A novel by bestselling South African crime writer Rudie Van Rensburg is to be adapted for TV by US-based Strong Studios, Convergent Media, UK-based ForLan Films and South African broadcaster MNet.

Based on the Van Rensburg novel Piranha, Endangered will start production in early 2024 in South Africa. Strong Studios, part of Strong Global Entertainment (SGE), and Convergent Media will oversee global distribution outside Africa, while distribution in Africa will be handled by MNet and parent company MultiChoice.

The six-part series has double Bafta winner Stuart Urban (The Mystery of Suzy Lamplugh, The Secret, May I Kill U?) on board to direct and screenwriter Jake Riddell (Reyka, Grantchester, London Kills) penning the script.

The series will be produced by ForLan’s Emmy-winning producer Steve Lanning (Empire Strikes Back, Gandhi) and Jake Lanning (Pulse, Trial & Retribution) alongside Advantage Entertainment’s Vlokkie Gordon (Black Sails) plus: SGE chairman Kyle Cerminara; Strong president David Ozer and exec VP of production and development Scott Weinstock; Convergent’s Dan Reardon and Santosh Govindaraju; and MNet’s Nicola van Niekerk and Wikus du Toit.

Endangered centres on a wealthy Englishman in exile who runs an illegal syndicate smuggling endangered rhino horn, and the veteran detective who is aggressively pursuing him across South Africa. The novel Piranha was published in 2020.

“With Stuart’s vision and Jake’s dynamic screenplay, Endangered has all the facets lining up to produce a global binge-worthy hit,” said Ozer, while Reardon described the series as “a fast-moving thriller, yet grounded in important real-world issues, both of which will appeal to a broad range of international audiences.”

“Endangered represents a unique opportunity for MultiChoice to support a project that not only promises gripping storytelling but also addresses a pressing global concern. It’s a testament to the power of storytelling to make a positive impact,” added Georginah Machiridza, executive head of general entertainment for MultiChoice Group.

Hong Kong-based distributor O4 Media has picked up rights in Asia to South African musical gameshow Note for Note (aka Noot vir Noot), which sees contestants attempt to identify melodies, titles, lyrics and general knowledge based on both the local and international music scene.

Originally created in 1991 by Johan Stemmet and Johan van Resburg from Johannesburg-based prodco Stemmburg Television, Note for Note has screened on public broadcaster SABC in South Africa for 47 seasons and 750 episodes. It was recently acquired for international distribution by US distributor and formats sourcing company Small World IFT, which agreed the deal with O4 Media.

“The show’s combination of music, competition, and emotional depth has resonated with viewers worldwide, and we are confident that it will continue to captivate audiences in the Asian market,” said Gary Pudney, founder and MD of O4 Media. “This acquisition underscores our dedication to bringing the best in entertainment to our viewers and strengthens our bond with Small World.”

Small World president Tim Crescenti added: “This is fantastic to have another title, and a massively successful title, with O4 Media. We love Gary and his team. I know that partnering with them on a format that has been on-air for 47 seasons and over 750 episodes, will create a blockbuster in Asia.”

Crime drama series The Slum King is set to premiere on MultiChoice-owned channel Africa Magic Showcase next month.

Produced by Chichi Nworah and created by Nworah, Eric Aghimien and Donald Tombia, the show includes Big Brother Nigeria contestant Hermes Iyele; Tobi Bakre, who won this year’s Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards best actor award; and Kanayo O Kanayo in the cast.

The series tells the story of an 11-year-old boy who witnesses a gang massacre his family because he forgot to lock the doors. Overwhelmed with guilt and trauma, he morphs into the charismatic King of the Slums.

“After Chichi Nworah, Eric Aghimien and I created The Slum King and Africa Magic gave the greenlight, I knew the only way to bring the idea to life was to run with the best TV storytellers and writers in the country. If the world is a global village, then it takes the world to bring magic to your screens,” said Tombia.

The series debuts on October 8.

Global streaming platform Netflix will launch the fourth instalment of South Africa’s popular Kandasamys comedy movie franchise on October 20.

Kandasamys: The Baby follows Trippin’ With the Kandasamys, Keeping Up With the Kandasamys and Kandasamys: The Wedding.

In Kandasamys: The Baby is described as “a joyous family bonding moment” that celebrates the arrival of a baby, which turns into utter mayhem and chaos when the grandparent’s shenanigans takes parenting to a disastrous level. Ultimately unconditional love and the support of family saves the day.

