Emma Naomi is a Rising British Star …

Emma is currently reprising her role of Alice Mondrich, wife of boxer turned Gentleman’s Club owner ‘Will Mondrich’ played by Martins Imhangbe in Season Three of Shonda Rhimes’ Bridgerton.

Emma has also reprised her starring role as ‘DI Lisa Donckers’ in the third season of award-winning crime drama Professor T for ITV. This performance has garnered widespread acclaim, earning her the title of Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series award at the National Film Awards 2022.

Emma has worked extensively on stage, including Dead Don’t Floss at the National Theatre; and Blithe Spirit at the Theatre Royal Bath.

We spoke to Emma about Bridgerton and the success of diverse casting in the series …

Please introduce yourself …

Emma Naomi, Actor born in London with mixed Jamaican/Irish heritage

Describe your life right now in a word or one sentence …

Ten-year-old me would be jumping for joy.

Bridgerton is one of Netflix’s biggest-ever hits and Alice Mondrich was your breakout role. Tell us how you secured the part of Bridgerton’s Alice?

I got the part on a self-tape. The casting was very different at the time, I didn’t think I had a chance.

How does Alice’s character arc develop in Season 3, especially since her family now have social standing in high society and what does it mean for the relationship between her and her husband Will whose relationship we have seen flourish over the past few seasons?

Alice has always wanted to solidify the family’s social standing but never expected it to be handed to them. It’s sudden… it’s strange. I think she and Will wrestle with their sense of identity, there is a lot of anxiety around how they should behave and whether they should leave a part of themselves behind.

There seems to be a mentor/mentee relationship building between Lady Danbury and Alice as she advises Alice on what is expected of her and her husband …

Yes. Lady Danbury has taken us under her wing. We have a mutual connection with Simon (The Duke) and I think she is excited about what the Mondrich’s can bring to the table.
 
Bridgerton’s diverse casting, although successful has been a huge topic of conversation since the first season. Do you think it has changed, or at least expanded the industry’s approach and audiences’ acceptance of black actors in roles outside of the usual stereotypes?

Yes. I mean, look at the queen! I think Shondaland is doing a wonderful job of increasing visibility each season across the board with racial diversity, sexual orientation and those who are differently abled. I’ve read many essays from actors from the generation before us who thought it was impossible to play a lead or love interest in a period/regency piece like this. Look at us now.
Do I think it’s changed the industry completely? No, but I certainly think it’s a shining example of how it can be done, the audience wants it, and how successful it can be, how enriching it is for all of us. I came in for a hair fitting at the top of season three and walked in on a workshop about different hair types, how they react to heat, curl patterns, how to get better definition in 4C curls and how that’s different to 2B. I thought “YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!!!!”

You have also worked extensively on stage, as an actor, what’s more exposing, walking onto the stage opening night at the National Theatre or onto a big-budget Netflix set for the first time?

Highs, lows, solutions (tell us the high points, any obstacles to getting the project completed and how you resolved the obstacles)…

Big Budget Netflix for sure. I trained in theatre and then did years of it. You have the cushion of weeks or months of having the script beforehand, 4-5 weeks of rehearsals, bonding with the cast, time to mess up, make mistakes, and get to the other side. I don’t think everything rides on the press for theatre either; the performance develops every night. For screen, you have one shot. That can be pretty terrifying.

HIGH: Getting the job.
LOWS: The mental noise of actually trying to do the job. Is it enough? Is it too much? Have I understood the beats correctly? Am I living in this character yet or am I ‘acting’? Am I executing what I think I’m executing? There’s a good chunk of the project where I second-guess everything.
RESOLUTIONS: Solving the above. There’s no way through but to work, one section at a time.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU …

If not this, then what?
Probably a fitness instructor or I’d own my own well-being business.

What are you watching right now?
Baby Reindeer. Finished it in a day.

What are you reading right now?
Paradise Lost by John Milton. I recently finished Tweak by Nic Sheff and The Sellout by Paul Beatty.

What are you listening to right now?
Maverick Sabre, Kendrick Lamar and Jungle are my top listens at the moment. Other than that, many audiobooks.

