As a gamer who’s been immersed in the world of digital entertainment for years, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation when it comes to the global rise of African film and TV programming. It’s like we’re not just playing games anymore; we’re stepping into a new level, a new dimension.
“It’s likely that the global spotlight is soon to be on Africa’s film industry, similar to how African music genres like Afrobeats and Amapiano have gained worldwide attention.” – Nomsa Philiso, CEO of MultiChoice Group’s general entertainment.
It has been reported that she mentioned an increase in the global broadcasting of African TV shows and films, citing a series of significant achievements for African content as per her speech, which was obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. Among these milestones are productions such as the university drama titled Wyfie, the crime thriller series Reyka, and Shaka iLembe, an epic tale about a renowned African king.
Moreover, an unprecedented amount of African films were shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023, while “Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story” claimed the audience award at the Tribeca Film Festival the previous year.
MultiChoice Studios and its global distribution partners like Abacus, AMC, Fremantle, StudioCanal, and The Exchange have been instrumental in sharing African narratives on a global scale. They do this by working with MultiChoice and representing titles such as the opening film of MIP Africa, “The Fix“.
Following the Monte-Carlo Television Festival’s opening by Reyka in 2022, which garnered International Emmy nominations for best drama and best actress, Fremantle successfully distributed the first season to over 150 territories worldwide. This includes BritBox in North America, Channel 4 in the U.K., and HBO across Latin America, as Philiso pointed out.
Philiso further highlighted various instances of triumph, including shows like The Real Housewives of Durban that have aired on networks such as NBCU’s streaming services Hayu, Peacock, and Bravo, The Real Housewives of Nairobi, the suspenseful thriller Devil’s Peak which was acquired by Tubi for North America, and the crime thriller miniseries White Lies, featuring Natalie Dormer. This series has been sold to platforms such as Sundance Now, Stan in Australia, and Channel 4 in the U.K.
MultiChoice positions itself as Africa’s foremost content creator, maintaining operations in 50 out of the continent’s 54 nations, and narrating tales in an impressive 45 different languages.
As an excited fan, I’m thrilled about the fresh start for Showmax, MultiChoice’s African streaming platform, which took off in February with a vision to broaden its content offerings. This includes homegrown originals, blockbuster movies, soccer action from England, and competitive pricing, all aimed at disrupting the streaming scene on the continent.
MultiChoice, to whom Vivendi’s Canal+ business has extended a public offer, boasts over 84,000 hours of local content ready for international broadcast, as Philiso underscored on Monday. “For years, we’ve been acquiring content from global heavyweights,” she elaborated. “However, these partnerships are evolving into mutual collaborations as the appetite for African content expands. Our extensive experience and success make us an ideal partner in Africa for anyone equally enthusiastic about enriching the global content landscape with diverse voices.”
As a gamer, I’d say it this way: “For me, expanding globally is crucial, but at heart, I’m all about creating content that resonates with my main audience here in Africa. Just like everyone else, Africans want to see their own stories and hear their languages on screen. On Showmax, local shows make up nine out of ten most-watched titles since its relaunch in February. It took a big hitter like ‘House of the Dragon’ to shake things up a bit.”
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2024-09-02 10:54