The film is directed by Jayan Moodley and stars actors including Jailoshini Naidoo, Maeshni Naicker, Madhushan Singh, and Mishgah Parthiephal. The film is produced by African Lotus Production Studios.

Award-winning South African author Jackie Phamotse has revealed plans to adapt her book series, titled Bare, into a television series.

The Bare novels follow a woman trying to survive in Johannesburg’s dark underbelly and tackle issues such as sex crimes, slay queens, sugar daddies, money and human trafficking, shedding light on the consequences of pursuing materialism and a lavish lifestyle.

Phamotse’s debut novel Bare: The Blesser’s Game was published in 2017 and was awarded the African Icon Literary Award in Lagos, Nigeria in 2018. Her second novel Bare: The Cradle of The Hockey Club was released in June 2019 and Bare III: Ego was published in 2020. Bare IV: Mercy came out in 2022 and the latest in the series, Bare V: Curtain Call, was published in June.

The TV adaptation will be executive produced by Samad Davis (Kings of Jo’burg), Dumi Gumbi (Headspace) and Cati Weinek (The Fragile King). It will be produced by their five-year-old Johannesburg prodco Ergo Distro International and will be shot in South Africa.

Phamotse said on social media: “What is coming to your screens will blow your mind. I guess there is no better team than what we have here. Dumi Gumbi and Samad Davis, I will forever cherish what you have done for me. A life-changing experience.

“I have never been this excited and scared in my life. I’m a writer, I stay in my corner and write, now everyone will literally see my thoughts on screen. That’s an out-of-body nightmare – however, it’s a dream come true. The scripts look amazing, now to find our actors! It’s go time.”

According to Phamotse, the casting process has already begun for multiple roles in the adaptation but no broadcast or streaming partners have yet been announced.

The AuthenticA Series Lab, a development initiative based in South Africa and offered by the Realness Institute, has chosen four African screenwriters for its second edition.

The four are Senegalese scribe Tiah Beye, Kenyan writer and chair of the Kenya Scriptwriters Guild Wanjiru Kairu, Botswana’s Moreetsi Gabang and Cape Town’s Kelly-Eve Koopman.

The participants will begin their six-month mentorship journey on September 19 under script consultant Selina Ukwuoma and creative producer Mehret Mandefro, and will participate in both online sessions and in-person residencies in South Africa and Switzerland.

The Series Lab programme will conclude with a pitching session at the Series Mania Forum in Lille, France in March 2024. At the event, the participants will create a concept story pitch deck and a pilot script to present to attendees.

Mandefro said: “Providing African writers the support, time and space they need to do their best work is an important intervention in the media landscape. I look forward to working with this new cohort and their stories.”

“AuthenticA Series Lab pitches in 2023 were a great success and demonstrated the interest of the international industry in projects coming from Africa. We are delighted to be renewing our partnership with the Realness Institute for a second edition. The new cohort is of high quality and I am sure the projects will find partners in Lille,” said Laurence Herszberg, general director of Series Mania.

Nollywood filmmaker Biodun Stephen (Introducing the Kujus, Breaded Life) has started directing a romantic comedy titled Mistakenly Yours.

The film began principal photography this month and is from Nigeria’s Laju Iren Films, the production company of author and filmmaker Laju Iren (Love is a Star, During Ever After).

It follows the story of a beautiful filmmaker with a promising future and a clergyman with a dark past who are forced into an engagement of convenience to fulfil their goals.

The cast includes Stan Nze, Chinonso Arubayi, Tomike Adeoye, Omotunde Adebowale-David (Lolo 1), Charles Inojie and Olumide Oworu.

Stephen said: “From the brilliance in the scriptwriting to the excellent casting and, of course, the choice of the director, I have no doubt that viewers would absolutely love Mistakenly Yours. More so, I’m looking forward to working with Laju Iren Films for the first time, to creatively bring this masterpiece to life.”

Iren added: “It’s been such a thoroughly enjoyable experience putting this story to paper, and I cannot wait for our audience to see this magic translate to screen. We’ve put together the most talented cast and crew who have worked and continue to work diligently to give this film the excellence it deserves. The director is a personal favourite of mine, and all of us at Laju Iren Films are excited to have her at the helm of creative affairs for this project.’’

