
Tables Rondes
Pages to Pictures: Inside the World of Film Adaptation
Books have long inspired some of cinema’s most powerful stories — but what does it really take to bring a novel to life on screen?
This panel brings together authors, screenwriters, and directors to explore the artistic, narrative, and legal challenges of film adaptation, with a special focus on the African creative landscape.
From staying faithful to the source to making bold cinematic choices, get an inside look at this rich and complex process.
Yasmina Fagbemi
Co-Founder (Tioleja Films)
Tambay A. Obenson
Founder (Akoroko)
Gabriel Souleyka
Director, Author (Tioleja Films)

Ayo is a young African woman who, since the age of 8, has been assisting her mother with the births of the women in her village. She sees babies and growing families every day. In her household, the wait for the first child becomes longer and longer. Despite the love and support of her husband Faustin, all eyes are on her. Everyone is impatient, except Ayo. She has a secret to reveal.
Stuck in the loop of a horror B-movie, a hyper-sexualized black female character decides to reject her fate and rebel against the script. Along with her boyfriend, token black guy who always dies first, they throw the entire movie off course. They try to outwit the serial killer and escape in order to break free… but the film has other plans.