Funa Maduka Launches Palmtree for Global Screenwriters

Funa Maduka has announced the launch of Palmtree, a development incubator aimed at supporting screenwriters from the Global South, including Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and Oceania. This initiative follows her significant tenure at Netflix, where she contributed to the platform's international film strategy and was involved in the acquisition of films that received major nominations, including the Golden Globe.

Maduka, who was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a voting member, aims to address the critical gap in screenplay quality and representation in the global film industry. The Palmtree program will select eight to ten writers and provide intensive development support over three weeks, with compensation for their work.

Maduka emphasizes the importance of strong storytelling and the need for writers to refine their ideas beyond initial sparks, reflecting on her own experiences in the creative process.