Films · Photography · Interactive storytelling

Stories with impact

An international production and communications agency delivering culturally informed films, photography and interactive storytelling, from strategy to final delivery.

Our perspective

Real stories. Real people.

Pinned Media tells real stories with real people. Rooted in journalism, we create unscripted cinematic documentaries, photography and interactive storytelling that centre underrepresented communities, Africa and its diaspora.

We connect local creatives across Africa and the diaspora to support organisations, brands and publishers with powerful stories and effective communications. Working in French and English, we bring cultural insight, international experience and local knowledge to projects across the continent.

Explore our work
Behind the scenes on a Pinned Media shoot On location / Pinned Media
Photo: credit to be confirmed

01

What we do

We bring communications strategy, content production and management together to help organisations connect with their audiences.

  1. 01

    Unscripted films and documentaries

    Cinematic documentaries, interviews and brand films rooted in real lives, from research and filming to editing, sound, subtitles and motion graphics.

    • Research
    • Filming
    • Editing
    • Sound
    • Subtitles
    • Motion graphics
    Documentary filming on location
  2. 02

    Communications strategy and management

    Strategy, messaging, content creation, digital publishing and performance reporting for organisations and brands. Delivered in French and English, through projects, campaigns or monthly agency partnerships.

    • Strategy
    • Messaging
    • Content
    • Digital publishing
    • Reporting
    • FR / EN
    Communications planning session
  3. 03

    Photo and interactive storytelling

    Original photography, visual journalism, interactive digital experiences and social content, shaped for your audience and platform.

    • Photography
    • Visual journalism
    • Interactive
    • Social content
    Photographer at work
  4. 04

    Local talent development and mentoring

    Practical storytelling and production training, mentorship and creative opportunities, delivered by Pinned Media or through collaboration with Acquire by Pin Africa.

    • Training
    • Mentorship
    • Creative opportunities
    Mentoring session with emerging creatives
  5. Let’s tell your story

    Get in touch

Why partners choose Pinned Media

  • Local knowledge and creative agency

    Local creatives bring cultural knowledge and trusted relationships; contributors have a voice in how their stories are told.

  • Several countries working together

    We coordinate teams across countries simultaneously, combining local expertise with central production management.

  • Flexible production and quick turnaround

    Flexible teams, responsive delivery and practical approaches for a wide range of budgets.

  • Real people and a journalistic approach

    Journalistic research, careful interviewing and editorial judgement shape our unscripted storytelling.

Production backed by journalism and talent development

Founded by Benedicte Kalombo, the three platforms have distinct teams and complementary expertise. Their collaboration connects commissioned production with editorial insight and opportunities to develop local talent.

  1. Production

    Pinned Media

    Commissioned production and communications services.

  2. Journalism

    Pin Africa

    Independent journalism, story discovery and publishing.

  3. Talent

    Acquire by Pin Africa

    Training, mentorship and emerging talent development.

02

Selected work

Our work spans international productions and regional projects for FIFA, USAID via Chemonics, UNDP Africa and UN Sahel, and digital storytelling.

Africa Stories film still (placeholder)
  • FIFA

Africa Stories

A short documentary series exploring how football unites people and communities across Africa.

Livelihoods and resilience project (placeholder)
  • USAID via Chemonics

Stories of livelihoods and resilience across four African countries

Films, visual journalism and photography on livelihoods and resilience in Kenya, DRC, Mali and Uganda.

United Nations digital projects (placeholder)
  • UNDP

Making development stories accessible

Digital projects across UNDP Africa, TICAD and the UN’s Sahel work, combining storytelling, reporting tools and staff training.

Women in Football — Under Her Feet poster (placeholder)
  • Original development

Women in Football — Under Her Feet

Three short documentaries on the women and communities shaping grassroots football in the UK.

03

Training and talent development

We help people turn creative potential into practical skills, finished work and new opportunities.