The last thing you saw on stage?
Red Pitch at Soho Place – Brilliant play

What’s on your bucket list?
I love to travel. See new places. Too many destinations to list but I’ll start with Bali.

Where’s your happy place?
In a good coffee shop or the gym.

Celebrate someone else (who do you rate right now?)
Adjani Salmon is absolutely killing it right now and is an inspiration on how far your own work can take you.

Celebrate yourself … (make us proud of you):
I’m not sure!

What’s Next?
I can’t say yet but it’s a fantastic project

Where can we see your latest work?
We shot season 3 of Professor T on ITV after Bridgerton. You can catch that (and catch up if you missed previous seasons) on ITV player or Britbox

We have some exciting new series coming this week

Candice Carty-Williams’ brand new series Queenie and Star Wars spinoff The Acolyte brings the beautiful Jodie Turner-Smith back onto our screens.

Some of our favourite shows are returning with their final seasons including, Sweet Tooth, Power Book II: Ghost. With other shows like Mayor Of Kingstown returning for a new season.

What will you be watching?

Mayor Of Kingstown – Monday 3rd June | Paramount+

Follows the McLusky family – power brokers in Kingstown, Michigan where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry. With Tobi Bamtefa, Derek Webster, Michael Beach and Nichole Galicia.

This Time Next Year – Monday 3rd June | On Digital Platforms

Flung together at a New Year’s Eve party, Minnie and Quinn quickly realise they share a connection – they were born on New Year’s Day of the same year, in the same London hospital. Minnie grew up convinced that this mysterious Quinn stole all her luck, setting her on a path of misfortune. Horrified at the misunderstanding, Quinn is set on making amends. But is it Quinn or is it fate that is scheming to bring the two together? With Lucien Laviscount, Golda Rosheuvel and Shiloh Coke.

Star Wars: The Acolyte – Tuesday 4th June | Disney+

This brand new Star Wars series is set during the High Republic era and the prime of the Jedi Order, and stars Lee Jung-jae, Amandla Stenberg and Carrie Anne-Moss. It follows a respected Jedi Master, whose investigation into a shocking crime spree forces him to come up against a dangerous warrior from his past. Starring Amandla Stenberg and Jodie Turner-Smith. Writer Jocelyn Bioh.

Queenie -Tuesday 4th @ 10pm & Wednesday 5th June @ 10.35pm | Channel 4

Tells the story of Queenie Jenkins, a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman straddling two cultures who seeks comfort in all the wrong places after a messy breakup from her long-term boyfriend Tom. Starring Dionne Brown, Samuel Adewunmi, Bellah and more.

Sweet Tooth: S3 – Thursday 6th June | Netflix

Gus, Jepperd, Becky and Wendy after defeating General Abbot, embark on a journey to Alaska in search of Gus’s mother, Birdie, who has been working to uncover the mysterious origins of the deadly Sick. Starring Nonso Anozie.

Tell Me Everything: S2 – Thursday 6th June | ITV2 & ITVX

Jonny and his family have moved to Hitchin – a new house, new college, and a fresh start. Jonny is continuing his journey of recovery, and has started to make friends with other students at college – Naisha, Dylan, Ella and Bex. With Ammar Duffus and Dylan Brady.

Power Book II: Ghost: S4 – Friday 7th June | MGM+

Tariq St Patrick and Brayden Weston form new alliances and find their way back into the game. However, when Brayden starts to flirt with a reckless new lifestyle, Tariq starts to question whether there really is room for two at the top. Starring Michael Rainey Jr, Mary J. Blige, Method Man, Caroline Chikezie and more.

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live – Streaming now | NOW TV

On her quest to find Rick, Michonne finds help from an unexpected source and comes face-to-face with the mysterious CRM. Starring Danai Gurira.

Girl In The Video – Streaming now | Paramount+

When an unsuspecting 15-year-old is kidnapped by a depraved online predator, her mother joins forces with a seasoned FBI investigator and local detective to bring her home. Starring Cush Jumbo, Tia May Watts and Amaree Ali.

The Encounters South African International Documentary Festival is returning for its 26th edition this summer, with an extensive lineup of films recently announced.

