Funmbi Ogunbanwo

Funmbi Ogunbanwo is a Sundance award-winning producer, an accredited member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA), and a creative industrialist. As co-founder and CEO of Fatherland, she leads a creative powerhouse from Africa, shaping the future of film, television, and digital content.

Funmbi has been instrumental in driving new narratives that center African storytelling. Under her leadership, Fatherland made history with My Father’s Shadow, the first Nigerian film ever to be selected for the Cannes Film Festival. The groundbreaking project was made possible through a first-of-its-kind international co-production and financing partnership with Element Pictures UK, BBC Film, the BFI, and MUBI.

The film concluded its celebrated debut at the 78th Festival de Cannes with a Caméra d’Or Special Mention for Best First Feature. With this achievement, Funmbi became the first Nigerian woman and the first Nigerian producer ever to have a f ilm in Cannes’ official selection.

A qualified Barrister & Solicitor at 20, she traded the courtroom for the dynamic world of film and television, drawn by a deep desire to connect with people through creative storytelling. Her production credits span a diverse portfolio, from feature f ilms to influential campaigns for global brands including Google, Goldman Sachs, Nestlé, PZ Cussons, MTN, Farfetch, and Visa. She was Associate Producer and Project Manager on the feature film ‘Banana Island Ghost,’ which garnered critical acclaim and an AMVCA award nomination for Best Comedy.

She also worked at MultiChoice as a Commissioning Editor, which broadened her corporate experience in film. This role allowed her to refine her content development and production skills, further strengthening her strategic leadership in shaping the future of Africa’s creative industry.

As a partner at Fatherland, Funmbi has been instrumental in driving new narratives that shape African storytelling. Under her leadership, the company strives to celebrate and amplify different aspects of African culture and their stories. Funmbi’s career is highlighted by several milestones, including producing the first Nigerian short film to win a Sundance Award, “Lizard.” Her work has earned her a BAFTA nomination and positioned her as a key voice in the global conversation surrounding African cinema.

Funmbi is deeply passionate about building and nurturing creative businesses, focusing on helping creative brands in Africa establish strong foundations without compromising their authenticity.

She realized the necessity of robust infrastructure for the creative sector’s success and began actualizing this vision at 27 with Home Tools, a business aimed at solving everyday problems in African homes through innovative products. Currently, while she leads at Fatherland, she is also helping new creative business projects, from concept stores and cafés to artisanal brands that emphasizes local craftsmanship.

Funmbi’s natural inclination towards business and structure makes her a standout leader in the creative sector. A visionary business leader, Funmbi is deeply invested in Africa’s creative economy to propel it forward as well as nurture home-based talent while developing the local production ecosystem.

As a keynote speaker and female executive in the film industry, Funmbi continues to share her insights on storytelling, the African creative economy, and the business of entertainment.