TIFF Taps Nigerian Executive Moses Babatope to Champion African Stories

Moses Babatope, founder and CEO of Nile Media Entertainment Group, has been named to the Advisory Committee for TIFF’s new industry market, TIFF: The Market. The market is set to run from September 10 to 16 in  2026. 

As one of eight inaugural advisors, including executives from Sony Pictures Classics, MUBI, BBC Studios, and Lucasfilm, Babatope brings an African perspective to what promises to be one of the world’s most important film‑commerce hubs. With TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey’s vision of “growing the power of screen storytellers by bringing dealmakers, talent, and audiences together in a new, much bigger way,” Babatope’s selection marks a step toward ensuring that African cinema is not merely present but central to those conversations.

From the outset, having a Nigerian voice at the table will shape which projects are scouted and how they’re presented. Babatope notes that at the new TIFF: The Market, “a Nollywood epic can stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with Hollywood, not as niche, but as art that demands its rightful spotlight.” 

Beyond scenic programming, the new market is built around real business opportunities. Nile Media Entertainment Group has already demonstrated this capacity by securing global releases for hits such as Everybody Loves Jenifa and Red Circle. 

Babatope believes TIFF: The Market will offer “the kind of intentional, global space we need, where African stories can meet opportunity,” giving Nigerian and African producers direct access to distributors and co‑producers who might otherwise overlook their work. In this way, the market could become a gateway for financing, co‑production, and distribution deals that increase both budgets and global reach.

Importantly, Canada’s Federal Government is backing this initiative with C$23 million, ensuring that diversity and inclusion aren’t afterthoughts but foundational principles. True equity, as Babatope puts it, means creatives “won’t have to shrink to fit old molds,” which in practice could translate into development labs, mentorship programs, and panel discussions tailored specifically to the realities of African filmmaking. 

Moreover, sitting alongside decision‑makers from major studios and distributors, Babatope is poised to forge lasting networks that reach well beyond the festival week. He can help unearth new talent and expand the global understanding of what “African cinema” entails by championing under-represented regions, languages, and genres beyond the usual hubs of Lagos, Nairobi, and Johannesburg. Over time, an advisory role at TIFF could lead to further invitations, fellowships, and boards, meaning Babatope’s presence could open doors for more African executives and creatives at every stage of the filmmaking process.

As Nigeria and the wider continent continue to produce good films, Moses Babatope’s advisory role at TIFF: The Market represents more than a personal win. It is an opportunity that promises to shape how African stories are celebrated on one of the world’s most influential industry stages.