Moses Babatope Appointed to Advisory Committee for TIFF’s Groundbreaking Global Market

Moses Babatope, a leading voice in African cinema and co-founder of Nile Media Entertainment Group, has joined the advisory committee for TIFF: The Market, an ambitious new initiative from the Toronto International Film Festival set to launch in 2026.

Running from September 10–16, TIFF: The Market aims to be a premier destination for global film and television professionals, offering a dynamic space for connection, talent discovery, and high-level deal-making. The market is designed to serve as a vital crossroads for international collaboration—one where emerging voices and established powerhouses converge.

For Babatope, this role marks a strategic continuation of his long-standing mission to globalise African cinema.

“Nile Media Entertainment Group was built to create a complete ecosystem for African storytelling—not just to produce powerful films, but to ensure they travel, connect with audiences, and generate lasting value,” Babatope said. “TIFF: The Market offers the kind of intentional, international platform we’ve been waiting for—one where African stories can meet real opportunity.”

Babatope also underscored the significance of markets rooted in equity and expansive vision.

“TIFF’s intentionality is powerful. It ensures our creators don’t have to conform to outdated moulds. Here, a Nollywood epic can stand beside a Hollywood blockbuster—not as niche, but as essential cinema deserving its rightful place on the world stage.”

Babatope joins an esteemed roster of global media leaders on the advisory committee, including Michael Barker (Sony Pictures Classics), Arianna Bocco (MUBI), Janet Brown (BBC Studios), Diana Bustamante Escobar, Jeongin Hong (Megabox), Laura Michalchyshyn (Blue Ant Studios), and Vicki Dobbs Beck (Lucasfilm and ILM).

They will work in collaboration with previously announced members: Niv Fichman, Vincent Maraval, Jérôme Paillard, Noah Segal, Monique Simard, Roeg Sutherland, and Kerry Swanson—collectively representing a diverse and influential cross-section of the international screen industries.

With TIFF: The Market, the festival is poised to shape the next chapter of global storytelling—and Babatope’s presence signals a future where African cinema is not only present but powerfully positioned.