Nigeria: Sparrow, Oldfilm join forces for ‘The 70 Slate’
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria
Award-winning filmmakers Shirley Frimpong-Manso of Sparrow Studios and Peter Sedufia of OldFilm Productions have announced _The 70 Slate_, an ambitious three-film collaboration designed to trace Ghana’s journey from its founding to its future.
The project was officially unveiled on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra. The goal is simple but big: use film to reflect on where Ghana has been, where it is now, and where it could go next.
The 70 Slate_ isn’t one movie. It’s three distinct stories, each set in a different period and each carrying a different tone.
The first film tackles migration, broken promises, and the illusion of “greener pastures” abroad. It follows Ghanaians who left seeking opportunity, only to confront the reality of what they left behind and what they found. The story speaks directly to a conversation that has defined Ghanaian households for decades.
This historical drama takes viewers to March 1957, the final 24 hours before Ghana’s declaration of independence. It aims to capture the tension, hope, and uncertainty that surrounded the birth of the nation. The title references the colors of the Ghanaian flag and the legacy of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
The trilogy closes with a modern remake of the beloved music comedy show of the same name. This version will reimagine the classic for a new generation, blending humor, music, and contemporary Ghanaian life.
Together, the three films are meant to offer different lenses on Ghanaian identity — past struggles, present realities, and cultural joy.
The collaboration came together last year when Peter Sedufia approached Shirley Frimpong-Manso with an idea.
“I approached Shirley because I believed that bringing our two creative strengths together could create something truly special,” Sedufia said at the unveiling. “We wanted to tell Ghanaian stories from different perspectives, celebrate where we have come from, reflect on where we are today and imagine where we are going. _The 70 Slate_ is our way of using cinema to celebrate Ghana at 70 while creating films that can travel beyond Ghana and connect with audiences around the world.”
The pairing makes sense. Sparrow Studios, led by Frimpong-Manso, is known for polished, premium dramas like _The Perfect Picture_ and _Potato Potahto_. OldFilm Productions, led by Sedufia, has built its reputation on crowd-pleasing comedies and engaging narratives like _Keteke_ and _Aloe Vera_.
By combining forces, the project merges Sparrow’s cinematic polish with OldFilm’s accessibility and humor.
Frimpong-Manso emphasized that the ambition goes beyond the anniversary itself.
“We want this project to encourage Ghanaians to reflect on our history and identity, inspire pride and unity, and examine who we have become as a society,” she said. “We also want to reconnect audiences with the cinema experience and take these Ghanaian stories beyond our borders. So, global distribution and stronger engagement with Ghanaians in the diaspora are very important to us.”
One of the most talked-about elements of _The 70 Slate_ is the cast. The producers have deliberately brought together veterans and rising stars.
Confirmed names include Fella Makafui, Augustine Abbey aka Idi Koko, Kojo Boakye, Lydia Forson, Joselyn Dumas, Naa Ashorkor Mensah-Doku, Adjetey Anang, Kwame Dzokoto, Priscilla Ahiable, Araba Sedufia, and British-Ghanaian actor Frederick Yeboah, among others.
Casting is still ongoing, and the producers say opportunities remain for actors who want to be part of the project.
Behind the camera, the producing team includes Frimpong-Manso, Sedufia, Ken Attoh, and Araba Sedufia. Executive producers are Dede Chancellor, CEO of Chancellor Productions Africa, and Selassie Ibrahim, CEO of Smartys Production.
It has backing from the National Film Authority, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, and the Diaspora Affairs Office of the President. Brand partners include Nestlé Ghana, GLICO, and Silverbird Cinemas.
The stated aims are clear: revive cinema culture in Ghana, attract diaspora audiences, boost film tourism, and project Ghana as a creative leader in Africa.
For years, Ghanaian filmmakers have talked about the need for bigger, more exportable stories. With a national milestone like 70 years of independence, the timing offers both a theme and a platform.
The filmmakers hope that by screening in cinemas at home and distributing globally, _The 70 Slate_ can do what few Ghanaian projects have done consistently — travel.
Ghana’s film industry has talent, but it has struggled with funding, distribution, and consistent theatrical releases. A slate of three films, with institutional support and two of the country’s biggest production brands attached, could change that conversation.
It also signals a shift toward collaboration over competition. For decades, the industry has been fragmented. Here, two CEOs who could easily be rivals are co-producing.
“Arts & Entertainment needs this kind of partnership,” one industry observer noted at the launch. “If it works, it opens the door for more.”
Production is already underway on _The Return of Makunse_, with a December 2026 release date set. _Nkrumah’s Red, Gold and Green_ will follow in July 2027, timed around the country’s independence month. _I Told You So_ will close out the slate in December 2027.
If the films deliver, Ghana’s 70th anniversary won’t just be marked with speeches and parades. It will be marked with stories — on the big screen, for Ghanaians at home and abroad.
