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Five Takeaways From the Joburg Film Festival and JBX Content Market: ‘What a Time to Be Alive in Africa’
Africa's streaming wars and an eye toward global dealmaking were on the agenda at the recently wrapped industry confab in Johannesburg.
“It was really devastating when they just up and left us,” said Yellowbone Entertainment’s Layla Swart, who was set to get the streamer’s greenlight on an ambitious crime drama series and described the sudden about-face as “perplexing.” Still, there was little doubt this week in Johannesburg that competition among rival streaming services is driving the local market. Last year, the streamer dropped “Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire,” a 10-part anthology series executive produced by Academy Award winner Peter Ramsey (“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”), Anthony Silverston of South Africa’s Oscar-nominated animation house Triggerfish, and Tendayi Nyeke. Festival partner MultiChoice was out in force this week in Johannesburg, with company execs showcasing upcoming projects in the pipeline, presenting case studies behind their biggest success stories and offering tips on how local filmmakers can land commissions with the most prolific producer of African content.
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