Netflix, a popular US streaming service, is working with the Realness Institute, a South African-based Non-profit and incubator for African filmmakers, to increase content from Africa.
The two will launch a content development lab for writers in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria dubbed Episodic Content Development Lab for African writers.
The lab will open submissions for the writers’ lab at the end of November. Submissions are welcome from writers from SA, Kenya and Nigeria, with film and TV experience in any language or genre whether fictional or factual.
Six writers will be selected from these submissions and will be paid a stipend of $2000 per month to be available full-time from June to September 2021. The writers will work on projects for Netflix.
According to Dorothy Ghettuba, the lead Netflix’s African Oroginal Series, “We strongly believe Africa has a wealth of untold stories. As we grow our slate of originals in Africa, partnerships with organisations like Realness will help us achieve our goal of investing in writers who will bring diverse genres of authentic, local stories that will ensure our audience members see their lives reflected on screen.”
There has been a great demand for fresh African content over the past year, not only on Netflix but on other global streaming platforms. Realness Institute and Netflix aim to unearth the wealth of African stories and the lab is a great start.
Netflix is bringing its expertise in episodic content development, production and insight into global content trends.
“This programme is a response to the dramatically changing broadcasting ecosystem, which has a very important role to play in building a thriving media ecosystem in local markets and providing episodic creators with distribution opportunities,” says Mehret Mandefro, veteran Ethiopian broadcaster and Realness Institute director of development and partnerships.
The call for submissions will be available here on 30 November.