The festival will screen multiple documentaries and films from within and outside the African continent. It will feature thirty-two feature-length films and fourteen short films. Twenty-seven African films and nineteen international films will be screened. Also, forty-three films will have their South Africa premiere at the festival, thirty-seven films will have their first African premiere, and fourteen films will have their world premiere.

Miki Redelinghuys and Pearlie Joubert’s Mother City has been selected as the festival’s opening film. The feature has been described as a “deeply human and often heart-breaking look at the politics of urbanism” where the filmmakers follow activists of the Reclaim the City movement over six years as they make Cape Town’s abandoned spaces their home, and use it as a base from which to lobby for the needs of the working class.

Explaining the decision to open the festival with Mother City, the festival’s director, Mandisa Zitha, remarked, “It has been selected as our opening film, as it represents the heart of what documentary filmmaking is about. It is dedicated, tenacious, and vociferous in its approach to following a group of activists over a long period, to capture their challenges and frustrations, and indeed their successes. It speaks to the power of film in exposing the arduous journey so many in this world have to embark on to effect change. It is also a universally powerful story of the triumph of the collective.” 

The Encounters South African International Documentary Festival is the country’s formative documentary event, screening contemporary South African and International features and short documentaries since 1999. The festival is supported and funded by: City of Cape Town, Bertha Foundation, National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa,  University of Cape Town and the Centre for Film and Media Studies, Mail and Guardian (Media Partner), Al Jazeera Documentary, Known Associates, Refinery, Goethe-Institut of South Africa, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Heineken Beverages,  Documentary Filmmakers Association, German Films, South African Guild of Editors, anima, and Pressure Cooker Studio.

This year’s edition of Encounters will take place at venues in Cape Town and Johannesburg from 20 to 30 June 2024. 

Click here to see the festival’s complete lineup of films.

There’s lots to watch this week ….

Including the highly anticipated second season of We Are Lady Parts, and season three of The Outlaws.

Let us know what you’ll be watching!

Clive Myrie’s Caribbean Adventure – Monday 27th May @6:30pm | BBC Two

From the vibrant streets of Cuba to the beautiful beaches of Barbados, Clive explores his family roots – and celebrates the energy, creativity and joy of a place close to paradise.

He begins by heading east towards the wild beauty of Jamaica’s longest mountain range, and catches up with his sister, Judith, who has recently moved from the UK to live on the island.

We Are Lady Parts: S2 – Thursday 30th May @ 10pm | Channel 4

The band returns with a renewed artistic mission after the high of their first UK tour, only to find a rival band threatens their delicate status quo. As the reality of chasing success sets in, Lady Parts embark on recording their first album, juggling personal ambitions and deciding whether ‘making it big’ is really what they wanted. With faith Omole, Kimani Arthur and Bradley Banton.

The Outlaws – Thursday 30th May @ 9pm | BBC One

With crime boss The Dean behind bars, The Outlaws are moving on with their lives – but Rani’s shock return and the discovery of a dead body sends them hurtling back into mortal danger. With Clare Perking, Gamba Cole, Kojo Kamara, Charles Babalola, Brett Curtis and Nadia Violet-Johnson.

Eric – Thursday 30th May | Netflix

Puppeteer Vincent clings to his missing son’s drawings of a blue monster puppet named Eric, convinced that if he can get Eric on TV then his son will come home. With Clarke Peters, McKinley Belcher III and Gloria Obianyo.

Die Hart 2 – Thursday 30th May | Prime Video

In this sequel, Kevin Hart, now the world’s biggest action star, finds himself the victim of an evil revenge plot and must enlist the help of his favourite co-star and his over-eager assistant if he wants to survive. With Nathalie Emmanuel.

Cold Copy – Saturday 1st June | Netflix

Bent on impressing her ruthless professor with a sensational scoop, a journalism student brushes ethics aside to manipulate the son of a famous author. Starring Tracee Ellis-Ross

The Famous Five: The Eye Of The Sunrise – StreamingNow | BBC iPlayer

It’s late August 1939 and George comes across the Great Supremo who is on the run from malevolent pursuers. She manages to convince her cousins that they should protect him and the Five hide him in their den where he tells them about a powerful treasure he guards, the Eye of the Sunrise.

