Basic Lead, organisers of the DISCOP content market and co-production forum, announced record pre-registration numbers for their upcoming Abidjan edition to take place from 28 to 30 May.
More then 400 buyers, sellers and producers of film, television, online, and gaming content from 40 countries have already signed up for a bustling three-day programme dedicated to the building of a sustainable entertainment and media industry in Francophone Africa.
For the first time, DISCOP Abidjan will recognise women across the entertainment industry and the success they’ve achieved. The opening day key note conversation will bring together the voices and insights of a diverse range of women from the entertainment and media industry to discuss initiatives to empower women around Africa, helping them to realize their potential and reach new heights.
The panel will be moderated by Séverine Laurent (Afrikakom & Francophone Commission of the Observatory of Audiovisual Transformation) and will feature industry leading women such as Jemima Catraye (ORTB – Benin), Dorine Gueye (A+ – France), Miriam Selly Diop Kane (Radiodiffusion Television Senegalaise – Senegal), Evelyne Owona Essomba (CRTV – Cameroon), Ana Ballo (RTI Distribution – Cote D’Ivoire), Sandra Basset(TV5 Monde – France) and Laura Dave Biassi Fekeu (Roots Hills – Cameroon).
Running parallel to the market, and specifically aimed at a fast-rising breed of talented, multicultural, Africa-trotting independent producers, the Next Gen knowledge-transfer and development program will deliver valuable and actionable information and tools, along with access to unparalleled connections.
Digital processing channels and the media landscape will be the focus of this year’s ‘Africa Rising’ panel discussion presented by Cote Ouest. Advertising financing mechanisms in the sector are also high on the agenda and the discussion will see René Saal (AdWeKnow), Korede Odjo-Bella (Vibe Radio and Elle.CI), Aziz Barry (McCann Abidjan), Hélène Calas (Blue Lions Abidjan), Jean Marc Léoni (CSE) and Bernard Azria (Cote Ouest) on the panel of experts.
The ‘TNT Networks and Implementation for Africa’ workshop presented by African Union Communications will look at a powerful ecosystem for the implementation of TNT networks in Africa and experts will share their experiences on different TNT achievements, as well as technological issues and business models of TNT followed by an open discussion on success factors and the economic environment.
Collaborations between North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa will end off the DISCOPRO track with expert panelists Fabrice Faux (Canal+), Francois Chignac (Africanews), Jean Lié Massala (RTG – Radiodiffusion Television Gabonaise), Emmanuel Mbede (CRTV), Mohamed Chermat (Canal Algérie) and Hicham Mekouar (Groupe le Matin).
In the DISCOMICS programme, African experts such as Nick Wilson (African Animation Network), Abel Kouame (Ivorian Animation Association – AIFA), Ayodele Elegba (Lagos Comic Con), Thomas Imboywa (Nairobi Comic Con), Wilfrid Pare (Administrateur Culturel Conseiller en Communication – ABCA), Les Allen (ICON Comics & Gaming Convention) and Sidick Bakayoko (Paradise Game) will be presenting an array of topics including eSports, animation, comics in Africa, broadcasting animation, and how to pitch your animation content.
Animation producers will have the opportunity to pitch in front of audience and expert judges once again as Annecy International Animated Film Festival and its market, MIFA – the world’s top reference for animation films and industry – returns to Africa to scout for the best talents for Animation du Monde 2019.
DISCORE, taking place on 30 May, will focus on the growing global recognition of African music and its impact on film, television, gaming, and advertising. A special session will feature global top class panelists such as Yvette Metoyer (SuperMusicVision & Guild of Music Supervisors Los Angeles), Mike Strano (ONGEA! Africa), Karabo Motijoane (Sheer Publishing Africa), David Monsoh (BBlack TV) and Sandrine Roland (AOS Africa). Sheer Publishing Africa and ONGEA! Africa will host a master-class on how to pitch your content to music supervisors and producers and composers will have the opportunity to pitch and network with industry experts and discuss their content in the SynchConnect Pitch & Matchmaking session.
SES presents on myths and realities of satellite for Africa, highlighting and discussing the difficulties for broadcasters across Africa and how SES is enabling and supporting the African video industry in the market. Presented by Eric Lecocq, director of Sales: SES Video – Africa.
