15 Filmmakers Gather at Creative Producer Indaba to explore African Film Content Creation

Fifteen filmmakers from around the globe, who have a focus on African film and television content have gathered for the fifth edition of Creative Producer Indaba, the prestigious audiovisual producers’ professional development programme that strengthens the entrepreneurial and leadership skills of a new cohort of media leaders and builders.

This acclaimed programme is created and designed by Cape Town-based media house, Realness Institute, in partnership with EAVE, the Indian Ocean International Film Festival (FIFOI) and Maison du Cinéma et des Jeux Vidéo, with the financial support of Region Réunion. The programme is also supported by the Brazilian Foundation Projeto Paradiso, Canada Media Fund, Telefilm Canada, the Swiss Foundation for professional training in cinema and audiovisual media (FOCAL), the Austrian Film Institute, the French National Centre of Cinema (CNC), and Institut français Creation Africa.

It kicked off with an online Opening Assembly (12 November) with Guest Speaker Ivana Kirkbride, Media and Tech Executive and current NorthStar Media Group Co-Founder,  who led a discussion on "Leadership".

The cohort includes:

African/Indian Ocean Producers with a project:

Ique Langa (Mozambique), Lova Nantenaina (Réunion/Madagascar), Wame Merafhe (Botswana), Yasmin Hassan Mohamed (Kenya/Somalia) and Shveta Naidoo (South Africa) 

African/Indian Ocean Producers interested in professional development:

Xolani Nhlapho and David Franciscus (South Africa),  Mahelet Gezachew (Ethiopia/USA), Iman Djionne (Senegal), Linda Qibaa (Morocco/France).

International Producers collaborating with African/Indian Ocean  Producers:

Mo Harawe (Austria/Somalia),   Stefan Eichenberger (Switzerland), Soko Negash (Canada), Aswathi Naduthodi (India), and Talita Arruda (Brazil).

The current online sessions for the programme includes a Story Masterclass with Story Expert Tracey-Lee Rainers, award winning entrepreneur and international story practitioner with Story Oasis (Johannesburg);  an International Sales Masterclass with Julien Razafindranaly film sales executive and Head of Sales at Films Boutique, as well as Alicia Petrusa, Media and Entertainment Senior Relationship Manager at Royal Bank of Canada, to discuss corporate strategy, cash flow, and private equity financing.

This introductory session is followed by an in-person workshop in February next year in Johannesburg, where participants will have sessions on financing, PR and marketing, and project development. The cohort will then move to Saint-Paul, Réunion, during the International Indian Ocean Film Festival (FIFOI), in April 2026 where the workshops will focus on legal, organisational development, network management and leadership.

The programme blends seminars, workshops, and mentorship to support creative projects within a business framework. Participants gain practical insights across project planning, financing, legal, marketing, advocacy, organisational growth, and leadership.

Mehret Mandefro, Interim Managing Director of Realness Institute and Creative Producer Indaba Group Leader comments: “Global media systems are going through an unprecedented set of disruptions and in year 5 of Creative Producer Indaba we are focused on equipping producers with future-facing skills that can help them weather the storm and come out stronger.”

Diana Elbaum, award-winning producer, and Creative Producer Indaba Group Leader says, "CPI celebrates producers as bold leaders, changemakers, and vital forces in the vibrant African and Indian Ocean creative landscape. By connecting producers, talents, and ideas, CPI provides the tools and experience to amplify extraordinary voices whose narratives are reshaping global majority storytelling."

For more information go to : https://www.realness.institute/creative-producer-indaba