The African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) and the African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank)’s Creative Africa Nexus has announced the 30 African filmmakers who have been selected for its Script to Screen programme.

The participants represent diverse backgrounds, perspectives and narrative styles, underscoring Afreximbank’s commitment to inclusivity and its objective to empower distinct talent from Africa and the diaspora.

They include Nigerian filmmakers Eric Nwanso, Chinonye Chidolue, Ayodele Elegba, Egar Ntanyi, Adora Ajuzie, Uche Ateli, Omolola Lamikanra, Kay Ugwuzor and Amba Idongesit, as well as Kenyan filmmakers Arnold Mwanjila, Denis Wanjohi, Victor Gatonye and Tracy Amadi.

Also included are Akama Joseph (Cameroon), Yohou Safiatou Muriel (Ivory Coast), Valencia Joshua (South Africa), Sami Saif (Morocco), Lloyd Winini (Namibia), Helmy Nouh (Egypt), Esther Sammy (Uganda), Yemisi Bokinni (US), Tessa Ratovonar (Madagascar), Mapitso Ralephata (South Africa), Ghada Ali (Egypt), Firoza Zahir Houssen (Madagascar), Badie Ezzaman Boussefsaf (Algeria), Djaka Souare (US), Ahmed Hassan (Egypt), Djaniklo Viau (Ivory Coast) and Wilford Machili (Mozambique).

“Grateful to have been selected as one of the 30 participants of the Creative Africa Nexus programme,” said Elegba, who is CEO of Lagos toon studio Spoof Animation and founder of Lagos Comic Con.

The Script to Screen programme affords emerging writers and producers the opportunity to learn from the best in the industry and also aims to equip them with insights into the constantly evolving landscape of the entertainment world.

Participants will get the chance to pitch their projects to international studios and streaming platforms throughout the Creative Africa Nexus event which takes place as part of the Afreximbank-backed Intra-African Trade Fair in Cairo, which runs from November 9 to 15.

The Funeral, a short film produced by students of the EbonyLife Creative Academy, has been selected to be part of the prestigious Realtime International Film Festival.

The short is directed by Odiachi Ashimedua and Godwin Nzekwe, written by Yusuf Zay and produced by Mfon-abasi Michael Inyang, Phebe Atsemude and Maryrose Emeka. The cast includes Adunolaoluwa Osilowo, Mayowa Daramola, Ebubedike Nwani, Susan Ibanga, Myde Glover, Peace Adebowale and Tega Obahor.

In the film, a woman attends her own funeral after her untimely passing. Accompanied by her spiritual guide, she must learn to forgive herself and accept her fate. In the process she discovers more than she bargained for and comes to understand that life is far more complex than she imagined, even after death.

Realtime takes place between September 30 and October 7 in the UK.

“We extend our warmest congratulations to the entire team involved in the creation of this extraordinary cinematic masterpiece. Their remarkable efforts, unwavering dedication and boundless creativity have culminated in this remarkable achievement. We are incredibly proud of their collective talents and the exceptional work they have produced,” said the EbonyLife Creative Academy.

The Funeral has previously been selected for the Student World Impact Film Festival 2022, Edo State International Film Festival 2022, Black Cat Award International Film Festival 2022, Luanda PAFF 2022, The Lit Fest 2022, Lift-Off Global Network Sessions 2022 and the Indieview Festival.

Nigerian animator Ayodele Elegba, founder of Lagos Comic Con, has announced the production of a new romantic animated short film called Uniquely Me.

Elegba, who is also CEO of Lagos toon studio Spoof Animation, said Uniquely Me is an old idea he felt would be better told in 3D animation.

“I have always had stories I felt would be best communicated through 3D and now Spoof Animation is finally embracing 3D. Uniquely Me is a short film where imagination meets reality,” he said.

Described as an adventure of authenticity and empowerment, the film takes viewers on a journey to embrace their individual uniqueness and stand out in a world where everyone wants to fit into what’s trending. In a world where conformity is king, breaking free and embracing your uniqueness is a mental battle, according to Elegba.

Uniquely Me will premiere on Valentine’s Day next year. Spoof’s previous credits include Hero Corps, Soul Ties and Ajaka: Lost in Rome.

Nollywood actor and filmmaker Funke Akindele (Jenifa’s Diary, My Siblings & I) has begun production on her new movie A Tribe Called Judah.

