| BETTY SULTY-JOHNSON, Founder, Producer & Distributor

BETTY SULTY-JOHNSON is a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, renowned for her entrepreneurial expertise and commitment to ethnocultural diversity. She holds a Master’s degree in Law, Economics, and Management of Audiovisual Media, specializing in marketing and audiovisual distribution from INA - Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.

She spent 10 years in the UK and co-founded and directed from 2005 to 2009 the first festival dedicated to highlighting the work of Black women, both in front of and behind the camera: Images of Black Women Film Festival in London. In France, she worked for France Télévisions Distribution, 100% Distribution, Lagardère Studios, and Trace Studios, where she created a distribution department specializing in the sale of Afro-urban content rights internationally.

In June 2024, she founded Habebo Studios, a company specializing in the production and distribution of content focused on promoting ethnocultural diversity in France and globally. With a remarkable career in content distribution, she has also ventured into producing fiction and animated series, serving as the producer of the animated series KENDA. She also produced the youth fiction series Zetwal Caraïbes for France Télévisions' Outre-Mer division, which was filmed in Guadeloupe.

Her vision is deeply rooted in promoting diversity and representing underrepresented communities, not only in France but globally. Her goal is to create a space where diverse voices and authentic stories from Africa, the Overseas territories, and the diasporas can thrive and find opportunities. Betty SULTY-JOHNSON is distinguished by her ability to select high-quality projects and successfully present them to channels and platforms for funding. 

Her role extends beyond production and distribution; she also supports authors throughout the development process, offering mentorship and coaching for international pitching preparation (Dakar Series 2023 - Senegal, Cinestar 2023 - Guadeloupe, Yaoundé Film Lab 2023 and 2024 - Cameroon). She has served as a jury member for numerous Pan-African and Caribbean festivals, including Black Star International Film Festival (Ghana), Nairobi Film Festival (Kenya), Durban Film Festival (South Africa), Afriff Film Festival (Nigeria), and Cinestar International Film Festival. In addition to her achievements in production and distribution, Betty SULTY- JOHNSON is actively involved in various organizations and committees, demonstrating her commitment to diversity and inclusion in the industry.

She served on the CNC Images de la diversité committee from January 2022 to March 2024, is part of the working group on Francophone Africa at Unifrance, and joined the MIPCOM Cannes Diversify TV Awards committee. In November 2022, she also joined the committee of the César Academy. Her role is crucial in promoting diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry. Her deep expertise in business development, strategic partnerships, content licensing, and global distribution, combined with her strong understanding of the global and African television and OTT platforms landscape, makes her a driving force in contemporary audiovisual production.

Betty SULTY-JOHNSON embodies the fusion of a passionate artistic vision and pragmatic business expertise, serving as an inspiring example for emerging filmmakers and industry professionals around the world.