Ejo-Cine

What Ejo-Cine does

Ejo-Cine is a privately held, Rwandan-based cinema production company founded in 2011 and headquartered in Kigali. The company produces award-winning narrative short films centered on African stories dealing with communities, culture, diversity, and human rights, using traditional filmmaking workflows with no proprietary technology, AI, or platform disclosed. Its content library comprises Lyiza (2011), A Place for Myself (2016), and ICYASHA/Etiquette (2019), with Benimana currently in development.

The commercial model is project-based: Ejo-Cine generates revenue primarily through one-time film licensing deals with theatrical distributors and television networks, augmented by visibility and credibility derived from selections and wins at major international film festivals (Tribeca, Fespaco, Carthage). Theatrical and TV broadcast audiences constitute the end-consumer target, while theatrical exhibitors and TV networks form the B2B distribution counterparties. Pricing is project-based and not publicly disclosed, and there are no recurring subscription, SaaS, or platform components.

The company is operated by an undisclosed headcount team of producers, industry experts, and executives with 15+ years of combined track record. There is no disclosed external funding, parent company, or M&A activity. Distribution relies on direct sales into theatrical and broadcast channels plus festival screenings, with the company's WordPress website and social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X) serving as supplementary marketing surfaces.

Name

Ejo-Cine

Legal name

EJO-CINE

Website

https://ejocine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ejo-Cine is a Kigali-based cinema production company founded in 2011 that produces award-winning narrative short films on African communities, culture, diversity, and human rights, distributing via international film festivals, theatrical releases, and television licensing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kigali

HQ country

Rwanda

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Film Production and Distribution: Ejo-Cine produces award-winning films intended for theatrical and TV audiences. Revenue is generated through film production fees, licensing deals with theaters and TV networks, and potentially festival prizes and grants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ejo-Cine is a Rwandan-based independent cinema production company that produces award-winning short films intended for theatrical and TV audiences. Its portfolio comprises narrative short films including Lyiza (2011), A Place for Myself (2016), and ICYASHA (Etiquette) (2019), with a film titled Benimana currently in development. The company's films focus on themes of communities, culture, diversity, and human rights, and are produced in collaboration with Rwandan and African talents.

Product overview

Ejo-Cine is a Rwandan-based cinema production company that produces award-winning short films for theatrical and TV audiences. The company operates as a single-product service model, offering individual film productions rather than a platform-based architecture. Their portfolio consists of distinct narrative short films including 'Lyiza' (2011), 'A place for Myself' (2016), 'ICYASHA (Etiquette)' (2019), and an in-development film 'Benimana'. The films focus on themes of communities, culture, diversity, and human rights, with particular emphasis on stories about African experiences and talents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lyiza A short film produced by Ejo-Cine in 2011, featured in the company's portfolio of award-winning cinema intended for theatrical and TV audiences.
• A Place for Myself A 2016 short film following a young albino girl named Elikia who faces discrimination from classmates and neighborhood stereotypes while being encouraged by her mother to find her place in the world. Released by Ejo-Cine for theatrical and TV audiences.
• ICYASHA (Etiquette) A 2019 short film following a twelve-year-old boy who loves football but is excluded from a neighborhood team due to his effeminate character, exploring themes of masculinity and childhood. Released by Ejo-Cine for theatrical and TV audiences.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Multichoice / Africa Magic: Africa's largest pay-TV operator and content producer through its Africa Magic channel. Comparable as the dominant acquirer and broadcaster of African film content, and a likely distribution partner for independent producers like Ejo-Cine seeking pan-African reach.
• Showmax: African streaming service operated by MultiChoice, distributing African and international content across the continent. Comparable as a key digital distribution channel for African film productions seeking streaming revenue and audience reach.
• A24: US independent film production and distribution company known for festival-driven strategy and distinctive content slate. Comparable as a model for indie production house leveraging festival credibility into distribution deals, though operating at vastly larger scale and budget.
• Trace TV: Pan-African media company producing and distributing content focused on African culture, music, and lifestyle. Comparable as a buyer and broadcaster of African content targeting diaspora audiences, with a thematic overlap around African cultural storytelling.
• Netflix: Global streaming platform with growing investment in African original content. Comparable as both a potential acquirer of completed African films and a commissioning partner for new productions, representing the most consequential distribution channel for African narrative cinema.

Direct peers

• FilmOne Entertainment: Nigerian film production and distribution company with theatrical and TV reach across West Africa. Comparable as an African film production and distribution business, though operating at much larger commercial scale and with a focus on Nollywood genre content.
• EbonyLife Media: Nigerian media and film production company producing narrative and commercial cinema for African and global audiences. Comparable as an African film production house targeting theatrical and TV distribution, though operating at significantly larger scale and with broader genre focus than Ejo-Cine.
• Kunle Afolayan Productions: Nigerian film production company founded by director Kunle Afolayan, producing narrative African cinema for theatrical audiences. Comparable as an independent African production house with festival-and-theatrical distribution ambitions and culturally-rooted storytelling.
• Savage Films: South African independent film production company known for award-winning narrative features with festival-circuit strategy. Comparable as an African independent production house pursuing festival recognition and theatrical/TV distribution with a similar creative-led model.

Regional players

• Muvi Studios: Zambian film and TV production company producing narrative African content for Southern African audiences. Comparable as a regional African production house with similar narrative focus and theatrical/TV ambitions, though operating in a different geographic market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ejo-Cine