Distribution is the main means of generating revenue for a film. South Africa and Nigeria, which are the main strongholds of African cinema, are also the countries with the most screens. And for good reason: according to a report on African cinema published by UNESCO in 2021, 71% of the continent's movie screens are located in South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Morocco.
However, many players are struggling to recover from the consequences of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the health measures put in place. Having barely emerged from 2022, the Ster-Kinejor group, which accounted for 400 of the 663 movie screens in South Africa (UNESCO data), still seems to be in turmoil. The group is planning to close around 20 cinemas in order to meet the requirements of a restructuring plan. These closures could ultimately have a significant impact on the South African film industry's ability to generate revenue.
On the other hand, in French-speaking Africa, movie theaters seem to be getting back on their feet. As a reminder, the 1990s saw the successive closure of various theaters in major cities across French-speaking Africa, depriving populations of popular cinema. However, in recent years, theater renovations and the creation of multiplexes have been on the rise across the continent. The various theaters that are opening their doors are part of African networks such as the Majestic cinemas in Côte d'Ivoire or international networks such as CanalOlympia, owned by France's Vivendi.
According to our latest census, there are 50 of them spread across 12 countries, offering a total of 10,000 places each week.
CANAL+ Olympia and MAJESTIC cinemas were the first to invest in this sector, which had completely disappeared in the 1990s. They were more recently joined by the PATHE group. Together, they account for two-thirds of the number of movie theaters in French-speaking Africa (80% if we exclude theaters belonging to French institutes).
A few independent theaters such as Cine Guimbi, Cinekin, and the Sembene Ousmane complex in Dakar round out this offering, which is further enhanced by theaters at French institutes in nine cities that also offer occasional film screenings.
Finally, Pathé is a more recent player, as the DAKAR multiplex, which has seven theaters with a total of 1,394 seats, dates from 2022. The French group has also just officially inaugurated its new cinema in Abidjan. Originally scheduled to open in 2019, the six-screen cinema complex owned by the French group Pathé is finally opening its doors.