Tag Archives: Mipcom

African animators head to MipJunior

October 14, 2022NewsBasement Animation, Mipcom, MipJunior, Rorisang & the Gurlz f, Tech Timi Out, TriggerfishGary

Animators from Africa will be out in force at the 30th edition of the MipJunior conference this weekend.

The pre-Mipcom international screenings and coproduction market, held in Cannes, France, on October 15-16, will bring together the most influential producers, distributors and buyers of kids’ and family programming.

African animators will take part in pitching sessions as well as engage in discussions related to business opportunities, partnerships and collaborations.

Among the animated projects heading to market are Rorisang & the Gurlz from South African company Cabblow Studios. It is one of the project pitch finalists in the teen category.

The toon follows a girl who is on a quest to start an Afropop band with her group of besties at her conservative all-girls high school, but standing in their way is their strict choir mistress.

In May, Rorisang & The Gurlz was selected for the Stories x Women initiative from the Women in Animation organisation.

This is a programme hosted by the International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations, sponsored by Disney and supported by Triggerfish. It was also pitched at the 2022 Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market in June.

Lagos-based studio Basement Animation will also attend MipJunior, to discuss its new project Tech Timi Out, which is still in development.

Tech Timi Out (52×11’) is a comedy-adventure series for kids aged 6-10 that focuses on kids saving the world one invention at a time.

MipJunior 2022 will offer participants the opportunity to discover the latest kids content from around the world, view screenings and network with industry peers.

tagged in: Basement Animation, Mipcom, MipJunior, Rorisang & the Gurlz f, Tech Timi Out, Triggerfish

Nigerian firms pack for Mipcom

September 21, 2018NewsAscend Studios, Ayanwale Kehinde Enterprises, Chinto Technologies, EbonyLife Media, Gospell Digital Technology, John Adewusi, Mipcom, National Broadcasting Commission, Salt & TruthGary

A number of Nigerian companies will attend the Mipcom international TV programme market in Cannes, France next month.

Mipcom is the world’s biggest entertainment content market

The annual event takes place between October 15 and 18 and this year’s theme is The Big Shift: Transitioning to a Reshaped Media Landscape.

The title reflects the growing demand for premium content in all facets of the media industry.

Nigerian companies at the event will include Ascend Studios, Ayanwale Kehinde Enterprises, Chinto Technologies, EbonyLife Media, Gospell Digital Technology and Salt & Truth. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) was meant to exhibit at the event but for reasons unknown will not be present, a spokeswoman told Content Nigeria.

Attending the world’s biggest entertainment content market will be industry leaders, producers, commissioners, distributors, media personnel, independent production companies, digital studios and brands and almost 2,000 exhibiting companies from around the world.

John Adewusi, MD of Lagos prodco Salt & Truth, said: “Mipcom is the ultimate content market for a producer, with many opportunities to collaborate and keep up with all that’s happening in the global content and production space. I will be there to gain knowledge, opportunity and, most of all, build relationships.”

Companies attending as commissioners will have access to top-level conferences, networking and keynotes events as well as the Mipcom world premiere screenings that will feature fresh content reaching the market.

Mipcom 2018 allows exhibitors to showcase their latest content. Adewusi said: “We will be there with our slate of content: a new format, a seven-part docuseries, a comedy series and a drama. These projects are in various stages, some in development, some completed and in need of distribution. We are there to present our stories to the world.”

Several conferences will be held where relevant issues like content creation, financing evolution, consumer trends, positivity of diversity and inclusion in the world TV landscape, content delivery and shaping the future of TV and entertainment will be discussed.

“Mipcom bridges the gap between the various levels of production. For Nigeria, it gives us local producers and creators a seat at the grand table, an opportunity to tell our stories and, with the right backing, assist us in amplifying these stories to the world,” said Adewusi.

Reporters for Content Nigeria and parent company C21 Media will be at the event, as well as the preceding MipJunior event on October 13 and 14.

Contact the press team with your news by clicking here.

tagged in: Ascend Studios, Ayanwale Kehinde Enterprises, Chinto Technologies, EbonyLife Media, Gospell Digital Technology, John Adewusi, Mipcom, National Broadcasting Commission, Salt & Truth

Hat Trick goes Manhunting in Cannes

October 16, 2018NewsAJ Odudu, Channel 4, Hat Trick International, Lucy Hillman, Manhunting With My Mum, Mipcom, Sam Whittaker, Summer Films, The Drag LabGary

Manhunting With My Mum aired on Channel 4 in the UK in August

MIPCOM: A show in which a UK radio star goes back to her roots in Nigeria to get a taste of life and love the traditional way is launching at Mipcom in Cannes.

UK-based distributor Hat Trick International has struck a multi-year first-look agreement with Summer Films, adding UK broadcaster Channel 4’s series Manhunting With My Mum to its catalogue.

The show follows Blackburn-born presenter, club DJ and radio host AJ Odudu, who has just turned 30 and remains single, as she goes back to Nigeria to find a man.

The twist is that she brings her mum, who is unimpressed with modern dating methods and has lined up four men she believes could be ideal husband material. After a date with each of these very different guys, in very different parts of Nigeria, will AJ finally find herself a man?

The show was commissioned by Channel 4 earlier this year and aired in August. Hat Trick is launching the show to international programme buyers here at the Mipcom TV market this week.