But the Five’s promise proves impossible to keep as Dr Rosamund Graves and her burly assistant Bradley arrive from the local psychiatric institute to take Supremo away. He’s not just a magician, he’s a psychiatric patient. Can the Five trust anything he says? Starring Diaana Babnicova and Ann Akinjirin.

The Journey Of Self – Streaming Now | MYM’s Youtube Channel

Set in one room, spanning over the course of one year, the traumatic inner turmoil of one young woman is exposed through the lens of therapy, as she questions her sense of self and belonging in the world. Starring Zakiyyah Deen.

South African documentary film, Empathy in Africa: Bridging The Healthcare Divide, is set to premiere on Apple TV and other streaming platforms this week.

Diepsloot township, in Johannesburg, South Africa, is known for its challenging infrastructure, overcrowding and limited access to basic resources — but within it exists an oasis that is bringing hope to the community. The Rhiza Babuyile Clinic, founded in 2022, is Diepsloot’s first private brick-and-mortar healthcare facility, offering basic care and paediatrics and reducing inequities for the people of the township. 

Empathy in Africa follows three women empowered by the clinic, who personify resilience in the face of tremendous obstacles. The film shows the many benefits the clinic brings to the community and highlights a nurse who is given the opportunity to build and own a new clinic in a nearby township.

In addition to streaming on Apple TV, Empathy in Africa will be featured on WaterBear Network, the first free streaming platform dedicated to the future of the planet, bringing entertainment and action together. It hosts a diverse array of award-winning documentaries, compelling short films, and impactful series, all created to drive real-world change.   

Empathy in Africa was directed by Dan McDougall (a four-time Amnesty International Award Winner and British Foreign Correspondent of the Year) and produced by Miran Media. McDougall received the Best Director Award at the Barcelona Film Festival for his film on climate change, and won best short film at The Munich Film Awards and The Stockholm Independent Film Festival. 

Empathy in Africa has been selected to screen at the Charlotte Black Film Festival, the People’s Film Festival and the Cleveland International Film Festival’s FilmSlam® Streams Program, a virtual media literacy programme that allows educators to stream films directly in the classroom. The programme encourages teachers to incorporate social impact films into their curriculum and class discussions.

The film was funded and developed by Viatris, a global healthcare company with a mission to empower people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life. Viatris is also a funder of the Rhiza Babuvile Clinic profiled in the film.

Click here to view the trailer. You can also stream the film on Apple TV or on WaterBear.

We have another Bank Holiday ahead with plenty to keep you occupied …

If you haven’t already found a way to watch (who knows, knows) then get stuck into the universe created by Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson with all new seasons of Power Book II: Raising Kanan and BMF. If a bit of British TV is your thing then join Kiell Smith-Bynoe celebrating the 10th Year of The Great British Sewing Bee.

Power Book III: Raising Kanan: S3 – Monday 20th May | MGM+

Set in South Jamaica, Queens, Kanan and the rest of the Thomas family must confront an existential crisis that challenges their very identity. For those who do, the destination may reveal the most terrifying secret of all. Mekai Curtis, Patina Miller, Hailey Kilgore, Malcolm Mays, London Brown, Joey Bada$$ and more.

BMF:S3 – Monday 20th May 2024 | MGM+

Inspired by the true story of brothers Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory, who rose from the decaying streets of southwest Detroit in the late 1980s and gave birth to one of the most influential crime families in the United States. Starring Demetrius Flenory Jr., Russel Hornsby, Da’Vinchi, La La Anthony, Sydney Mitchell, Michele Briana White, Laila Pruitt and more.

The Great British Sewing Bee – Tuesday 21st May @ 9pm | BBC One

Kiell Smith-Bynoe hosts the 10th season of the show, 12 sewers enter the sewing room and are tasked with challenges inspired by the very first set in the show’s first run.

Buying London – Wednesday 22nd May | Netflix

Big price tags, big personalities. At luxury estate agency DDRE Global, the only thing hotter than the super prime properties is the fiery office drama. With Estate Agent Reme Nicole.

