and distribution space for at least over 15 years. We are going to try and have a mix of the French territories, some of France, the UK, and Nigeria.

    “The real goal is to train the next generation of professionals that can sell our content to a global audience, which is very important because we found that there are no training platforms for such.

    We hope to have this as an annual programme going forward and maybe expand it to 24 participants so that we can keep supporting the industry and the personnel that we require in that space of sales and distribution to keep growing.

    “They will have the opportunity to visit local film markets, festivals, and international festivals in the course of the training,” he added.

     Founder of the Nigerian Film International Summit (NIFS), Ms Ijeoma Onah stressed the need to create a balance between the business side of film and the creative side.

    Onah said that upon the completion of the programme, the participants would go on an internship programme with international organisations.

    “People need to understand that film is a product, and if the right knowledge is in place, then we can begin to see sustainable businesses birthed, she said.

    She charged the cohorts to understand that it is time to step out and build their own network as well as elevate their career.

    “A lot have been invested in this programme we demand a lot of concentration and focus from you,” she added.

    Executive Director, National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr Shaibu Husseini,

    highlighted the importance of capacity building in developing a robust entertainment industry.

    He tasked the creatives on the application procedure to procure the Federal Government’s Creative Economy Development Fund (CEDF), which would only warrant a creative’s intellectual property (IP) as collateral.

    He urged them to apply for the fund, which would aid their operations in the industry.

    Programme Director for ISDE programme, Godwin Nzekwe stated that today marked the beginning of a bold and timely vision to prepare, equip, and position African creatives for the global stage through international storytelling, business strategy, and meaningful industry collaboration.

    “The ISDE programme is not just a training. It is a launchpad for cross-cultural exchange, market access, and real transformation in our film and television space.

    “Over the coming months, our participants will engage with global mentors, gain deep industry knowledge, attend major international markets, and complete a six-month internship with top-tier distribution companies,” he said.