Creative Producer Indaba: Film producers selected for the prestigious professional development programme between Africa and Europe

press release

Realness Institute has announced the 15 participants selected for the 4th edition of the Creative Producer Indaba (CPI), the prestigious industry programme designed to advance the work of independent producers from Africa along with international producers, as it continues to foster collaboration and innovation in film production on the continent.

The Creative Producer Indaba is hosted by Cape Town-based Realness Institute in collaboration with EAVE, IFFR Pro, and Atlas Workshops.

With Projeto Paradiso and Spcine, the programme includes a Brazilian producer interested in African projects. Additionally, support from the Austrian Film Institute, Canada Media Fund, Telefilm, Focal, Jeune Création Francophone, the Mayotte Film Office and Région Réunion enables the participation of Austrian, Canadian, Swiss, and Francophone producers with similar interests.

This year’s programme features two workshops. The first workshop includes an online session this month, followed by in-person sessions at the Festival International du Film de Marrakech, Morocco, in December. The second workshop will take place at International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), the Netherlands, in January/February 2025, with final online sessions in April 2025.

The CPI programme has been designed by Elias Ribeiro, Executive Director of Realness, bringing together an inspiring mix of professionals, united by their commitment to creating compelling, diverse, and globally relevant African stories. The cohort will be guided by Group Leaders and Creative Producers Mehret Mandefro and Diana Elbaum, and Story Consultant and Creative Producer 2022 alumnus Tracey Lee Rainers. Some Experts mentoring and working with the participants are Sata Cissokho, Constanza Arena, Isioma Idigbe, and Juliane Schulze.

Producers looking for their next landmark venture, using this opportunity to network, collaborate, and explore potential projects to engage with, include Layla Swart, Salamina Mosese, and Vanessa Sinden from South Africa, Kamy Lara (Angola), and Moimi Wezam (DRC).

• Layla Swart is a leading producer and editor in Africa, whose company Yellowbone Entertainment has been behind award-winning films such as Sew the Winter to my Skin and Knuckle City.
• Salamina Mosese is a media professional who has produced successful feature films, including Baby Mamas and Love, Sex & 30 Candles
• Vanessa Sinden is a senior producer at Triggerfish Animation, who has produced Africa’s top animated films, working with platforms like Disney+ and Netflix.
• Kamy Lara has produced films that provoke thoughtful reflection, having recently completed her documentary Fuckin' Globo.
• Moimi Wezam, the founder of ZERO ATTITUDE FLIX, has produced numerous successful short films and achieved significant recognition in the film industry. His documentary ZERO has been broadcast on Amazon Prime Video and has been selected for several film festivals worldwide.

African producers with projects in development will be actively seeking international collaborators and financial backing to bring their visionary creations to life. These include Dhia Jerbi (Tunisia), Ephraim Gordon (South Africa), Juliana Kabua (Kenya), Mohammed Alomda (Sudan), and Miral Ezzat El Fakharany (Egypt).

• Dhia Jerbi is a creative documentary filmmaker and producer who is committed to building partnerships between the Mediterranean’s two shores. His work has been screened across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
• Ephraim Gordon is an accomplished producer with notable projects, including Barakat, South Africa's official submission to the 94th Academy Awards. His work spans across film, TV, and theatre.
• Juliana Kabua is a producer of several short films featured at international festivals, including Stero (2024), which premiered at IFFR. She is known for her commitment to authentic African storytelling.
• Mohammed Alomda is a key figure in Sudan's new wave cinema, whose work includes co-producing You Will Die at Twenty, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. He produces films across Sudan, East Africa, and the Arab world.
• Miral Ezzat El Fakharany is a producer with over 18 years of experience across the MENA, GCC, and USA regions. She has a background in feature films, TV series, and commercials.

International producers who will be looking to invest and engage with African film projects include Dieynaba SY (La Réunion), Julia Alves de Oliveira (Brazil), Kathryn Fasegha (Canada),  Maéva Ranaivojaona (Austria), and Niza Lou Waldburger (Switzerland).

• Dieynaba SY is a producer with a background in African languages and audiovisual production who founded the Lanbéli Production Company.
• Julia Alves de Oliveira is a producer with a focus on arthouse films and international co-productions, whose recent works have earned acclaim at festivals such as Cannes. She specialises in international collaborations, with a special interest in African projects.
• Kathryn Fasegha is an award-winning filmmaker from Calgary. known for her feature films "Treacherous Heart" and "2 Weeks in Lagos". Her first film, "Treacherous Heart," premiered in 2012 and won the award of “Best Drama in Diaspora” at the Nollywood and African Film Critics' Awards. Her second film, "2 Weeks in Lagos," premiered in 2019 at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an AMAA award in 2020. Kathryn is a Theatre Arts graduate and is the current president of Black Actors and Film Guild Canada, Alberta chapter.
• Maéva Ranaivojaona works as a screenwriter, director, and producer at Subobscura Films, a company focused on themes of colonisation, post-colonialism, and projects that challenge cinematic language. Subobscura Films produces documentaries, fiction, and art films that highlight marginalised perspectives.
• Niza Lou Waldburger is managing director and producer at Vega Film, one of Switzerland’s most renowned production companies, which specialises in producing and distributing films across Europe. She works between Zurich and the French Caribbean, bringing a global perspective to her projects.

For more information visit the Realness Institute website at https://www.realness.institute/creative-producer-indaba

Page published 30 October 2024. Updated 31 October 2024.