Trying: S4 – Wednesday 22nd May | Apple TV+

Fast-forwards six years, finding Nikki and Jason as experienced adopters with a nuclear family and an extraordinary support network. However, they face the ultimate test when their teenage daughter Princess starts to yearn for a connection with her birth mother.

Insomnia – Thursday 23rd May | Paramount+

Follows a career-driven woman who starts to suffer from insomnia, just as her mother did before suffering from a violent psychotic breakdown. And as the past resurfaces, so do haunting doubts and fears.

Phoenix Rise: S3 – Friday 24th May | BBC iPlayer

The coming-of-age drama returns for a third series, following a group of misfits who form an unbreakable bond as they navigate the trials and tribulations of school life in the Midlands. Day one of a new school year and our misfit heroes are in huge trouble before home time. Will they get through it or will newcomers, Caleb, Faith and Matteo, tear the group apart? Meanwhile, inspirational new music teacher Miss Meehan (Fleur East) spurs Rani’s musical ambitions to new heights. Fleur East, Imogen Baker, Lauren Corah and Jayden Hanley

Atlas – Friday | Netflix

A brilliant counterterrorism analyst with a deep distrust of AI discovers it might be her only hope when a mission to capture a renegade robot goes awry. Starring Jennifer Lopez and Sterling K. Brown.

Radio 1’s Big Weekend: RAYE – Saturday 25th May @ 11:10pm | BBC One

The Big Weekend festival comes from Stockwood Park in Luton for three days of live music this year, with RAYE taking the Saturday night headline slot on the Main Stage.

Nollywood film Breath of Life pulled off a huge scoop of laurels at the recently-held Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs) …

The film clinched five awards on the night out of eleven nominations:

• Best Movie
• Best Lead Actor – Wale Ojo
• Best Supporting Actor – Demola Adedoyin
• Best Supporting Actress – Genoveva Umeh
• Best Director – BB Sasore

Breath of Life follows Timi, a brilliant multilingual man who becomes the first African clergyman in the Church of England. After marrying and having a daughter, he returns to Nigeria, leading a fulfilling life until his family is wiped out by a local thug. He manages to exact vengeance, but his soul is crushed and he stays reclusive for more than two decades until Elijah, a young boy, becomes his housekeeper and helps him rediscover his purpose. The film is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

C.J. Obasi’s critically acclaimed fantasy thriller Mami Wata, which has enjoyed an amazing festival run since its premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and which received eleven AMVCA nominations, won only one award which came in the Best Makeup category.

Funke Akindele’s blockbuster dramedy A Tribe Called Judah, which made history as the highest-grossing Nigerian film of all time, shockingly ended up with no awards, despite being nominated in five categories.

The AMVCAs is an award show presented by MultiChoice recognising outstanding performances in television, film, entertainment, and digital content creation throughout Nollywood and the entire African continent. It is widely regarded as one of the most hallowed award ceremonies as far as African cinema is concerned.

This year’s edition was held on 10 and 11 May 2024, featuring a series of events, the highlights of which included the Young Filmmakers Day, the Cultural Day Celebration, and the main Awards Night. These events saw the African film and television industry come together to honour outstanding talent and creativity in the industry.  For the awards, nine categories were subject to audience voting, while seventeen categories were determined by the AMVCA Jury.

Commenting on its tenth edition, Dr. Busola Tejumola, Executive Head of Content and Channels, West Africa, MultiChoice, said, “The Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards was created to honour exceptional achievements in television and film across the continent and we are excited to have been able to keep that fire burning through 10 editions. Year after year, we have received numerous entries and can attest to the growth in the quality of submissions with each edition. While this year’s edition is a milestone edition as it is the 10th, it is also a testament to the growth the film industry in Africa has experienced.”

Click here to see the full list of winners.

There is Nothing Better Than Some British Entertainment …

Unless it’s coupled with a dose of equally good TV from the US. If you’re looking for a game show the Fortune Hotel looks like a great watch, if you’re craving a period drama Bridgerton is back and if you need some Black History then look no further than The Big Cigar which stars André Holland as legendary Black Panther leader Huey P Newton.

Let us know what you’ll be watching.

