rom 24-26 August 2022, the major players in film, television, animation, music, and technology gathered in the Host City of Cape Town, for three days of career and industry-changing conversations, content sessions, masterclasses as well as networking opportunities, in what has been lauded as a highly successful launch edition of FAME Week Africa.
Exhibitors, speakers, collaborators, sponsors, and delegates from across Africa and the globe, all agree that FAME Week Africa and it corelated events MIP Africa, Cape Town International Animation Festival, Muziki Africa and Media and Entertainment Solutions Africa has truly cemented this event as the one African creative and cultural gathering to diarise annually and create positive change in the industry.
RX Africa, organisers of FAME Week Africa, has proved once again to be the business of business in this exciting and diverse industry. They have created a platform for African creative professionals to meet, network and make dreams a reality.
“CTICC 2 was buzzing for three-days, in a so-far unmatched industry event. Deals were made in the hallways and at the bottom of escalators as even the abundance of meeting spaces provided could not contain the magic that was taking place,” says Martin Hiller, Marketing, Creative and Content Director for FAME Week Africa.
Adding that, “FAME Week Africa 2022 has left attendees inspired and motivated. For the first time in Africa, there is a home in which like-minded creatives across film, television, animation, music and technology to gather to share ideas, connect with other each other and learn from industry leaders”.
Recap: Day 1 and Day 2 and 3.
Got FOMO? Here’s what you missed – and why you should be there in 2023!
1. Cutting ceremony and welcoming event
On Wednesday, 24 August 2022, African Creatives were welcomed to their new home – FAME Week Africa. With inspiring welcomes from the FAME Week Africa Advisory Board Chair, Sisanda Henna, UNESCO’s Gabrielle Thiboutot, United States Ambassador Reuben E. Brigety II, and Realness Institute co-founder Mehret Mandefro, the opening ceremony set the tone for the magic to come.
Brigety was enthusiastic, saying: “Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, ‘Africa will shape the future, and not just that of the African continent, but the entire world.’ I sincerely believe that to be true, through the stories that will be told by art. I hope American producers and creative industry representatives will use this opportunity to meet new talent and acquire products. We need to tell the story of Africa, and we need the story to be told by Africans.”
2. Cape Town International Animation Festival (CTIAF)
CTIAF has focussed its attentions in 2022 on a business-to-business experience for their delegates. Festivals and markets are a sign of a healthy ecosystem and judging by the activity on the CTIAF pavilion – animation is thriving! CTIAF hosted several discussions and closed door sessions on inclusion and representation at the festival, led by international experts Camile Eden (Nickelodeon) and Zulema Uriarte (Netflix). Delegates also heard from Dneg Animation’s David Prescott and Kara Oropallo on potential career paths for young animation professionals just starting in the business. The CTIAF stand welcomed over 500 producers and creators working in live action and animation and had very successful producer breakfasts and networking sessions.
3. Content Sessions
Over 80 content sessions, 120 speakers and 5 masterclasses content was king at the MIP Africa and Muziki Theatre which was powered by Trace. The content sessions proved to be invaluable for the African film, television, animation, music and technology industries. Look out on your socials for when FAME catch-up content sessions will be available. For more information on the content sessions, click Here
4. Blood Psalms World Series Premiere at Ster-Kinekor V&A Waterfront.
For a little break from deal-making and hustling, Showmax and Multichoice hosted the official World Series Premiere of Blood Psalms at the Ster-Kinekor theatre at the V&A Waterfront.
Set to become the biggest Showmax original to date, the show is set to surpass the big seller “Tali’s Wedding Diary”. Set in Ancient Africa, one thousand days after the fall of Atlantis, ‘Blood Psalms’ explores the story of the five surviving houses of Kemet as they find themselves beset with fears of a prophesied end of days. Bokang Phelane has the role of a lifetime as Princess Zazi, a fiercely determined teenage princess.
To compliment the African essence of the series, DJ Karma Luna engaged guests with an African-curated set of Afrobeats and Afrohouse to get them in the mood for the film as the cast, crew and industry guests made their way down the red carpet.
5. FAME-Ous Party hosted at Cabo Beach Club
The skies cleared just in time for an energised and vibrant evening showcasing Cape Town’s nightlife as well as local and international talent at Cabo Beach Club at the FAMEous Party. Entertainment for the evening provided African and global creatives with inspiration and connections. The stellar line-up included: J Smash, Karma Luna, DJ Dre, Domanique Grant – all the way from Canada- with local African dancers, Namakau Star, Kimon and a surprise HIT performance by Mama Ghost which all had the crowds going wild as FAME Week Africa participants channelled all FAME-energy to the dance floor.
