Amazon, Anthill strike licensing deal

Global streaming service Amazon Prime Video has signed a licensing deal with Nigerian film production and animation company Anthill Studios.

The deal means that Amazon’s streaming platform will be home to all of Ikeja-based Anthill Studios’ cinema releases from this month onwards following their theatrical run.

Niyi Akinmolayan, founder of Anthill Studios, said on Instagram: “With this licensing deal, we can explore more story ideas, including genres new to Nollywood like sci-fi and animation, for a global audience.

“This also means we get to share a lot of great things with you, as these films are fully owned by Anthill Studios and we want to bless the industry with knowledge.”

Ayanna Lonian, Amazon Prime Video’s director of content acquisition, added: “We want to showcase the very best of Nollywood and authentic African stories.”

Victoria Akujobi, head of production at Anthill Studios, said: “This deal is very empowering to us as a studio and to the entire industry. The world will get to see the best stories from the continent.”

Anthill Studios is behind cinema hits including Prophetess, Elevator Baby, Day of Destiny, Malika and Frogeck. Its deal with Amazon comes soon after the streamer inked a similar pact with Lagos film producer Inkblot Studios, the company behind Moms at War 2 and The Wedding Party.

tagged in: Amazon, Anthill Studios, Prime Video