Netflix has partnered with South African filmmaker Mandlakayise (Mandla) Walter Dube for a multi-project project and launched his latest movie with Nigerian director, Kunle Afolayan, while the actor was promoting his investment in Africa today in Johannesburg.
According to the deal, Dube – who directed Netflix’s first African film, Silverton Siege – will direct various projects for Netflix, the terms of which have yet to be confirmed.
This marks Netflix’s third collaboration with African producers, coming after Mo Abudu and Ebonylife Studios and director Afolayan.
The deal was unveiled at Netflix’s See What’s Next Africa 2022/23 content showcase today, which brought together talent, filmmakers and media from South Africa and Nigeria.
The event was designed to highlight the investment of the filmmakers in telling African stories and also included a view of the progress of different projects from emerging filmmakers working like UNESCO & Netflix ‘African Folktales, Reimagined’ Competition; the Netflix & NFVF Film Fund and the Realness Institute Episodic Lab.
Along with the preview of the shows already announced about the slate, like Ludik and Kings of Queenstown, also opened at this event there were three new orders: South African series The Brave Ones, Nigerian film Anikulapo and another season of pan-African reality. show Young Famous & African. Netflix announced the release dates for the licenses of movies such as Office Invasion and Lockdown and revealed that it was bringing 35 Nigerian favorite movies such as Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons and Last Flight to Abuja, starting every day of August.
The Brave Ones comes from director, writer and actor Akin Omotoso and is called “a spiritual drama set in contemporary South Africa and inspired by African folklore.” It launches on September 16, with many more releases in the following days. With Sthandile Nkosi, Sthandiwe Kgoroge, Bonko Khoza and Tony Kgoroge.
Anikulapo forms part of a Netflix multi-title deal with the multi-hyphenate Afolayan. Its synopsis reads: “One of the most amazing fairy tales that revolves around the life of Saro, an industrious young man who was looking for greener pastures in the great Oyo Kingdom.” However, the events unfolding and his illicit love affair with the king’s wife, Arolake lead to his untimely death and encounter with Akala, a mysterious bird believed to give and kill.”
Afolayan leads and Kunle Remi, Sola Sobowale, Aisha Lawal, Bimbo Ademoye, Debo Adedayo (Mr Macaroni) and Dele Odule are all cast. The film will release on 30th September.
“We believe that Africa is one of the biggest places to make popular stories in the world, so it makes sense for us to increase our investment and our already interesting slate. We are proud to continue to create global opportunities for talented designers in this great continent and share their true stories with our members in Africa and around the world. said Dorothy Ghettuba, Netflix Director of Series in Africa.
In the first half of 2022, Netflix released African documentaries including South African action film Silverton Siege; soap drama series Savage Beauty; the first to be licensed from Kenya, Country Queen, the first Netflix-produced Nigerian series Blood Sisters; South African crime documentary Senzo: Murder Of A Soccer Star and most recently, Justice Served.
Tendeka Matatu, Director of Local Language Films in Africa said: “With the ever-growing number of movies, films and licensed documentaries in a variety of high-quality genres, we want to offer our members some moments to share. the joy that comes from being immersed in the great stories that have been made in Africa, for the world to see.”
