(Business in Cameroon) – Sylver Screen Cinema, a Cameroonian film exhibition company, announced on September 17, 2025, that it is taking over the movie theaters at the Grand Mall in Douala. The screens had been closed for a year, following three years of operation by Nigeria’s Genesis Group.
The initial launch of the theaters was part of a 2017 partnership between Genesis and the British investment fund Actis. The terms of the new acquisition by Sylver Screen were not disclosed, but the company said it would officially begin operations by reopening two screens on September 19, 2025. Sylver Screen intends to eventually reopen all five screens in the complex and expand its network to other cities across the country.
This move comes as cinema operations in Cameroon are shrinking, highlighted by the progressive closure of the Canal Olympia theaters, managed by France’s Bolloré Group, after a decade in the country. The local film sector has struggled for two decades with challenges including insufficient institutional support, low competitiveness, tax burdens, piracy, and evolving consumer habits.
Strategy to Lure Audiences and Ensure Profitability
Marie Jeanne Nock A Kibeng, General Manager of Sylver Screen, stated, “It is not right for movie theaters to be closing in Cameroon, because we have the skills to promote this sector in a global context.”
To tackle this challenge, Sylver Screen plans to collaborate with the French group Pathé, which specializes in film production, distribution, and exhibition. Sylvain Foppa, Pathé Touch Afrique’s Sub-Saharan Africa manager, indicated they will “offer the best films and blockbusters to attract the maximum number of moviegoers.”
To ensure profitability, Sylver Screen also plans to develop ancillary activities, including merchandising weekly programming, selling promotional items, sponsoring premieres, and renting out the theaters for private and corporate events.
The Challenges of the Cameroonian Film Market
Beyond the Grand Mall reopening, the market’s long-term viability remains a major concern. According to official figures, approximately 97 structures related to cinema and audiovisual production generated a combined turnover of about 889 million CFA francs in 2021. Despite a digital revolution, the industry remains severely underfunded and underdeveloped, producing fewer than ten films annually.
To reverse the trend, industry stakeholders are calling on the State to create a more favorable environment for production and distribution. This includes establishing viable support structures, modernizing the legal framework, facilitating access to funding through targeted subsidies and tax incentives, and attracting private investors.
With this acquisition, Sylver Screen hopes not only to revive a struggling market but also to give new impetus to the Cameroonian film industry by combining quality content, innovative exploitation, and the promotion of local expertise.
Fréderic Nonos
