Third Digital Lab Africa Launching at DISCOP Joburg

The third call for projects for Digital Lab Africa (DLA) is kicking off on November 15 during this year’s DISCOP Johannesburg.

DLA helps nurture and launch digital content from African creatives with the support of leading French and Sub-Saharan African companies such as Triggerfish Animation, ARTE, TRACE or Lagardère Studios. The 2018 program is being managed by the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct.

The DLA call for projects is available to individuals from the field of digital content creation, including artists, producers, designers, students and entrepreneurs. All applicants must either be based in Sub-Saharan Africa or be nationals of a country in the region. The selected projects are given a cash prize and a Digital Lab Africa Incubation Pass, among other benefits.

There will be a DLA press conference at DISCOP Johannesburg on November 15 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Speakers will include Christophe Farnaud, ambassador of France in South Africa; Lesley Williams, Tshimologong Innovation Precinct CEO and DLA Director (South Africa); and Erika Denis, French Embassy/French Institute of South Africa, regional head of media, film and music (South Africa); to name a few.

Lesley Donna Williams, chief executive of the Tshimologong Precinct, said: “The call for a greater volume of authentic African voice in the global digital space is growing and we are well-poised with our relationship with the DLA and through our Digital Content Hub to fill that gap with meaningful content.”

Farnaud noted: “The French Embassy and the French Institute in South Africa are pleased to launch the third call for applications of Digital Lab Africa alongside two new high-quality partners: the Digital Content Hub of Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The ecosystem of Tshimologong associated with the more than 40 French and African key players of the cultural industries partners of DLA offer a very promising and dynamic environment for this third edition.”

Patrick Zuchowicki, the CEO of DISCOP, added: “DISCOP is committed to empowering young creators and enriching Africa’s multiscreen ecosystems. Our partnership with Digital Lab Africa is a great way for DISCOP to address the numerous gaps across the development of a sound multimedia sector in Africa.”