Motswana filmmaker makes Netflix competition shortlist
Staff Writer | Sunday February 13, 2022 06:00
Mokokwe is the only Motswana to make the list of candidates selected from 13 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. Now Mokokwe aims to be amongst the six winners that will create short films, which will premiere on Netflix.
A statement released by Netflix indicated that the 21 emerging filmmakers will be required to pitch their stories to a judging panel comprising mentors in the likes of Nigeria’s Femi Odugbemi, South Africa’s Bongiwe Selane, Leila Afua Djansi from Ghana, David Tosh Gitonga from Kenya, and Jean Luc Herbulot from Congo as well as representatives from Netflix and UNESCO, who will act as guides in the process.
The panel will select the final six filmmakers who will receive a production grant of $75,000 (through a local production company) to develop, shoot and post-produce their films under the guidance of Netflix and industry mentors to ensure everyone involved in the production is fairly compensated. Each of the six winners will also receive $25,000. “Congratulations to those who have been shortlisted! They should all be proud of the quality of their work. This competition showcases the extraordinary cultural richness that Africa has to offer that we want to share with people all over the world, as Africa is a priority for UNESCO,” UNESCO assistant Director-General for Culture, Ernesto Ottone said.
Adding to UNESCO’s congratulatory message, Ben Amadasun, Netflix’s Director of Content in Africa said: “We also want to thank our panel of independent industry professionals who undertook the mammoth task to read over 2,080 applications until they found 21 strong submissions! The response from all the aspiring filmmakers who took the time to submit their application also proves that there’s a wealth of storytelling potential and talent in Africa and we at Netflix are excited to be part of this journey for more talented new voices to share their stories with the world.”
The candidates were selected following a rigorous evaluation process by a wide range of industry professionals from across the continent who assessed over 2,080 applications from across the continent in multiple languages. The shortlist contains a dynamic group of African creatives from across 13 countries in the region.
The competition required filmmakers with limited experience, but have developed and produced one to two theatrical feature films, television fiction, documentaries, or two to three short films and/or commercials seeking to venture into feature film development and production.