Broadcast, Film and Convergence in Africa - Issue no. 274 20 October 2017
Top Story
The African broadcaster is dead, long live the African broadcaster – changing to meet the mobile and digital futures
20 October 2017
Social Media, the mobile Internet and the proliferation of new DTT channels are all nipping at the heels of African broadcasters in the more competitive markets. Advertising discount rates are almost suicidal and younger audiences are slipping quietly away. Russell Southwood asks whether it’s time to change the way we think about being a broadcaster. On a trip to Nairobi in March, everyone I spoke in the Kenyan media complained about feeling the heat of the digital transition. The pressure from an increased number of TV channels (140 of them) and the downturn in the economy have bitten hard. In…
Broadcast
South Africa up for a hat-trick at the International Emmys
20 October 2017
Revolting Rhymes is nominated in the Animation category at the International Emmy Kids Awards, where it's up against Oddbods, Siesta Z, and Trude's Flatmate. Produced by Magic Light Pictures, Revolting…
Broadcast
Africa In Motion brings banned, censored and forgotten films to Scotland
20 October 2017
Banne4d, censored, damaged and forgotten classic films from Africa will be showing across the UK this autumn thanks to a project led by three of Scotland’s leading African cinema experts.…
Broadcast
Kagiso Lediga premieres two films at CTIFM&F
20 October 2017
Fresh from showcasing their latest films at international festivals, Diprente Films are giving South Africans the chance to watch their new films, Catching Feelings and Matwetwe at the Cape Town…
Broadcast
Rwanda Film Festival is back
20 October 2017
Rwanda’s flagship film event, the Rwanda Film Festival is back. In its 13th edition this year, the festival will run from October 23rd-29th at various locations not only in Kigali,…
Broadcast
Potato Potahto Heads To African Cinemas - Set To Premiere In Nigeria, South Africa And Ghana
20 October 2017
Following a series of successful screenings in some of the biggest festival across the globe, West African romantic comedy ‘Potato Potahto’ will kick off its cinematic releases across the continent…
Broadcast
Phoenix Films presents two films at the 2017 Richard Harris International Film Festival
20 October 2017
Phoenix Films and Valhalla Productions are excited to announce that two of their proudly home-grown films will be screening at the renowned Richard Harris International Film Festival in Ireland this…
Broadcast
Krotoa bags 9th international award
20 October 2017
Cape Town - Krotoa has won its 9th International Award at the Montreal International Black Film Festival in Canada by scooping the award for Best Narrative Feature. The 13th Montreal…
Broadcast
Vaya showcases some of the country's most exciting new and established talent
20 October 2017
Akin Omotoso’s award-winning feature film, Vaya, which releases at cinemas nationally on 27 October, is a riveting tale of innocents adrift in an uncaring, often dangerous metropolis and brings together…
Broadcast
Ciclope appoints local industry leaders to its Grand and Executive Jury
20 October 2017
Ciclope, a leading international festival that recognises and rewards exceptional craft in moving image, has invited four prominent figures in the South African film industry to sit on the jury…
Broadcast
Disney Cookabout nominated for Emmy award
20 October 2017
Disney Africa and Penguin Films are proud to share that Disney Cookabout has been nominated for an International Emmy Kids Award in the category of Best Non-Scripted Entertainment, following the…
Broadcast
In brief
20 October 2017
Nigerian owned Telcomm Satellite TV has launched its satellite television offering, TSTV Africa, to offer customers an alternative to Multichoice's DSTV. TSTV Africa will be available from 1 November 2017.…
Content
‘I Am Not A Witch’ to open 2017 Africa International Film Festival, see Final Selection
20 October 2017
Organisers of Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) have announced the final section of movies for the festival for 2017. The festival will open with Rungano Nyoni’s ‘I Am Not A…
Content
TV series Agent commences production in Mauritius
20 October 2017
Cinebar Studios Ltd, directed by Jeremy Nathan, announces the filming of a new drama series AGENT, from November 2017 for a period of 4 months, in Mauritius and South Africa.…
Content
DISCOP Johannesburg: The place for content 'Made in Africa'
20 October 2017
As African-produced content continues to draw the attention of distributors and content aggregators from Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as abroad, DISCOP Johannesburg 2017 has seen a significant rise in the…
Content
Vice & Econet Media launch Kwese Vice to target Africa’s growing middle class audience
20 October 2017
VICE Media and Econet Media have launched ‘Kwesé VICE’, an outfit to focus on the creation and development of original local editorial and video content to be distributed across television,…
Content
Mandela Bay is ready to take on Film Work
20 October 2017
