Africa Hub Talks
_{Friday - Tuesday, 3.30 - 4.30 pm}

The Berlinale Africa Hub will be home of the latest edition of Engage. Engage is a series of critical think tank and panel conversations on the future perspectives of the African and African diaspora screen industries held at various film festival and markets on and off the African continent. Following a closed by-invitation-only Engage think tank on African talent development initiatives, the status quo of north-south collaborations, south-south collaborations as well as synergies between the African continent and its diasporas, the Berlinale Africa Hub will host this public-facing panel resuming one of the think tank discussions.

Subsequent to the think tank, an Engage report will be drafted and made available via the EFM’s website.

Engage @ Berlinale Africa Hub is organized in collaboration with DOX BOX, Awotélé, United Screens (SAVVY Contemporary) and Schwarze Filmschaffende Community.

With
Elias Ribeiro (Creative Producer Indaba, South Africa)
Mehret Manfredo (Realness Institute, Ethiopia)
Azza Chaabouni (Takmil/JCC, Tunisia)

Moderated by Tiny Mungwe (Talent Developer, South Africa)

Some believe that big tech offers developing economies a global platform. Others say ceding control of data and markets to the west could cripple societies. How can a start-up culture and technology help to develop the film industry on the African continent? What are the challenges and risks?

With
Michael Maponga (Afroland TV, USA / EFM Startup selection 2020)
Manuel Badel (Digital Bridge Project, Canada)
Moses Acquah (Afrolynk, Ghana)

Moderated by Aimee Umutoni (Film Commissioner, Rwanda)

Sudan has emerged as the-up-and-coming African film market, with talented filmmakers, storytellers and key-players all focused on making their mark on the film industry internationally. This session will explore Sudan’s emerging film industry, new initiatives and international collaboration opportunities.

Supported by IEFTA

With
Mohamed Awad Farah (Sudanese Filmmaking Association)
Talal Afifi (Sudan Independent Film Festival)
Sara Abbas Karoum (Sudanese Filmmaking Association)

Moderated by Prudence Kolong (Consultant, Sweden)

'Edutainment’ and other commissioned work by foundations - not only in Africa - bears sources for film producers often underestimated by cinephile creatives in the festival circuit. This panel explores latest developments in this zone, discussing how to best tap the potential for all involved.

With
Keith Shiri (British Film Institute, UK)
Tamara Dawit (Gobez Media, Ethiopia)
Ragnhild Ek (Producer & Consultant, Sweden / Egypt)
Ravi Karmalker (Good Karma Fiction, Kenya)

Moderated by Theresa Hill (Acquisitions Manager, South Africa)

The mythical mainstream audience no longer holds the sway it once did and has given way to the recognition of the existence of a multiplicity of audiences. Boosted by the technological power and outreach of VOD, OTT and TV platforms, this shift has led to the formation of businesses and strategies both within Africa itself and in its diasporas that aim to cater for audiences on and off the continent. TV contenders and larger corporations on the continent as well as in countries with large diaspora communities are increasingly targeting their content and marketing strategies towards both audiences. This panel will probe both the tastes of these audiences, the ways in which the platforms curate for them and the strategies employed to capture and captivate these audiences.

With
DeShuna Spencer (kweliTV, USA)
Eveline Diatta-Accrombessi (Edan TV West Africa, Ivory Coast)
Tigist Kebede (Habesha View, UK)

Moderated by Coréon Dú (Creative Director, Angola)