Catching up on EFM panels I missed in Berlin in Feb. Thankful they were taped. Watching "Prime Video: International Content Strategy from Nordics to Nigeria" hoping to learn something about Amazon's Nigeria plans. Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu Head of Nigerian Originals, is on the panel...
Wangi on what she looks for in projects: "Light" stories; stay away from the dark material. Leaning more towards films than TV because TV is "a bit more technical." She wouldn't mind historical fiction, but they tend to be expensive, so don't expect epic productions. #Nollywood
Wangi on their target audience: Must appeal to local customers (Nigerians in Nigeria), but the work should also capture the Nigerian diaspora, and, third, non-Nigerian lovers of Nollywood content. Local content will be king to @primevideonaija and international will support it.
@primevideonaija She hypes GANGS OF LAGOS, adding that it's launching "Very, very soon... it's about to come," she said. She describes it as "a different take on action" because it's "hyperlocal" (language, location, choice of weapons, etc). And that there's an "emotional story" bolstering it.
She says their ambition is to get to 12 to 15 "full blown" Nigerian originals — film and TV (scripted and unscripted) "down the line." She doesn't get too specific. For now, it's acquisitions of existing titles. She's impressed with what they've been getting on the film side.
Finally, her pitch to Nigerian talent to come create for Prime.
Wangi: It's a partnership. "Let's go on this journey together and see what we can accomplish." She stresses "hyperlocal" as a draw. Plus, she's been in the biz long enough, has a rep, and already knows who's who.
Forgot one thing... she said, if you're pitching them, keep it short and simple: a logline, and a one-page outline of what you are pitching. She refers to a "handholding" process courtesy of her team, that will "bring it to wherever it's going." Alright, that's it!
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#Netflix has dropped a 45-page report on its "Africa adventures" from 2016-2022. I just received it. I'll go through it and share highlights in this thread, so this may take all day... 🤪
Intro statements from Shola Sanni Director of Public Policy, sub-Saharan Africa Netflix; and Dean Garfield VP, Public Policy. In a nutshell, Netflix is excited about the future of its presence in Africa and bringing Africa to the world.
$175 million invested over the six-year period; or just about $29 million a year towards both content and "creative ecosystems" in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria combined; or about $10 million annually to each country. Can't wait to see numbers from Prime Video eventually.
Main selection announcement was made while I was sleeping, here on the West Coast. Two titles on my predictions list made the cut: Baloji's AUGURE (DRC) and Ramata-Toulaye Sy's BANEL & ADAMA (Senegal). Sidebar announcements still to come, so the rest of these might get slots...
New to me selections... GOODBYE JULIA by Sudanese filmmaker Mohamed Kordofani, his feature debut | Un Certain Regard | I'm now told that this is historic as the first Sudanese film to be an official selection in Cannes history. I have not confirmed this yet. But it's likely.
#Berlinale2023: KILL BOKSOON. Assassin (and single mom) in the twilight years of her career. Secrets and lies abound. Action is JOHN WICK + THE MATRIX, on steroids. Punctuated by lengthy existential chatter, ultimately a last man standing affair. Jeon Do-yeon kills it. Literally.
#Sundance Day 1. Shorts so far. A standout: Crystal Kayiza's "Rest Stop." Beautifully shot tender portrait a Ugandan-American mother and daughter traveling by bus from NY to OK to reunite with family. Will Ferrell is listed as exec producer. I assume it's him #AkorokoAtSundance
More shorts. Standout: Norwegian Inga E Marakatt's "Unborn Biru": pregnant widow steals cursed silver from dead body to care for daughter. Unnerving slow burn horror, especially considering the tundra on which it was shot. It's a feature film begging to happen #AkorokoAtSundance
Ended #Sundance Day 1 with my first feature film of the festival. But I can't talk about it yet because there's an embargo. I just had to say that for journaling continuity 😏. Overall, it was a solid day of film watching! Until tomorrow, here's some swag... #AkorokoAtSundance
It's "next week!" As promised, as part of our ongoing fundraising campaign, we're giving away subscriptions to our fave streaming platforms. We've given away subscriptions to Criterion and MUBI. This week, we're giving away TWO annual subscriptions to @kweliTV. Read on...
@kweliTV We're giving away TWO year-long kweliTV subscriptions. To enter, sign up for the @akorokoafrica
weekly newsletter. The deadline is Thursday, Oct. 13 at 11:59 PM PST. The two winners will be selected randomly and announced on Friday, Oct. 14. Register: akoroko.com/newsletter/
@kweliTV@akorokoafrica Recommended films currently available to stream on kweliTV include: B FOR BOY (Nigeria), I AM NOT A WITCH (Zambia), FIVE FINGERS FOR MARSEILLES (South Africa), and OJUJU (NIGERIA).