Mary Ephraim-Egbas is a film executive, sustainability advocate and a marketing and business strategist. She has over 22 years of experience driving film distribution, financing, and industry innovation. Mary’s journey in film distribution began at NuMetro Cinemas, where she was responsible for distributing films from major Hollywood studios, including 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., and Disney.
With a vision for independent African film distribution, Mary founded Okhma Global, Nigeria’s first female-led independent film distribution company in 2010, which later evolved into Homelands Films in 2012. Under her leadership, Homelands Films played a key role in bringing Nollywood and Hollywood blockbusters to African audiences, distributing major titles like The Expendables sequels and Olympus Has Fallen. Currently, Homelands Films has signed a groundbreaking deal with the Nigerian Sports
Commission for a feature film project titled The Dream Team, a film that tells the story of Nigeria’s historic win at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. This landmark project is set to redefine the film sector, drive investment, and foster stronger collaborations between the film and sports industries.
Beyond production and distribution, Mary is deeply committed to securing sustainable financing for African cinema. She is the convener of the Africa Film Finance Forum (AFFF), a platform dedicated to unlocking Africa’s $20 billion film industry potential by connecting investors, industry leaders, and policymakers. Through AFFF, she has championed film as a critical economic driver, creating new opportunities for sustainable film funding and policy development.
Mary’s influence extends into sustainability and corporate social responsibility. As Director of TruCSR, a leading sustainability firm, she has led impactful initiatives promoting responsible business practices and social impact across industries. TruCSR is the convener of The SERAS Awards, Africa’s most prestigious sustainability awards, which recognizes corporate excellence in CSR and sustainability across the
continent.
She is also a strong advocate for eco-friendly film production, pushing for green cinema infrastructure and sustainable storytelling to align Africa’s creative economy with global environmental and social governance (ESG) standards. Through initiatives such as the Made to Live Expo, she promotes sustainable living, health, and wellness, connecting businesses and individuals to solutions that enhance quality of life. She has also worked on corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies, supporting businesses in aligning profitability with impact.
In addition to her work in film, Mary has made significant contributions to strategic marketing and business growth. As CEO of Okhma Global, she has led high-impact marketing campaigns across industries, serving as the official marketing company for Carnival Calabar and Festival for over eight years. Through this role, she has successfully positioned tourism, culture, and creative industries as key economic drivers.
Mary Ephraim-Egbas is contributing to reshape Africa’s creative economy, building strategic partnerships that drive investment, sustainability, and global recognition for African storytelling.
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