Leila Djansi Urges Ghanaian Filmmakers to Diversify Beyond Netflix

 

Award-winning Ghanaian filmmaker Leila Djansi has issued a strong advisory to her fellow creatives in the Ghanaian film industry, cautioning them against the growing obsession with Netflix as the primary platform for success.

In a candid post on her social media platforms, Djansi expressed concern over the over-reliance on the global streaming giant, stating that Netflix is not a one-size-fits-all solution for sustainable careers in filmmaking—particularly for creators from smaller markets like Ghana.

“Why are Ghanaians always overly excited about Netflix?” she questioned. “In other territories, filmmakers are rejecting Netflix minimum guarantees because they’re too low and rights-restrictive.”

According to Djansi, Netflix’s current strategy heavily favors intellectual property (IP)-driven content such as comic adaptations, novels, sequels, and celebrity documentaries. She added that the company has increasingly prioritized South African productions over content from other African countries.

“Netflix is NOT the golden ticket,” she emphasized. “And they are focused on South African content these days.”

She also raised critical concerns about the lack of transparency in Netflix agreements, particularly around financial reporting and long-term revenue sharing.

“Is Netflix even giving you accounting? No backend. No revenue waterfall. For a filmmaker chasing a career, that’s not how you build longevity,” Djansi warned.

Drawing from her own experience, Djansi revealed that she has worked with Netflix since 2014 but opts for time-limited licensing deals. This strategy allows her to resell her content on other platforms to increase revenue and audience reach.

“Some of my titles have not yet even streamed in Africa. I am still holding out for a good deal,” she noted.

Djansi concluded her message by urging Ghanaian filmmakers to develop long-term, diversified distribution strategies. She recommended a balanced mix of cinema releases, television syndication, subscription-based streaming, and ad-supported platforms.

“Building a sustainable career requires more than chasing one platform,” she asserted. “Think longevity.”