And that’s a wrap on our first FAME Week!
FAME Week has been a whirlwind sharing NEWF’s programs and impact with visitors at our booth, in our sessions and during one-on-one exchanges. From VR and film catalogues to unpacking labs and our Africa Refocused program; we are energised by the support for our vision, mission and an equitable future for African Storytellers.
Our VR experiences transported willing and curious explorers to the coral reefs of Sodwana Bay (captured by Sli Mbuyazi), the majestic trails in the Drakenberg (captured by Jahawi and Elke Bertolli), the Cradle of Humankind (captured by Thuku Kamau) and a safari in Zululand (captured by Thuku Kamau).
We caught up with industry peers like Tiny Mungwe (Filmmaker and Arts Manager, STEPS), Theresa Hill (Deputy Director, STEPS), Tahra McKenzie(Festival Manager, Encounters), Sifiso Nkosinathi Nobela (Founder, Mpumalanga International Film Festival), Olwethu Yolanda Ncokotwana (Filmmaker, Writer, Industry Development HOD, NFVF), Ntokozo Mbuli (Founder & Managing Director, Sugar Bean Pictures and National Geographic Explorer), Liani Maasdorp (Senior Lecturer of Screen Production and Film and Television Studies, UCT Centre for Film and Media Studies), Karin Slater (Director, Cinematographer, and Co-Chairperson of the Documentary Filmmakers Association) and Charlie Luckock (Founder & Producer at Theta Films).
With hot words conversations about collaborative projects and labs between sessions and engagement - day two felt complete when Noel Kok and Pragna Parsotam-Kok (Co-Founders and Executive Directors of NEWF) arrived in time for a few meetings and to join us to round things off at our Cape Town meet-up. We caught up and had a NEWF shake down to the most perfect, nostalgic karaoke playlist at Si Cantina Sociale in the Silo District. Special thanks to Nomsa Nkomo (Ornithologist & PhD candidate and NEWF Fellow) and the Si Cantina team for curating a fun, delicious and nostalgia-fuelled night of song, dance, friendship and laughter!
Day three saw us grab our gear and abandon our booth to engage with audiences in two sessions. The first at the MIP Theatre space explored the power of visual storytelling for ocean impact where Noel Kok (Co-Founder and Executive Director of NEWF and National Geographic Explorer) opened the stage for Mogamat Shamier Magmoet (Underwater Photographer & Cinematographer, Co-Founder of #SeaTheBiggerPicture Ocean Initiative and National Geographic Explorer - South Africa), Anthony Ochieng Onyango (Conservation Photographer & Filmmaker - Kenya), Dr.Nasreen Peer (Marine Scientist and Co-Founder of Argonaut Science - South Africa), Dercio Muha Gomate (Musician, Composer, Photographer and National Geographic Explorer), Nancy Iraba (Marine Scientist, Underwater Programs Lead, Aqua-Farms Organisation and National Geographic Explorer - Tanzania) and Samira Vera-Cruz (Director and Filmmaker - Cabo Verde) to share how their relationship with and access to the ocean has influenced and shaped their careers and stories.
Samira, Nancy, Shamier, Nasreen, Tony, Muha and Noel.
In our second and last session, we explore how our initiatives are designed to build capacity, enable access, support inclusion, expand local audiences and foster a culture of equity for African Storytellers.
We extend a note of thanks to the MIP and FAME organisers for offering us the opportunity to create a space to talk about our work, and for the platform to introduce some of our fellows and collaborators. As storytellers in an exciting era of change, we are grateful to thought partners who are committed to this ever-expanding industry.
To our fellows and the students they invited to explore and engage: THANK YOU!
Not only did our fellows come to Cape Town to access this incredible industry event, but they were tireless in sharing our work and the stories from our community with every single person who asked. We are incredibly proud of the generosity of time and your commitment to sharing these resources and opportunities with Africa’s next generation of authentic storytellers!