Sabc 2 recently commissioned an Afrikaans Sitcom called Kniediep in die warm water to a PE-based production company, named Sunshine Coast Studios. This project was a development initiative by the…
Content
AFRIFF 2017 announces festival activities
20 October 2017
Organisers of Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) have announced the return of the festival for 2017. Scheduled to run from October 29 to November 4, 2017, the annual event marks…
Content
Sathya Introduces African Musical Flavour To Kollywood
20 October 2017
Music composer Sathya was called recently for his background score. The composer did a great work for the Mayilu song in the recently-released horror film Bayama Irukku. He recently revealed…
Content
South African Tourism’s new brand film puts the people of South Africa at its heart
20 October 2017
South African Tourism has unveiled a new 10-minute brand film which places the people of South Africa and the country’s many varied cultures at the heart of the story. Designed…
Content
Zulu Wedding set for release on 23 February 2018
20 October 2017
Zulu Wedding is the much anticipated romantic-comedy, (23 February 2018), from producer/director Lineo Sekeleoane. It s a first for South Africa to have a black female producer and director, who…
Content
In brief
20 October 2017
London Film Festival:The Sutherland Award recognizing the director of the most original and imaginative first feature in the festival, went to John Trengove, whose film “The Wound” was described by…
Distribution
Rushlake Media Boards Jahmil X.T.’s Qubeka’s ‘Sew the Winter to My Skin’
20 October 2017
Cologne-based Rushlake Media has acquired world sales rights for “Sew the Winter to My Skin,” a South African-German co-production directed by acclaimed South African helmer Jahmil X.T. Qubeka. The acquisition…
Distribution
Binge-watch iNumber Number on Showmax
20 October 2017
All 13 episodes of iNumber Number, Showmax’s first co-production with Mzansi Magic, are now available to binge-watch. In the hit crime and corruption drama, SAFTA-winner Presley Chweneyagae (Tsotsi) and SAFTA-nominee…
Distribution
South African series Obsession finds an international home on Amazon
20 October 2017
South African produced drama-thriller Obsessions is set to make history when it becomes the first local series to air worldwide on Amazons video streaming service, Amazon Video. The series, which…
Technology & Convergence
D-BOX collaborates with Ster-Kinekor theatres to installation 4 new D-BOX venues in SA
20 October 2017
D-BOX Technologies, a world leader in immersive motion cinema seating technology and Ster-Kinekor, a division of Primedia, the largest cinema exhibitor on the African continent, are proud to announce an…
Regulation & Policy
Government set on regulating YouTube, Netflix and other streaming services in South Africa
20 October 2017
Communications minister Ayanda Dlodlo has confirmed that the government is close to revealing new regulations dealing with South Africa’s shift away from television to online streaming services. Speaking at a…
Investment
SA producer gets funding for international faith-based series
20 October 2017
South African TV producer and format creator, Bert DuToit has just secured international funding for World Shakers, a first-of-its-kind, faith-based TV series and feature film. World Shakers will be a…
Investment
South Africa: Pop Up Cinemas in Khayelitsha
20 October 2017
For just R1 for popcorn, you can watch a movie at Buhle Sithela's pop up cinema in Khayelitsha. It took him about two years, but Sithela, 22, has realised his…
Investment
Canada and South Africa announce co-development incentive at TIFF
20 October 2017
Toronto, September 8, 2017 - The Canada Media Fund (CMF) and the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Arts and Culture of the Republic…
Investment
Genesis cinemas begin pan African expansion
20 October 2017
In what is the first of its’ Pan-African expansion plans, Genesis Cinemas has announced its’ partnership with Actis, to launch premium cinema operations in Douala, Cameroon. Over the next few…
Investment
In brief
20 October 2017
Viacom International Media Networks has announced the greenlight of five original short form series on its international content slate: Sharkdog from Asia and MooseBox from South Africa, Nickelodeon International s…
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People
20 October 2017
Nigeria’s screen diva, Genevieve Nnaji stars in Hollywood film Genevieve Nnaji is starring in a movie, “Farming” alongside Hollywood actors Kate Beckinsale, Damon Idris and Gugu Mmbatha-Raw. The film which…
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Opportunities
20 October 2017
The National Film and Video Foundation, an agency of the Department of Arts and Culture, invites all eligible and reputable TIER 1 and 2 filmmakers (refer to the definition in…
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Events
20 October 2017
This event section provides a selection of major events in the audiovisual sector related to Africa and black culture: conferences, seminars, film festivals, trade shows. To advertise your event on this…