The company’s deal with Summer Films also includes the upcoming six-part series The Drag Lab, commissioned for Channel 4.

Independent factual specialist Summer Films was established last year by creative director Lucy Hillman (The Choir Military Wives) and Emmy-winning MD Sam Whittaker (Brat Camp, Worlds Strictest Parents).

Hat Trick International will manage global distribution rights to both titles.

“We’re delighted to secure this partnership with Summer Films. Teaming up with innovative independent producers is a key strategy for Hat Trick International and will ensure we continue to deliver the very best content to the global market,” said Hat Trick International’s acquisitions executive Hana Zidek, who brokered the deal.

Hillman said: “Were looking forward to working with Hat Trick International to bring our new productions to the global market. Both Manhunting With My Mum and The Drag Lab will deliver a uniquely entertaining perspective on themes that are relevant to viewers wherever they are in the world.”

tagged in: AJ Odudu, Channel 4, Hat Trick International, Lucy Hillman, Manhunting With My Mum, Mipcom, Sam Whittaker, Summer Films, The Drag Lab

EbonyLife talks up ‘Afro-genres’ at Mipcom

October 17, 2018NewsEbonyLife Media, Mipcom, Mo AbuduJohn Winfield

MIPCOM: African channel EbonyLife Media is at the Mipcom market here in Cannes looking to work with international partners on a range of drama projects it is billing as ‘Afro-genres’.

EbonyLife has spent the past few years teaming up with international partners to develop and evolve its original African content. In 2014, the company partnered with Disney to produce Desperate Housewives Africa, which was based on the US drama and became a major hit across Africa.

Since then, EbonyLife has produced more than 5,000 hours of entertainment and reality programmes through EbonyLife Studios. Furthermore, its Nigerian movie franchise The Wedding Party has emerged as a major favourite.

In March 2018, the company struck a three-project deal with Sony Pictures Television to produce dramas including The Dahomey Warriors. EbonyLife also acquired a licence to produce gameshow The Dating Game Nigeria.

The company is now at Mipcom looking to continue this strategy of teaming with international partners. In addition, EbonyLife CEO Mo Abudu will give a keynote address on the significance of EbonyLife’s Afro genres at Content London, which takes place in the UK capital from November 27 to 30 this year.

EbonyLife is in discussions with international partners over various coproduction projects, and is offering producers and distributors distinct content formats, scripts and concepts in the form of series, movies and shows that are ready to be developed.

To meet the demands of audiences, the EbonyLife research team has been developing content in four major areas under the overall ‘Afro-genre’ label.

Afro-history deals with stories related to myths and legends from the African continent such as The Dahomey Warriors, a series about a young girl who faces adversity when she joins the renowned female warriors who guard the king in the 18th century West African kingdom of Dahomey.

Afro-futurism explores a futuristic Africa using science-fiction and adventures to tell stories. One of such project is Nigeria 2099.

Afropolitan refers to series that reflect African issues, contemporary African life and African drama generally. Legal drama Castle & Castle is one example.

Afro-impact encompasses drama related to current events that reflect societal issues such as the war against modern slavery and terrorism. Human-trafficking film Oloture comes under this label.

EbonyLife Media said it was able to convert African stories into a language understood globally. Its partnership with international studios is aimed at brining these concepts to life.

tagged in: EbonyLife Media, Mipcom, Mo Abudu

Nigerian firms set out for Mipcom 2019

October 10, 2019NewsArobase Studio, Asake Productions, Basement Animation, International Development Initiative in Africa, Kaftan TV, Mipcom, MipJunior, Multi Mesh Broadcasting Company, Triggerfish AnimationGary

Entertainment content market Mipcom takes place next week from October 14 to 17 in Cannes, France, with this year’s theme being The Streaming Offensive.

The event will aim to reflect the changes in global distribution networks, their impact on content production and licensing, and the global response to the direct-to-consumer challenge.

Nigerian companies at the event will include Basement Animation, Multi Mesh Broadcasting Company, Asake Productions, Kaftan TV, International Development Initiative in Africa and a host of others.

Mipcom brings together influential TV and digital content executives and this year will present a production funding forum where producers and financiers can meet and bring premium content projects to life. It will also see the launch of new streaming platforms by legacy players, including SVoD and AVoD, plus creative exchanges, networking, screenings and talks.

The preceding MipJunior event, on October 12 and 13, will host major animation producers from South Africa, Nigeria and Ivory Coast as they present their development slates ripe for international collaboration.

Simon Adae, CEO of Arobase Studio, Mbuotidem Johnson, CEO of Basement Animation and Vanessa Ann Sinden, producer at Triggerfish Animation, will provide a 30-minute showcase to reveal their projects and discuss possible business opportunities.

On his Instagram page, Mbuotidem said: “It’s an honour to be invited by [event organiser] Reed Midem this year to speak at MipJunior – another great opportunity to share, network and make Nigeria proud. We are changing the narrative of the Nigerian animation industry. I sense a strong wave coming in 2020.”

tagged in: Arobase Studio, Asake Productions, Basement Animation, International Development Initiative in Africa, Kaftan TV, Mipcom, MipJunior, Multi Mesh Broadcasting Company, Triggerfish Animation