A Tribe Called Judah is co-directed by Akindele and fellow film director Adeoluwa Owu and is set for release this year. The move comes after Akindele’s movie Battle on Buka Street hit cinemas last year and debuted on Amazon Prime Video this year.

While few details have been revealed about A Tribe Called Judah, the confirmed cast members include Nse Ikpe Etim, Timini Egbuson, Jide Kene A, Nosa Rex, Uzor Arukwe, Olumide Owuru, Genoveva Umeh, Uzee Usman and Boma Akpore.

“It was so much fun and hard work on this project, #atribecalledjudah. You guys will love it! Coming soon!! December,” said Akindele.

“Such a privilege and honour to have worked alongside the best people in filmmaking on this side of the Earth. Everyone was exceptional on this. Best cast and crew,” added Owu.

Yolisa Phahle is stepping down as CEO of MultiChoice-owned African streamer Showmax, with Marc Jury appointed as interim CEO until a successor is found.

Phahle began the handover process to MultiChoice South Africa CEO Jury on September 1 and will provide full-time advisory support to the exec for the next six months.

From March 2024, Phahle will continue to consult for the group for 12 months, reporting to Jury, who will run Showmax and MultiChoice’s South African operations while it searches for a new Showmax CEO.

It comes after the South African pay TV group partnered with Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky to relaunch Showmax in sub-Saharan Africa.

The streamer will feature local content and originals from MultiChoice and its channels including Mzansi Magic, Africa Magic and Maisha Magic, alongside international content licensed from NBCUniversal and Sky, plus third-party content from HBO, Warner Bros International, Sony and others, as well as live English Premier League football.

Phahle joined MultiChoice-owned M-Net in 2005 as general manager for Channel O and was later appointed channel director for MultiChoice’s local channels in South Africa, where she launched the Mzansi Magic portfolio of channels. She was named M-Net CEO in 2015 and appointed as CEO for Showmax in 2020.

Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice Group CEO, said: “Having worked with me and the board to set the new direction, we wish her the very best of luck as she begins the new episode of her professional life.”

Independent Nigerian broadcaster Channels TV has teamed up with Lagos production company Lighthouse Television & Filmworks for a new business competition show titled Fund It Forward.

The show was conceived by executive producer Zemmy Momoh, who also serves as director of corporate social responsibility and social impact programming at the broadcaster’s parent company, Channels Media Group, and Lighthouse Television & Filmworks MD Neil Oyenekan.

Its primary objective is to empower young business leaders and activate their social enterprise ideas. Oyenekan (The Justice Court) is the showrunner and Channels Media Group owns the format.

Seeking to find answers to questions surrounding impact-driven business models in Nigeria, the show will put 12 young social entrepreneurs to the test as they compete in a series of challenges designed to elevate but also evaluate their budding social enterprises. Week after week, they must balance their business acumen with their commitment to making a positive difference.

In these challenges, participants will undergo a journey mirroring the real-world phases of establishing a purpose-driven enterprise. Spanning eight rigorous elimination rounds, participants must persuade a panel of experienced judges that they possess the exceptional blend of creativity, passion and business acumen required for success.

They will compete for the opportunity to secure substantial grant funding of up to N30m (US$38,000) and mentorship from established social entrepreneurs.

Motivated Nigerians aged between 20 and 35 with early-stage social enterprise ventures and who are passionate about changing Nigeria for the better can apply for a chance to take their start-up to the next level. To register, click here.

Momoh said: “Nigeria has one of the world’s largest youth populations, with about 70% of the country’s population being under 30. Here we have a huge potential economic driver, if we can just tap into the entrepreneurial and problem-solving spirit that is so evident in young Nigerians.

“Channels Media Group has social impact and empowerment in its very DNA, so we wanted to play our part in motivating the youth in an entertaining but informative way. We thought why not give young, mission-driven entrepreneurs a real helping hand and educate and inspire our viewers on the ins and outs of socially motivated business at the same time?”

“Fund It Forward is an interesting twist on business TV formats,” added Oyenekan. “I do feel quite proud of this new creation.”

The show will premiere on Channels TV in October.

ITV2 in the UK has commissioned reality spin-off Love Island: All Stars, which will see former contestants return to South Africa for a second chance at finding romance.

Produced by Lifted Entertainment, part of ITV Studios, and GroupM Motion Entertainment, the series is scheduled to debut in early 2024 and will also be carried on streaming platform ITVX.

The format sees old favourites from the dating show couple up and try to avoid being dumped from the island.