6. Emerging Artists Programme
At the top of the escalators to the world of FAME were the masterpieces of The Emerging Artists Programme. This City of Cape Town, Arts and Culture Branch initiative aims to assist emerging artists based in Cape Town to build capacity and access opportunities that will help promote their work and develop their professions.
This year, through Fame Week Africa, the Emerging Artists Programme selected 23 visual artists to participate in a capacity-building and training workshop as well as a two-week exhibition currently on at the V&A Waterfront, and thereafter, at Fame Week Africa. The exhibition is co-curated alongside the Justice Desk’s A Girl with a Dream exhibition.
7. Women at FAME empowering the industry:
Women are taking over the creative industries, and with good reason. FAME Week Africa showcased several women who are shattering the glass ceiling within the entertainment industry – from film to music and everything entertainment in between.
Here are some exceptional women at FAME Week Africa who are creating waves – and surfing them – across the various entertainment sectors in Africa and beyond:
– Ayten Amin, Film Director – Egypt,
– Camille Eden, VP of Recruitment and Talent Development for Nickelodeon – America (animation),
– Dorothy Ghettuba, Director of Africa Originals at Netflix – Kenya,
– Yolisa Phahle -CEO General Entertainment and Connected Video Multichoice Group at MultiChoice Group,
– Mehret Mandefro, Co-founder of Realness Institute and Filmmaker – Ethiopia and America,
– Mimi Bartels, Head of Production: of FilmOne Entertainment – Nigeria,
– Antos Stella, Managing Director – Content Connect Africa – South Africa
– Domanique Grant, Singer-Songwriter – Canada
– Thuthu Maqhosha – Owner of TSquared Productions
8. Where Africa met the world
FAME Week Africa was not just a playground for the industry locals, but also the international players. They say the time for Africa is now and FAME Week Africa provided a platform for locals and internationals to explore collaboration.
The USA was the official Guest Country of FAME Week Africa. This partnership was designed to provide marketing support to USA film, television, animation media, entertainment, music, and tech companies with an eye on Africa, seeking measurable results in the form of high-level connections with key players driving the continent’s fast-developing digital ecosphere. It also aims to promote new and significant steps in investment in Africa, strengthening the region’s dynamic economies and creating lucrative opportunities between American and African businesses.
Canada brought businesses to connect with Africa as they attended FAME Week Africa with Buzzfeed’s top 20 artists to watch, Pop-Soul Singer/Songwriter and Speaker Domanique Grant. Canada also provided the opportunity to meet with Arcana Studio, Grant Creativity Inc, PasaMusik, Caribbean Tales and Natural Record Studios Inc.
9. On the exhibition floor
The MultiChoice Pavilion showed the company’s commitment to telling African stories that touch lives, celebrate the continent and have the happy result of building great futures. The MultiChoice Pavilion served as a meeting and networking space for just this. MultiChoice’s Allan Sperling and Nomsa Philiso and others hosted conversations that shed light on how one of Africa’s leading entertainment houses is involved in the pitching process, content development, co-productions with international studios as well as content sales and distribution.
At the heart of MIP Africa is its business meetings and introductions. With a focus on African content, this is where the world met the continent and future box office hits and cult series were discussed. If you’re in production, distribution, financing or buying film and TV content for African audiences, the Netflix Meetings Arena brought you face-to-face with the people, content and ideas to give your business a new doorway to huge opportunity.
10. Networking, Networking, Networking
The Prime Video Café offered a space for African creatives to take a moment between meetings to rest up, hydrate, grab some nourishment and chat with industry icons. This café at the centre of the FAME Week Africa exhibition floor naturally doubled up as a meeting room for guests to explore their ideas and opportunities for collaborations.
Another highlight was the Creative Leaders’ Networking Function, hosted by BBC Studios, which took place at the Cullinan Hotel and offered the opportunity for world-renowned experts and senior influencers from the creative and cultural sector to gather and discuss issues and developments in the industry.
PARTICIPANTS IN 2022:
Click Here for the list of participating companies and industry creators in 2022.
THE FUTURE
If you weren’t there this year, don’t worry, FAME Week Africa will be back in 2023. To keep up with all things FAME Week Africa, as well as speaker, content session and event updates, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook or visit our website.
