Canada In The Spotlight As Guest Country At DISCOP Johannesburg 2018

DISCOP, the leading content, adaptation right and project market dedicated to Africa and the Middle East, today announces that Canada will the Guest Country of its Johannesburg edition slated from 14 to 16 November.

This announcement was made possible thanks to the Canada Media Fund (CMF) and the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the the Department of Arts and Culture of the Republic of South Africa, who have launched a dedicated incentive for the co-development of audiovisual projects between Canadian producers and South African producers.

The total amount of funding available through the Incentive is approximately CAD $120,000 or ZAR 1,200,000 with each funding organization contributing half of the funds.

“In the past 20 years, we’ve seen content produced between Canadian and South African creators hit international markets with great commercial success and critical acclaim. Producers in both countries have partnered to tell stories that are culturally-relevant to audiences in both countries and around the world,” said Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, CMF. “Through our matching fund with the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa, we have further enabled the development of strong partnerships between producers in both countries. As we aim to create yet more partnerships between Canadian and South African producers, we look forward to participating in DISCOP Johannesburg 2018 where Canada will be Guest Country.”

NFVF Acting CEO, Shadrack Bokaba has this to say of the partnership, “The relationship between South Africa and Canada is very special, it was the first audio-visual co-production treaty to be signed, stemming from shared values of equality, democracy, peace, security and prosperity. The treaty has allowed the union between South Africa and Canada to continue to grow and forge new partnerships while cementing and enhancing old ones. The recently renewed Canada Media Fund partnerships is one such partnership aimed at fostering the development of content that is able to travel and find audiences across the globe.

It is therefore encouraging to witness South African content markets like DISCOP honour the relationship in this manner. We look forward to creating more opportunities for collaboration.”

The tribute to Canada will be marked by the presence of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation who will be in Johannesburg to present PANORA.TV its new B2B online platform facilitating transactions, from searching and shopping, to contract generation, payment processing and content delivery.

Canadian producers and government representatives attending DISCOP Johannesburg 2018, including André Ferreira, Communication Manager of the CMF, will be hosted at the “MADE IN CANADA PAVILION”, a networking and communications hub that will provide visibility and market exposure to Canadian delegates.

Two important sessions scheduled in the context of DISCOP’s sidebar NEXT GEN development and knowledge-transfer program will also examine coproduction and distribution opportunities between Canada and South Africa.

1500+ delegates are expected to take part in DISCOP Johannsburg 2018 including 400+ acquisition and development executives representing broadcasters, premium cable channels, mobile operators and streaming platforms operating in Sub-Saharan Africa and 200+ global and regional distributors will also be at the market to showcase their latest offerings and seek new representation deals.

In a move to accelerate the development of a sustainable production and distribution ecosystem across Africa and the Middle East, DISCOP content, adaptation right and project markets are held several times a year in strategic regional industry hubs.

For more information, www.discop.com

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb