Prime Video’s African About-Face, Netflix’s IP Frenzy and Why African Producers Are Pondering ‘What Comes Next’ as Streamers Shift Course

Rafa Sales Ross Guest Contributor “Catch Me a Killer” comprises many firsts: It is a series about South Africa’s first-ever criminal profiler, the first-ever woman to occupy such a position and, now, the first-ever series entirely shot in South Africa to be in International Panorama competition at Series Mania, Europe’s biggest TV festival. Abacus Media Rights(AMR), an Amcomri Entertainment company, handles world sales. Based on the eponymous book by psychologist Micki Pistorius, “Catch Me a Killer” sees “Game of Thrones” breakout Charlotte Hope in the lead role as the psychology professor turned serial killer profiler.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Indie streamer Mubi has acquired worldwide streaming rights to South African artist William Kentridge’s prestige series “Self-Portrait As a Coffee Pot” which explores how art is made in the digital age. The nine-episode series by Kentridge – who is celebrated around the world for his influential works comprising animation, installations, theater, opera and films – first previewed as a rough cut at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival.

Naman Ramachandran Four African screenwriters will pitch stories spanning genres at the 15th edition of Series Mania in Lille, France. Pitching this year are Kelly-Eve Koopman (South Africa) with urban fantasy “Facing the Mountain”; Moreetsi Gabang (Botswana) with crime drama “Outreach”; Tiah Beye (Senegal/Côte d’Ivoire) with comedy-drama “Brouteure” (“The Yahoo Girl”); and Wanjiru Kairu (Kenya) with political satire “Serikali Saidia!” The shows are under the aegis of the AuthenticA Series Lab, a training program for African episodic screenwriters from Realness Institute.

Love Island's Callum Jones and Jess Gale have put rumours of a split to bed as they were spotted looking loved-up on a day out in London. The pair got together on Love Island: All Stars, which took place earlier this year. Jess was a latecomer to the series as she entered the South African villa with her twin, Eve.

Love Island's Molly Smith and Tom Clare left fellow islander Anton Danyluk lost for words during a livestream.

Molly Smith and Tom Clare have revealed that they are in a relationship, three weeks after bagging £50K as the winners of Love Island All Stars, with the latter asking Molly to be his girlfriend in an "intimate moment".The couple, who met in South Africa while filming the ITV2 reality show, shared that they are now boyfriend and girlfriend while chatting to co-star Anton Danyluk during a live stream, in what was seemingly a very unplanned moment. As Anton probed Tom on how he was going to ask Molly to be his girlfriend, he joked that he had to 'go big' on the proposal. However, Tom admitted that it was 'too late' to plan it as he already popped the question - leaving both Anton and viewers in shock.

Thrill seekers are getting the chance to trail run, kayak and mountain bike their way through spectacular landscapes in Greater Manchester this summer.

France’s Canal+ has upped a buyout offer for African TV and streaming giant MultiChoice to around $1.77B.

EXCLUSIVE: South Africa’s Showmax is to tell the unbelievable true story of a convicted murderer and rapist who faked his own death by burning in his cell and escaped prison for a year. Scroll down for a trailer.

Thinus Ferreira Guest Contributor South African rural community thriller “Snake,” the closing film of the 6th Joburg Film Festival, is a feature that wouldn’t have been made if it wasn’t for streamer money. Based on the heart-wrenching 2011 book by Tracey Farren, who also penned the screenplay, a powerless farm girl Stella, played by 9-year-old Lamiyah Barnard, becomes the only one who can stop a smarmy and mysterious interloper who arrives with a flute and dazzles everyone in a rural town, hiding his nefarious intent while going on a killing spree.

Christopher Vourlias The sixth edition of the Joburg Film Festival wraps Sunday, putting a bow on a week that saw many in the host nation reflecting on South Africa’s long journey in the three decades since the end of apartheid. But among the filmmakers and executives taking part in the second JBX content market the focus was squarely on the future, as Africa’s streaming wars and an eye toward global dealmaking highlighted how the tide has begun to shift in how the world perceives the continent.

Thinus Ferreira Guest Contributor Producing successful Black female-fronted comedy in South Africa is no joke but Black female producers and writers Reabetswe Moeti-Vogt and Zoe Ramushu are determined to bring about change in front of and behind the lens. Their film “Real Estate Sisters” screened this week at the 6th Joburg Film Festival in South Africa.

Christopher Vourlias Wendy Bednarz’s “Yellow Bus,” which follows a mother’s quest for justice after suffering an unthinkable tragedy, won the prize for best film at the Joburg Film Festival during an award ceremony Saturday night at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg. The film, which world premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, is set in an unnamed Arabian Gulf country and follows an Indian family that endures a tragedy when their daughter is neglected on a school bus in the sweltering desert heat.

Christopher Vourlias As South Africa marks three decades since its first democratic elections, a historic moment that dismantled the apartheid system and ushered in Black-majority rule, the country is at a crossroads. Inequality is rife. Crippling blackouts have pushed the economy to a tipping point.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. The Nigerian rapper Burna Boy, one of Africa’s biggest superstars credited with introducing the rest of the world to afro-fusion music, is the face of the latest campaign from the Dutch clothing brand G-Star Raw. The collaboration, which officially launched on Feb.

Love Island star Georgia Steel has revealed that since returning from the villa in South Africa, she has been scared to leave her house due to horrendous trolling and death threats. Georgia appeared on the latest series where she made it to the final of the show with Toby Aromolaran. The star had a rather turbulent journey on the show and faced intense backlash over her connections with Tom Clare and Callum Jones.

Love Island star Callum Jones has dropped huge hints that he is no longer with fellow islander Jess Gale, after the duo reached the final together earlier this month. The couple, who initially met on the 2020 series of Love Island, hit it off during their second round in the villa and ended up placing second, despite many fans wishing Callum had rekindled his romance with ex Molly Smith. Callum and Jess ended up finishing in second place on the first All Star series, with Molly Smith and Tom Clare taking home the crown, and the 50k cash prize.

Rochelle Humes was quickly asked about her sister Sophie Piper's time on Love Island: All Stars as she returned to the helm of This Morning. And she also revealed somewhat of a 'snub' from her younger sibling's new beau after they met for the first time.

Christopher Vourlias Following on the heels of a successful post-pandemic reboot one year ago, the Joburg Film Festival kicks off its sixth edition on Feb. 27, with the glitzy capital of South Africa’s media and entertainment industry showcasing a selection of top talents from the host country and across the African continent.

Days of lounging by the pool, getting glammed up at night and sunbathing in the South African sun are well and truly over for this year's Love Islanders as they've returned to reality with a bang. Stars such as Molly Smith and Tom Clare - who were crowned the winners of this season of All Stars - and fellow contestants Callum Jones and Toby Aromolaran posted on social media about they've come back to normal life since jetting home after a whirlwind 36 days in the villa.