The Africa International Film Festival in Nigeria brought together some of the biggest creative minds across the continent, and for Ghanaian filmmaker William Lamptey, popularly known as Willie Chembez, it became one of the most defining moments of his career. He earned his place at the festival through his film The Fisherman, a project that opened doors to an inspiring week filled with creativity, learning, and powerful networking. Willie, in an exclusive interview on Metro tv in their Entertainment Review program, he described the experience as one of his best ever, especially because Nigeria is recognized as one of the top three countries in global movie production. Being part of such a vibrant space filled with film and music celebrities gave him a renewed sense of purpose.

Throughout the seven-day festival, the conversations that unfolded were exciting and forward-thinking, especially as Nigeria continues to explore the merging of Afrobeats with the movie industry. Willie also had the opportunity to watch ” 3 Cold Dishes”, a film executive produced by Burna Boy, which reinforced the growing collaboration between music icons and filmmakers, something he believes will shape the future of African storytelling.

One unforgettable moment for him was the acting masterclass he attended. Although he missed the early submission deadline, his determination kept him pushing, and eventually he was selected to participate. That moment turned into a blessing. Participants were given only 30 minutes to study and prepare a Shakespearean monologue, yet Willie delivered such a powerful performance that he emerged with the highest score in the class. It was a clear reminder of the value of resilience and preparation.

During his stay, he was struck by how hard Nigerians work and how intentional they are about pushing their creative industries. He believes Ghana has the potential to match that energy, but it will require direction, unity, and a stronger collective effort. He left the festival with two key takeaways: the importance of building meaningful connections and the valuable lessons he received from Miss Bimbo Akintola, who served as the Acting masterclass facilitator during the summit and offered insight that deeply influenced him.

Willie Chembez and Hollywood /Nigerian Actor David Oyelewo

Inspired by everything he experienced, Willie shared his vision for the future. He has already established his own production company and dreams of expanding it into a major force in African cinema. He is currently working with a few collaborators and hopes that with hard work and the right support, his dream will become a reality.

As he continues to push forward, Willie Chembez is calling on Ghanaians to support his upcoming projects. On 22nd November 2025, he will be at the National Theatre showcasing his stage play “Cyber Heist”, and on 29th November 2025, he will be in Sunyani for the stage play “Akwaaba Vrs Obaak3”. Willie’s journey is a powerful reminder that dedication opens doors, and with collective support, the Ghanaian film industry can reach new heights.

Willie Chembez has appeared in a wide range of film, television, and theatre productions, including a key role in the feature film The Fisherman (2024), the short film On February 14, and The Queen of Akra trilogy; he also joined the cast of Ghana’s youth-drama series YOLO (You Only Live Once) in Season 5 under the name William Odartei Lamptey, and has showcased his stage talent in theatre productions such as Accra We Dey, Ghana must Go, Potholes and the comedy Osofo’s Wahala.