With the controversial Copyright Amendment Bill remaining top of mind for South African creatives, the need to understand Intellectual Property (IP) legislature is crucial for those creating content in all forms. With this in mind, the Gauteng Department of Economic Development and its steering committee partnered with the Association of Independent Recording Companies in South Africa to host the Gauteng Creative Industries IP Conference. The inaugural event took place in the first week of February, with the aim to increase awareness on the concept, scope and nature of intellectual property. Speakers included Animation SA chairman, Nick Cloete; copyright expert and partner at Adams & Adams, Stephen Hollis; and writer, publisher and entertainment lawyer, Unathi Malunga. In this issue, we spoke to chairman of the Gauteng Creative Industry Public Sector Steering Committee, Francina Nstimane, to learn more about this important new initiative.

This year marks five years of the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission (KZNFC). In our News section this month, we take a look at what the commission has achieved since its inception. KZNFC CEO, Carol Coetzee takes us through the highlights of the last five years and sheds some light on what the commission hopes to accomplish with regards to the business of film in the KwaZulu-Natal province.

When Berlin-based filmmaker and visual artist from Lesotho, Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese’s feature film This Is Not A Burial, It’s A Resurrection – was awarded the Special Jury Award for Visionary Filmmaking in the World Cinema Dramatic competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, creatives across the African continent celebrated. Produced by Cait Pansegrouw of South African production company Urucu Media, the film – set in Lesotho – is an inspired tale about the resilience of the human spirit. In this month’s Film section, we spoke Mosese about what inspired and went into the making of this Sundance- award-winning film.

Other keys stories in this issue include a behind the scenes look at the hugely popular TV show, Trap! Dis My Huis – produced by Cape Town-based Afrokaans and currently screening on VIA; our resident tech-guru Ian Dormer talks on-air graphics; and Make.TV CEO and co-founder, Andreas Jacobi, discusses how cloud technology is evolving the broadcast industry.

Until next month!

Regards
Chanelle Ellaya and the Screen Africa team