DISCOP Johannesburg is set to welcome South Africa\u2019s next generation of film and TV creators, producers and dealmakers at its sixth edition, taking place October 25 to 27.<\/p>\n
The 2017 event will present a new sidebar initiative, dubbed The Next Gen Program, aimed specifically at assisting South Africa\u2019s next generation of production talent to learn from the pros, perfect their pitch projects and network with key industry players. DISCOP Johannesburg\u2019s Next Gen Program will also focus on the increasing potential of virtual reality.<\/p>\n
“The program aims to guide and nurture the next wave of South Africa\u2019s talented producers and provide them with expert guidance and top-level industry networking opportunities to develop content and monetize entertainment content,\u201d said Patrick Zuchowicki, founding manager of the DISCOP markets.<\/p>\n
More than 1,500 delegates\u2014representing multiplatform entertainment content businesses from across Africa and the globe\u2014are expected to converge in Johannesburg for three days of deal-making and networking. Participants hail from more than 70 countries and include distributors, acquisition and development executives, producers and financiers.<\/p>\n
As a result of a new partnership with DISCOP Johannesburg, announced by The African Animation Network (AAN), up-and-coming animators will be able to take part in a\u00a0pan-African animation pitching competition planned with the support of Africa\u2019s leading animation, visual effects, gaming and comics associations (AVGC).<\/p>\n
Nick Wilson, project\u00a0manager of AAN, said, “True to the AAN mandate, we provide AVGC associations across Africa with an open network and platform to market themselves at the DISCOP Abidjan and Johannesburg markets, the world\u2019s premier destinations for content made in Africa. We\u2019re excited to explore the diversity of the African animation industry with the possibility of creating co-production and collaboration opportunities across borders and regions whilst simultaneously building capacity within the sector.”<\/p>\n
The development, production and monetization of short formats tailored to reach audiences via varied digital distribution streams will also be in the spotlight. A pitching competition sponsored by mahala.tv, Africa\u2019s newest innovative distribution and funding platform and filmmaker community, will see a concerted outreach to independents, especially those creating short formats.<\/p>\n
Mahala.tv CEO and well-known South African director Gerhard Mostert said, \u201cTo celebrate the launch of mahala.tv, and to promote the importance of short formats within the digital space, mahala.tv has partnered with DISCOP Johannesburg to put out a call for short-format content that will be showcased at the three-day industry gathering. Mahala.tv is especially excited to be hosting the pitching competition and will be offering funding support to winners, as well as welcoming all independents to become part of a new global community of producers that will enable them to create, share and monetize content.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DISCOP Johannesburg is set to welcome South Africa\u2019s next generation of film and TV creators, producers and dealmakers at its sixth edition, taking place October 25 to 27.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":350,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[275],"class_list":["post-1749","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","","category-top-stories","tag-discop-johannesburg-2017"],"yoast_head":"\n