By Sharlene Versfeld
Published September 2, 2020
Durban FilmMart, a leading film development market in Africa, has partnered with Netflix that is touted as being the World’s leading streaming entertainment service.
Netflix, whose TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages, are said to have 193 million subscribers in more than 190 countries, has joined the Durban FilmMart as a new programme partner to the 11th edition of Africa’s premier film industry event which will host its virtual edition September 4 – 13,2020.
Dorothy Ghettuba, Netflix lead for African Originals, and Ben Amadasun, Netflix Director of Licensing and Co-Productions in Africa, are scheduled to present a session: Netflix: Made by Africans, Watched by the World – Netflix on taking Africa’s stories to the World in which they unpack Netflix content ecosystem as well as how the team works with local creators to bring their stories to the global streaming service.
RELATED:Â Governments Fight Back as COVID-19 Batters World Sports and Economies
Dorothy Ghettuba is the Manager of African Originals in Africa at Netflix. In May 2019, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed her to chair the Kenya Film Commission for a three year period. The commission was established in 2005 to develop a vibrant local film and TV industry and position Kenya as a preferred filming destination for sustainable wealth and job creation. Dorothy is the founder and CEO of the Nairobi-based Spielworks Media, an African production company launched in 2009. Through her experience she is dedicated to developing creative talent, creating quality content and telling authentic African stories that resonate and engage audiences.
Ben Amadasun is the Director of Licensing for Africa at Netflix, the world’s leading internet entertainment service. In Ben’s role, he nurtures key partnerships and drives the licensing strategy across Africa to support Netflix’s membership growth and streaming rates on the continent. His portfolio includes sourcing local programming that is relevant for the region and acquiring global rights for shows and movies from Africa. Ben is an accomplished media business leader with valuable experience in Africa, having filled various strategic roles on the continent, ranging from developing compelling business cases and driving growth of subscription-model television and free-to-air services. He has more than 20 years’ experience in business strategy and consulting, as well as a professional background in investment banking. Prior to joining Netflix, Ben was the senior vice president and CEO of Econet’s Kwese Free TV, working across the borders of various Sub-Saharan African countries. He enjoyed a successful stint at Modern Times Group’s TV1 in Tanzania, where he served as CEO and Head of Scripted Development.
RELATED:Â Festival Constructs Virtual Cinema, Releases Screening Programme
Since its 2016 launch on the continent, Netflix has added hundreds of local licensed content from South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Senegal, Angola, Ghana, Malawi and many other African countries. In early 2018, Netflix announced its intention to“amplify local voices to bring new, diverse and never-before-seen stories from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) to the world …believing that great stories can come from anywhere and that some of the world’s best content creators are in EMEA.” By doing this, Netflix nearly doubled the number of produced shows and its investment since the previous year.
“We know that great storytelling transcends borders. We have seen this is the success of both our original and licensed series, films and documentaries,” says Amadasun. “These stories from different countries, languages, and cultures are finding a worldwide platform, expanding our local filmmakers’ and talents’ audience base. We are really pleased to be partnering with the DFM, as it brings us closer to the African creative community with whom we can engage, exchange knowledge with and possibly partner with to create great African stories that will be watched by the world.”
RELATED:Â Contributing African Content to Global Educational Platforms
“Netflix is one of the most significant role players in the development of the film industry on the continent, and the world, and its reach is expanding exponentially, so we are delighted that they are partnering with us to share their insights with African filmmakers at the DFM,” says Toni Monty, Head of the DFM. “This is a great opportunity for independent professionals and emerging filmmakers to understand Netflix’s vision for African stories, and how it drives, creates, and selects content.”
