DISCOP Africa Selects Ivory Coast as Guest Country

LOS ANGELES: DISCOP Africa is to honor Ivory Coast at the upcoming Johannesburg-set event, taking place November 5 to 7.

Basic Lead, organizers of DISCOP Africa, selected Ivory Coast as Guest Country as it is set to play a key role in the development of TV content production and distribution across Africa. DISCOP Africa will partner with RTI (Radio Television Ivoirienne), Ivory Coast’s public broadcaster; ONACI (Office National du Cinema), the country’s leading funding institution for film and TV content; the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Communications and the Ivory Coast Government on a host of events to mark the 2014 Guest Country. This includes a gala reception honoring the country, to be held on November 5, in the presence of Ivoirian screen talent, industry leaders and public administration representatives. There will also be a national pavilion set up in DISCOP Africa's main exhibition hall.

Patrick Zuchowicki, founder of DISCOP Africa, said: “With one of Africa’s most dynamic television content production and distribution industries, a tribute to Ivory Coast is well deserved, especially in a landmark year when for the first time ever an Ivoirian feature was selected to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.”

"Progress has been made recently to build a strong audiovisual sector in the Ivory Coast, thanks to the authorities' commitment to transform the country into a strategic production hub to serve Africa's homegrown content needs," added Affoussiata Bamba Lamine, Ivory Coast’s minister of communication.

Maurice Kouakou Bandaman, minister of culture and Francophonie, added, "Continued growth is partially dependent on raising the Ivory Coast's profile within the African Continent and we welcome the opportunity to be DISCOP Africa 2014's Guest Country which will help us achieve this aim."