Kenyan-Somali filmmaker Yasmin Hassan Mohammed has been selected for the fifth edition of the Creative Producer Indaba, joining a distinguished cohort of 15 filmmakers from across the world committed to advancing African film and television storytelling.
Mohammed joins as one of the few creatives with a project she is developing called ‘Jua Kali’, a feature narrative expanding on her documentary short of the same name, which won the 2024 Youth Jury Award at the International Indian Ocean Film Festival (FIFOI).
As a co-founder of Wheelbarrow Films in Kenya and an alumna of the 2025 Rotterdam Producer’s Lab, Yasmin has built a reputation for managing large-scale productions while championing authentic African narratives.
Reflecting on the challenges faced by filmmakers at home, she said: “In a country where creatives receive almost zero support, film is still expected to reflect true narratives, bring them to life, create employment in the face of growing unemployment, protect young creatives, and entertain… how? Honestly, magic. I’m grateful to Indaba for creating space for that magic, and excited to learn and grow with this community.”
The programme is created by Cape Town-based Realness Institute in partnership with EAVE, the Indian Ocean International Film Festival (FIFOI) and Maison du Cinéma et des Jeux Vidéo, with financial support from Region Réunion and backing from global institutions in Brazil, Canada, Switzerland, Austria, and France.
Realness Institute Interim Managing Director and Group Leader Mehret Mandefro said the programme comes at a critical moment for filmmakers globally.
“Global media systems are going through an unprecedented set of disruptions, and in year 5 of Creative Producer Indaba we are focused on equipping producers with future-facing skills that can help them weather the storm and come out stronger,” he said.
Participants will convene in Johannesburg in February 2026 for in-person sessions on financing, PR, marketing, and development, before heading to Saint-Paul, Réunion, during the International Indian Ocean Film Festival in April 2026 for training in legal frameworks, organisational development, network management, and leadership.
Award-winning producer and Group Leader Diana Elbaum emphasised the programme’s role in strengthening the continent’s creative ecosystem.
“CPI celebrates producers as bold leaders, changemakers, and vital forces in the vibrant African and Indian Ocean creative landscape. By connecting producers, talents, and ideas, CPI provides the tools and experience to amplify extraordinary voices whose narratives are reshaping global majority storytelling.”