Relationships will be put to test as the singletons try to win the hearts of each other and the viewing public, with only one pair being crowned winners.

Love Island has become a reality juggernaut for commercial pubcaster ITV, amassing over 300 million streams alone on ITVX this year.

The launch episode of this year’s series attracted around three million viewers across all devices, with the final the most watched programme for 16- to 34-year-olds.

The format is co-owned by distributors ITV Studios and GroupM Motion Entertainment, whose head of formats and entertainment is Martin Oxley. It has been commissioned in 27 territories including the US, Greece and Germany.

Paul Mortimer, director of reality commissioning & acquisitions and controller ITV2, ItvBe said: “After 10 ratings busting seasons of Love Island on ITV2, we’re delighted to be able to celebrate a decade of the number one dating show on television with the first-ever series of Love Island: All Stars.

“I know the audience will welcome back some of the most iconic UK Islanders, as they set out in pursuit of love all over again in a brand-new version of our worldwide hit.”

MultiChoice-owned channel Africa Magic is gearing up to launch three new indigenous series this month on its channels Africa Magic Yoruba, Africa Magic Igbo and Africa Magic Hausa.

Apo (The Bag) is a Yoruba mystery drama that tells the story of the tenants of the Olanrewaju compound who suddenly find a mysterious bag containing money, a charm and a gun, leading to greed and rivalry taking over and a series of twisted events.

Iwe (Anger) – is an Igbo drama series that tells the story of two kingdoms, Oba-Ekwe and Idu Amaja, which were once united. However, prosperity, jealousy and greed caused them to separate, leaving two royal siblings to divide the kingdoms.

Lastly, Kariya (Sanctuary) is a 26-episode Hausa romantic drama that follows the journey of two renowned Islamic relationship counselors who are on the brink of divorce after one’s infidelity threatens to become a public scandal.

Apo will debut on Africa Magic Yoruba at 18.30 WAT on September 18, Kariya airs on Africa Magic Hausa at 20.00 WAT on September 22 and Iwe launches on Africa Magic Igbo at 19.00 WAT on September 25.

Mbuotidem Johnson, founder of Lagos-based toon studio Basement Animation, has been named as a jury member for the Mipcom Cannes Diversify TV Awards 2023.

Johnson made the announcement on his Instagram page, saying: “Proud to be among the jury of the Mipcom Cannes Diversify TV Awards 2023.”

All programmes submitted to the Mipcom Diversify TV Awards will be short-listed by members of the Mip Markets’ Diversity Advisory Board, comprising leading professionals committed to diversity and inclusion in the global media landscape.

They include Francis Brown, creative director at Animaxfyb Studios, Ghana; Sithembiso Mphele, executive producer, Tshimologong, South Africa; Betty Sulty Johnson, VP of global sales and coproduction, Trace Studios, France; and Mark Garner, exec VP and head of global FAST, A+E Networks, US.

The seventh edition of Mipcom Diversify TV Awards will take place in Cannes during Mipcom from October 14 to 19.

The awards aim to bring attention to deserving programmes of diverse and inclusive backgrounds, spotlighting authentic new and established voices and recognising positive programming across the year that embraces excellent representation in exemplary shows.

MBC Group in the Middle East and North Africa has renewed its licensing deal with Paramount Global Content Distribution for Nickelodeon programming for a further three years.

Under the pact, children’s channel MBC3 will have the first free-to-air run in the region for a minimum of 350 episodes of Nickelodeon shows per year. Streamer Shahid will also get a minimum of 350 episodes.

Nickelodeon programmes for MBC3 include recent seasons of Paw Patrol, The Loud House, SpongeBob SquarePants and Blaze & the Monster Machines, as well as new series The Patrick Star Show, Middlemost Post and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Shows for Shahid include Dora the Explorer, Shimmer & Shine, The Loud House and Bubble Guppies in English and French. The renewed partnership also includes licensing and merchandising rights to Nickelodeon characters.

Significant growth is expected in the TV broadcasting market in South Africa, particularly within the regions of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Eastern Cape, according to a report from TechSci Research.

The penetration of TV is on the increase, as is the use of television in most South African households. In addition, the demand for African content that reflects the culture and values of the country in the local language is driving a surge in pay TV subscriptions that is propelling the broadcasting business.

India-based TechSci Research said around 89.2% of SA households now own a TV and the per capita income in the country is rising at 3.6% annually.

