Discop Africa returns to the real world


By Content Nigeria reporter
August 31, 2021

News

Pan-African content distribution and coproduction market Discop Africa will hold its 25th edition from December 12 to 14 in Kigali, Rwanda, after the previous two versions were forced online by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Patrick Zuchowicki

The event is intended to enhance intra-African audiovisual cooperation with a focus on content distribution and coproduction specifically aimed at sub-Saharan Africa. It will also enable participants to showcase finished content, adaptable IP and projects in development.

According to its organisers, the three-day event will welcome more than 75 global and regional distributors; 175-plus senior acquisition, commissioning and programming executives; over 100 independent producers from Francophone and Anglophone Africa; more than 50 industry influencers; in excess of 300 international delegates and 100-plus up-and-coming film, TV, animation, documentary and gaming content creators.

Exhibitors signed up so far include LAWO, AfrikaToon, ViacomCBS, the BBC, Bonneville Distribution, DIFFA, Deutsche Welle, France Media Monde, Hiventy, Global Agency, African Esports Championship, Televisa, WarnerMedia, RTI Distribution, Voice of America, Dick Clark Productions, Mediawan Africa and Multichoice Studios.

Discop CEO Patrick Zuchowicki said the location of Rwanda would increase the event’s attractiveness to global and regional companies driving Africa’s entertainment and media sectors. “The Kigali convention centre is a world-class venue that will play a central role in the success of the upcoming three-day market,” he added.

Running alongside Discop Kigali will be the Mashariki African Film Festival (MAFF), which will take place from December 10 to 17. It will welcome France as guest country and showcase the vision of young African creators, as well as match projects with global appeal with key international audiovisual stakeholders. There will be live sessions centred on sports broadcasting, coproduction opportunities between Francophone and Anglophone Africa, and the world of video gaming.

Tresor Sengha, founder and president of MAFF, said: “In the aftermath of the pandemic, the entertainment content creation industry is turning a new page in Africa. Creators are leveraging the continent’s rich culture to create authentic content that can better travel the world.”

In addition, there will also be a special programme co-hosted by the Rwanda Film Office that will unveil the country’s ambitious plan to become a strategic filming destination on the continent, and bring to light the country’s locations, incentives, talent pool, facilities and services.

Jérémie Karege, coordinator of the Rwanda Film Office, said: “We intend to capitalise on Rwanda’s diverse landscapes, its booming cultural and creative sector, as well as the country’s accessibility and security, to become a hassle-free destination for global audiovisual productions.”

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