With a long history as a major investor in local storytelling, MultiChoice is heading to the 17th Durban FilmMart (9 to 12 October) to build new partnerships that will help turn South African filmmakers’ abundant supply of creative ideas into viable productions and grow businesses, careers and protect intellectual property.
The global production industry is facing sustained headwinds – and the South African creative industry is not immune to those. “A sustainable local content industry requires both investment and an enabling ecosystem in which producers can build businesses, women can progress into leadership, and where emerging professionals can access mentorship and opportunity,” says Willington Ngwepe, MultiChoice (Pty) Ltd CEO. “As the custodians of DStv’s content in South Africa, we understand the challenges that creators are facing while constantly listening to our customers to understand what they want to see on their screens – and we want to bring the supply and demand sides closer together with the right funding, training and support to continue to grow the industry we’ve invested in for over three decades”.
Willington Ngwepe, MultiChoice (Pty) Ltd CEO
Durban FilmMart has a long history of connecting filmmakers and producers with finance, co-production opportunities, industry expertise, international market opportunities and potential partners. Ideas and intellectual property must also be protected, and working with Partners Against Piracy MultiChoice is leading public awareness campaigns to educate consumers about the risk and damage of consuming pirated content, engaging with government authorities to put in place stricter regulation and legislation to protect intellectual content in the digital age, and supporting law enforcement agencies to prosecute pirates in South Africa and beyond the country’s borders. “Our participation at Durban FilmMart creates opportunities for direct engagement with independent producers, creators, policymakers, distributors, and other industry partners to help build, safeguard and promote our industry,” says Willington Ngwepe, MultiChoice (Pty) Ltd CEO.
“Having a partner of MultiChoice's stature alongside us is a significant milestone for the Durban FilmMart,” said Magdalene Reddy, Director of the DFM. “MultiChoice has a long-standing commitment to African storytelling, and their involvement strengthens our mission to connect filmmakers with the financing and partnerships they need. For filmmakers, this kind of access is invaluable. It means projects will engage with decision-makers who can help move them from concept to screen.”
MultiChoice representatives will be leading and participating in a series of discussions and events. On 9 October MultiChoice Head of Content Renee Jacobs and key content supplier CANAL+ Africa’s Head of Scripted Content Tebogo Matlawa will headline the discussion topic ‘Support and Funding of Local Content in SA’.
Durban FilmMart, in association with MultiChoice, runs from 9-12 October at the Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani on the Durban beachfront. Visit www.durbanfilmmart.co.za for more information.
To find more information on the sessions above, the rest of the Durban FilmMart Industry Programme and so much more, go to https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/
The 17th edition of Durban FilmMart, in association with MultiChoice and principal funding from the National Lotteries Commission, is supported by the following funders and partners: eThekwini Municipality, Durban Film Office, Ford Foundation, National Film and Video Foundation, Splashout, MTN Group, KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, Expertise France and GIZ, The International Emerging Film Talent Fund, NEFTI, Industrial Development Corporation, Netflix, CNC, Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Arab Culture Fund, Avalon Group, French Institute of South Africa, Animation SA, African Producers Accelerator, Berlinale Talents, Canada High Commission of South Africa, Caribbeantales and the Cross Continental Forum, Chiriseri Studios, Climate Story Labs Africa, Cape Town International Animation Festival, Dante Languages, Department of Communication and Digital Technology, Disabled Audio-Visual Worker's Network, Documentary Filmmakers Association, Durban International Film Festival, Doc Society, Docubox, Documentary Africa, Durban University of Technology, Eastern Cape Development Corporation, Embassy of Cote d'Ivoire, European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs, FIVA, FIPRESCI, Gauteng Film Commission, Independent Black Filmmakers Collective, IMPACT (Canada), Independent Producers Organisation, Habesha Creative, Ladima Foundation, Nature Environment Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF), South African Audio Visual Cluster, South African Guild of Actors, South Africa Guild of Editors, Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Storyboard Collective, Sisters Working in Film and Television (SWIFT), SASFED, Palestine Film Institute, Tunga Media Afrika, WGSA, WiC. Media Partners include Arena Holdings and Variety.
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