Creative Start workshop (placeholder)

Creative Start

Partners: Better Space, LIFT, Islington Council and City, University of London

Read more
The brief
Open creative-industry opportunities for residents from disadvantaged backgrounds.
What we delivered
A 10-week Pinned Media digital storytelling programme combining online learning, in-person workshops, production skills and individual mentorship.
The result
Participants created final projects and received certificates, with assessments supporting their end-of-programme grant approvals.

From photography to a first published film

Platforms: Acquire by Pin Africa and Pin Africa

This platform enabled me to bring the everyday realities of ordinary Senegalese people to a global audience.

— Mame Cheikh Mbaye, Acquire Progress and Impact Report 2023
Read more
The brief
Help Dakar-based photographer Mame Cheikh Mbaye develop his documentary filmmaking skills.
What was delivered
Acquire’s mentorship supported Mame to develop, film and edit his debut short documentary.
The result
Pin Africa published the film and paid Mame for his work, connecting skills development with a professional opportunity.
  • Film: Mame Cheikh Mbaye
  • Mentorship: Acquire by Pin Africa
  • Publication: Pin Africa
Watch Mame’s film(opens in a new tab)

04

Clients and partners

International productions and regional projects for FIFA, USAID via Chemonics, UNDP Africa and UN Sahel.

  • FIFA
  • USAID via Chemonics
  • UNDP Africa
  • FCDO
  • UN Sahel

05

How we work

Brief

Engage us for a production project, a communications campaign or a monthly agency partnership. We agree your objectives, audience, budget, scope and approval process, with clear deliverables and measures of success.

Plan

We research the story, listen to contributors and develop the editorial and visual approach. We connect the right local creatives, coordinate locations and plan a shared schedule for productions across one or several countries.

Produce

Local filmmakers and creatives bring their knowledge, relationships and perspective to the production. We coordinate teams across countries simultaneously, capturing real people and unfolding stories with cultural nuance and care.

Deliver

We deliver content and manage publishing across agreed channels. For monthly agency partnerships, we review performance and refine the communications plan with you.

Trusted by NGOs, brands, publishers & governments

06

Meet the team

These are the four people you’re most likely to meet when you first get in touch. Behind them is an extensive team of filmmakers, producers, designers and local creatives across Africa and the diaspora, brought together around each project.

  • Portrait of Benedicte Kalombo (placeholder)

    Benedicte Kalombo

    Founder and Executive Producer

    Benedicte is a Congolese-born multimedia journalist and producer whose experience includes the BBC, ITN/ITV News, The Independent and New African Woman. Through Pinned Media, Pin Africa and Acquire by Pin Africa, she champions African and underrepresented voices. Her journalistic approach shapes our commitment to real people, cultural nuance and powerful visual storytelling.

  • Portrait of Ayo Sanusi (placeholder)

    Ayo Sanusi

    Producer and Cinematographer

    Ayo combines cinematography, producing and story development to create films that connect emotionally with audiences. His individual credits include work with the Premier League and DAZN as a cinematographer and producer, alongside experience on the ground at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He brings this visual craft and understanding of football culture to our unscripted storytelling.

  • Portrait of Letitia Kamayi (placeholder)

    Letitia Kamayi

    Production Manager and Technical Lead

    A photographer with a precise eye for lighting, Letitia manages production on the ground and coordinates the technical setup. Her knowledge of cameras and equipment helps ensure every crew has the tools and support to bring the story to life.

  • Portrait of Janette Daramy (placeholder)

    Janette Daramy

    Production Operations Manager

    Janette keeps productions organised behind the scenes, developing budgets, tracking projects and coordinating locations, personnel and client communication. She brings the planning and oversight that help our teams deliver smoothly across locations.

07

Let’s tell your story

Looking for a production and communications agency? Tell us your goals, audience and budget. We deliver projects, campaigns and monthly agency services in French and English.

info@pinned-media.com

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