Second edition of Digital Lab Africa to kick off at DISCOP Johannesburg!

DISCOP Johannesburg (25-27 October) is the world’s number one destination to acquire and co-produce content “Made in Africa” and sell international film, television and digital content into Sub-Saharan Africa.

Digital Lab Africa- DLA, a springboard and an incubation platform for African talent in digital, is partnering once again with DISCOP Johannesburg this year.
The second call for applications will be unveiled at the DLA Press Conference to take place on October 25th.

Digital Lab Africa Programme @DISCOP | Sandton Convention Centre

Day 1 - Wednesday 25 October

4 pm - 5 pm: Press conference - LAUNCH OF DIGITAL LAB AFRICA #2 | Social Lounge :
DLA will unveil its call for application #2 in presence of H.E Mr. Christophe Farnaud, Ambassador of France to South Africa, DLA partners (TRACE, LAGARDERE STUDIOS) and DLA’s last edition winners. DLA call for projects #2 will be open to any professional or individual from Sub-Saharan Africa - having an innovative project in multimedia productions (Virtual Reality, Digital Music, Video Game, Animation, Web Creation).

Speakers
H.E. Mr. Christophe Farnaud, Ambassador of France to South Africa
Véronique Briquet-Laugier, Cultural & Cooperation Counsellor, French Embassy
Olivier Laouchez, CEO, TRACE (DLA partner)
Christophe Thoral, President & CEO - Lagardère Studios (DLA partner)
Greg Kriek & John DeVries, Producer - Director (2016 DLA winners)
Ayodele Elegba, Spoof Animation (2016 DLA winner)

Day 2 - Thursday 26 October

3 pm - 4 pm: Press conference - INSIGHTS INTO DIGITAL LAB AFRICA ECOSYSTEM | Social Lounge
Join us to learn more about Digital Lab Africa new developments and network with DLA ecosystem.

Day 3 - Friday 27 October

12 pm - 1 pm: DLA COCKTAIL & VIRTUAL REALITY SHOWCASE | Social Lounge
Come share a drink with Digital Lab Africa network and experience Virtual Reality films from the 1st South African 48h VR Jam!

Speakers
Arnault Labaronne, VR Film Jam artistic director, Wonda VR
Kenneth Kaplan, VR Jam script doctor, producer/director, Bioskope Pictures
Erika Denis, Regional Head of Media, Film & Music, French Embassy

More about the 48h VR Film Jam
From 24 to 27 October, 12 creative professionals & students will get the chance to learn how to write, shoot and edit a VR cinematographic experience in less than 48h! The VR Jam is curated by Digital Lab Africa and French VR studio Wonda VR in partnership with Maxum Digital and Tshimologong Precinct. The final projects will be showcased on October, 27th at DISCOP (Social Lounge & DLA Stand)

And during all DISCOP market, the DLA team will welcome you at the DLA PAVILION where the five DLA 2016 winning projects will be showcased.

Complete French presence programme @DISCOP

Day 1 - Wednesday 25 October

12.15 pm - 1 pm: Masterclass | Inside scoops from Animation du Monde by MIFA GERALDINE BACHE, head of projects at MIFA (Annecy International Animated Film Festival and Market) is invited by the French Institute of South Africa to lead this masterclass. Géraldine will explain how the world’s premiere animation festival is discovering, supporting and incubating talents from regions where industry and animation training are emerging.

12 pm - 1 pm: Happy hour TVFI “L’Apéro”
Organized by TV France International and the French Embassy in South Africa, this daily “Buyers Happy Hour” will host French content sellers and larges companies in order to meet and network with content African buyers.

Day 2 - Thursday 26 October

4.30 pm - 6 pm: Annecy - MIFA pitches Animation du monde competition

The winners of this pan african animation pitch competition will be selected for the next “Animation du monde” session at the MIFA Annecy in June 2018 and for the Digital Lab Africa Pitch Competition.

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm: TV5MONDE 25-Year Anniversary Party
This party will honor TV5MONDE team members who, for 25 years, have worked to enable the French language to be heard in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. The party will be open to all DISCOP delegates.

Day 3 - Friday 27 October

10 am - 11.30 am: Masterclass | Get ready for the Virtual Reality revolution
This session will discuss obstacles and benefits in creating relevant virtual reality content. It will focus on VR content development and co production strategies, opportunities available to VR producers and business model they should follow. Starring MORGAN BOUCHET, Director Digital Content & Head of VR, Orange.

1:30 pm - 2 pm: Talk | Developing the right news content production strategy
This master class will help producers, broadcasters and online platforms leverage localized experience to give them a leg up on the competition, in presence of MARIE-NOËLLE VALLES, video business development director at AFP (French Press Agency).

4:30 pm - 6 pm: Annecy - MIFA pitches Animation du monde competition | Grand Finale
Pan-African Grand Finale, the top 6 projects from DISCOP Abidjan go head-to-head with the top 6 projects from DISCOP Johannesburg.

7 pm - 8 pm: African Animation Network Cocktail Party
Organized by the African Animation Network, the party will honor Africa’s booming animation industry:

- Prize Giving of the Annecy - MIFA Pitches Animation du Monde: the top 2 animation projects from across Africa will be announced and will gain automatic entry into the finals of Animation du Monde 2018.

- PRIZE GIVING OF THE DIGITAL LAB AFRICA - ANIMATION PROJECT: the top 2 animation projects will gain automatic entry into the Digital Lab Africa Pitch Competition.