DISCOP Africa 2014 Pacing Ahead of Last Year’s Registrations

JOHANNESBURG/LOS ANGELES: DISCOP Africa organizer Basic Lead has unveiled record pre-registration figures for its 2014 event, which is set for November 5 to 7 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

With three weeks still to go before the event, more than 600 international companies have already registered for DISCOP Africa. This is a 36-percent gain over last year's figures at a similar time in the registration calendar. This year’s edition will also see the reinforced presence of South Africa’s most strategic governmental institutions supporting the development, the co-production and the export of entertainment content across all platforms.

“We are very proud to welcome more exhibitors, more national pavilions, more producers, more TV stations, more pay-TV platforms than ever before,” said Patrick Zuchowicki, founder of DISCOP Africa. “And we are pleased to see so many major global, regional and national television brands represented in force and supporting our initiative so strongly.”

“South Africa and Johannesburg are playing a key role as a fast-growing, regional and international television industry hub,” added Thabiso Masudubele, Basic Lead’s business development manager. “We now have on board strategic allies such as the Department of Arts and Culture, the National Film and Video Foundation, DTI and the Gauteng Film Commission, who are all supportive of our efforts to contribute to the creation of homegrown television industries across Africa.”

The DISCOP Africa 2014 program will also include the third edition of the parallel DISCOPRO pitching, mentoring and market access program. More than 500 independent TV content producers are expected to benefit from this event, designed to provide practical opportunities to showcase innovative projects and initiate regional and international partnerships.

“This year’s program will include 20 workshops mentored by talented and experienced practitioners, to cover critical issues for both established and up and coming producers and creators seeking to grow their business. How to establish a distribution contract, alternative news reporting, how to pitch a project, innovative funding methods, branded entertainment and many other subjects,” commented Sinethemba Magona, DISCOPRO’s coordinator. “The program has also evolved in the sense that it is now backed by important players such as Cote Ouest, MultiChoice, Canal+, Endemol Africa, Wananchi, Rapid Blue, RTI, etc. who are seeking new talent and consider DISCOPRO as a great platform to spot creators of fresh ideas.”