Executive Producer Ruth Ojougboh is set to present the feature-length animated film Oraya at the Marché du Film, which runs alongside the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, on May 13, 2026. The presentation will be part of the Focus on Africa Conference within the market's official programme, designed to highlight emerging creative voices and projects from the African continent.
Film Details and Production
Produced by AnimaxFYB Studios, Oraya is a 90-minute animated feature created in a 2.5D style. The story is set in a futuristic Ghana and targets a global audience aged 16 and above. It follows a gifted tech creator who is accused of triggering a global addiction. This protagonist must lead a fractured group of pan-African heroes to confront a covert syndicate exploiting the Earth's last sacred energy source.
Currently in early development, the project is supported by visual assets and is actively seeking partners for financing, co-production, and distribution. Ojougboh stated, “This is not just a film; it is African-owned IP designed to grow beyond a single release.” Founder and Creative Director Francis Yushau Brown added, “We are building original African stories with the structure and ambition to compete globally.”
Industry Engagement and Future Plans
Private meetings with selected partners are scheduled throughout the Marché du Film as the studio aims to deepen collaborations and scale production. Ojougboh, a creative entrepreneur known for championing African stories and children's intellectual property for global audiences, has previously executive produced Blinded by the Lights. That film earned official selections at Oscar-qualifying festivals including the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, DOK Leipzig, and the Pan African Film Festival. She also contributed to the TAIDO project by Sony Group's NGO, Arc & Beyond, which garnered three awards within Japan's anime industry.
The presentation of Oraya at Cannes underscores a growing trend of African animation entering the global market, with a focus on original storytelling and sustainable intellectual property development.
