Silverbird Group signs $50 Million Deal with AAA Entertainment

Silverbird Group has sealed a partnership with AAA Entertainment to develop and produce a series of cinematic African feature films in Africa.  

The partnership agreement was signed today at the Afreximbank pavilion at the Intra African Trade Fair (IATF) in Durban South Africa.

As part of the deal, AAA Entertainment will bring to the partnership an experienced film development, financing and production team, facilities, and partnership network, while Silverbird Group brings its cinema exhibition and distribution infrastructure and experience in West Africa and the rest of the continent, as well as its studio facilities and network in Los Angeles.

Valued at $50 Million, the deal will focus on the African Export Import Bank’s (Afreximbank) USD500 million Creative Industry Programme for financing.

 AAA Entertainment has distributed and executive produced some of the top South African box office hits and is looking to expand that success to the rest of the continent. Their experience in the distribution and sales of African content locally and globally, combined with Silverbird Group’s reach and understanding of the rest of the African cinema market, will ensure that a slate of well-developed and produced films can reach a global audience while being relatable and entertaining for the domestic African market.

Speaking on the partnership, Mayenzeke Baza, Head of Distribution and Financing at AAA Entertainment said, “We are excited about this partnership as it provides an opportunity to create great content between the two biggest markets on the continent, namely Nigeria and South Africa, and allows us to access pan African private equity and state funding.”

Ben Murray-Bruce, Founder at Silverbird Group said, “Silverbird has a long history in the Nigerian Media and Entertainment sector. We began our journey as a live entertainment events company and expanded that into a network of Television and radio station properties. We have successfully built the premiere West African film distribution & exhibition company and now it is with excitement that we pivot into the feature film production sphere by announcing our partnership with AAA Entertainment.”

The partnership will be working exclusively with African and African American talent, looking to bridge the two markets and talent communities, and the first talent collaboration initiated by the Silverbird Group is with Grammy award-winning producer, songwriter, and board member of the Creative African Advisory Group Vincent Berry II, who was present at the signing of the partnership at the Afreximbank stand at the IATF.

Vincent Berry II while speaking said, “I am so grateful to be partnering with AAA Entertainment & The Silverbird Group to produce music for the films that will showcase African talent and serve as bridge between talent across the diaspora and the continent.”