Consequently, the number of households with a linear pay TV subscription for leading pay TV supplier MultiChoice Group climbed by 900,000 to 21.8 million in 2022, with nine million in SA and 12.8 million in the rest of Africa. Moreover, SA will add between 18 and 20 million pay TV subscribers by 2027, said TechSci, citing the power of local content to drive subs.

Advancements in technology have enabled companies to provide TV broadcasting services via IPTV, harnessing the power of the internet to deliver live and on-demand television shows and videos.

The rise in sporting activities such as cricket, football and rugby is also contributing to the expansion of the TV broadcasting industry, since people prefer to watch these sports live on television and are ready to purchase subscription packages for uninterrupted coverage.

To further underscore the audiences’ desire for more local content, a survey conducted in 2019 by Futurefact in SA stated: “Eighty-six percent of respondents expressed their enjoyment of watching TV programmes centred around the nation’s social and cultural values.

“Consequently, to capture a substantial viewership, numerous channels have shifted their focus towards local content. This shift has significantly driven individuals to subscribe to pay TV services, thereby exerting a notable impact on the television broadcasting market in South Africa.”

As businesses aim to reach larger audiences and potential clients, the rising usage of smart TVs and evolving lifestyles are fuelling demand for digital content and cable subscriptions, while cable operators lead the revolution by airing popular TV shows, films, documentaries, news, sports and other programmes.

Set to benefit from this growth are SA players such as MultiChoice, Electronic Media Network, Openview, StarTimes Media South Africa and The South African Broadcasting Corp. However, challenges these companies may face include content piracy and high competition from international streaming platforms.

Broadcasters and platforms in Africa have acquired 250 hours of programming from UK-based distributor Abacus Media Rights (AMR).

Buyers including Mnet, BritBox, Arena Broadcasting, SuperSport Africa, CBS AMC and BBC Studios have acquired a range of scripted and unscripted shows titles for their African feeds.

These include high-end dramas Line of Duty and Maxine; topical biographical shows including Boris Becker: The Rise & Fall, Adele: 30 Greatest Moments and Elon Musk: Superhero or Supervillain; and lifestyle programming such as The Art of Architecture and Beautiful Interiors Northern Ireland.

Programming acquired also includes Williams & Mansell: Red 5, Brazil 2002, In the Footsteps of Killers, Bloodline Detectives, When Missing Turns to Murder, The Masked Singer and The Masked Dancer.

The deals were brokered by Ali Phelan, sales manager at AMR, which is part of Amcomri Entertainment.

“AMR’s goal since its launch three years ago has always been to acquire and coproduce a curated collection of diverse programming with broad appeal to audiences throughout the world,” said AMR’s head of sales, Hana Palmer.

“This sale of a significant number of hours to leading broadcasters and platforms throughout the African continent emphasises the strong interest our new series and library titles deliver across all genres.”

A number of African films will be screened at the upcoming Fame Film Shorts Festival, part of Fame Week Africa 2023, scheduled to be held from September 7 to 9.

Among the filmmakers being showcased are Lagos-based 2D animator Somto Schucks Onubogu, whose animated short film Cycle, produced in collaboration with Adebimpe Adebambo, will be pitched. Cycle shows the consequences of the way we treat our environment.

“This particular project is one that’s close to my heart,” said Onubogu.

“We will be pitching this at the upcoming Fame Week Africa, happening in Cape Town, alongside some other super-talented artists and amazing projects as well. As an artist who at one time was a microbiologist who made a whole seminar presentation on recycling, I’m glad that it’s all coming full circle.”

“It is heartwarming to have our Cycle project in collaboration with Schucks selected among the 29 to be pitched and which cuts across the categories of short films, feature films and series,” added Adebambo.

Also being showcased is Nigeria’s Uzoamaka Onuoha, whose short film Swimming in a Sea of Trauma will screen during the festival at the Labia Theatre.

Swimming in a Sea of Trauma is a ghost story about the memories of the Biafran War, in which a man encounters an otherworldly girl in a dream, later discovering that she is a wandering spirit who lived and died during the war.

Other short films screening during Fame Week Africa 2023 include Calabashes by KN Studios, Zabym Street by Afrika Toon, Lolo Xibelani by Mollo Animation, Kinafo by Studio KA, NERO by Motif Studios and Rorisang & the Gurlz by Cabblow Studios.