The Fortune Hotel – Monday 13th – Thursday 16th May @ 9pm | ITV1

This reality competition series features 10 pairs of contestants who are given a briefcase, inside one of which is the jackpot of £250,000 in cash, while eight are empty and one contains the Early Checkout Card. Through challenges, contestants have to work out who has which case and swap at the end of each episode.

The Gathering – Tuesday 14th May 2024 @ 9pm | Channel 4

An elite teenage gymnast is attacked at an illegal rave, the drama flashes back to before the event, as viewers find a host of characters have a motive for the attack – but who actually did it? Starring Sadie Soverall and Vinette Robinson.

The Equalizer: S4 – Tuesday 14th May | Sky Witness

McCall saves the team after they’re put in danger by a former colleague and discovers the truth behind the CIA withdrawal in Venezuela. Starring Queen Latifah.

Grown-ish: S6b – Wednesday 15th May | Disney+

Follows Andre Johnson Jr., aka Junior, as he transitions from Zoey’s little brother to big man on campus. Zoey Starring Yara Shahidi, Marcus Scribner, Trevor Jackson, Diggy Simmons, Daniella Perkins and Justine Skye.

The Pod Generation – Wednesday 15th May | Prime Video

In a no-so-distant future, amid a society madly in love with technology, tech giant Pegazus offers couples the opportunity to share their pregnancies via detachable artificial wombs or pods. And so begins Rachel and Alvy’s wild ride to parenthood in this brave new world. Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and with Vinette Robinson.

Bridgerton: S3 – Thursday 16th May | Netflix

Penelope Featherington has finally given up on her long-held crush on Colin Bridgerton after hearing his disparaging words about her last season. She has, however, decided it’s time to take a husband, preferably one who will provide her with enough independence to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from her mother and sisters. But lacking in confidence, Penelope’s attempts on the marriage mart fail spectacularly. Starring Adjoa Andoh, Golda Rosheuvel, Kathryn Drysdale, Martins Imhangbe, Emma Naomi and Sarah Junillo.

The Big Cigar – Friday 17th May | Apple TV+

A look at Huey P Newton in this historical series, based on the magazine article by Joshuah Bearman. It tells the story of Newton’s escape from the FBI to Cuba with the assistance of famed producer Bert Schneider in an elaborate plan involving a fake movie production, that goes wrong every way it possibly can. Starring André Holland, Moses Ingram.

The Invitation – Saturday 18th May | Netflix

Evie’s long-lost cousin invited her to a swanky English wedding, where she incovers a dark and twisted family secret that threatens to upend her life. Starring Nathalie Emmanuel.

Doctor Who: Boom – Saturday 18th May @ 6:50pm | BBC One

This third episode in the show’s new season, sees the Doctor and Ruby caught in the middle of a devastating war on Kastarion 3. When the Doctor steps on a landmine and becomes trapped, he must try to save himself, Ruby and the entire planet without moving. Starring Ncuti Gatwa.

South Africa’s Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) has announced the lineup of projects and participants for the 17th edition of Talents Durban …

Taking place during the Durban FilmMart (DFM) in Durban from 19 – 22 July 2024. 

This year’s edition of Talents Durban is distinguished by its inclusion of participants from 15 African countries, who collectively reflect the continent’s diversity of emerging film professionals. The selection process was highly competitive, with a record 499 applications resulting in the choice of 26 distinctive projects and 4 film critics, each bringing a fresh perspective to features, documentaries, shorts, series, animation, and film criticism. 

“The Durban FilmMart Institute is dedicated to the growth of African cinema through strategic collaborations that enhance access to markets and professional networks. Talents Durban, a core component of this commitment, aligns with Berlinale Talents to facilitate a rigorous developmental platform for emerging filmmakers. This partnership, now in its 17th iteration, leverages both our shared vision and the bold stories that Africa offers. We are particularly focused on providing filmmakers, animators and film critics with the tools and opportunities to bring their work to both regional audiences and the international stage, thereby ensuring sustained development of the continent’s film industry”, said DFMI Director, Magdalene Reddy.

As the African satellite programme of the Berlin International Film Festival and Berlinale Talents, Talents Durban holds a significant position within the DFMI’s programming portfolio.

Berlinale Talents is a networking platform organised by the Berlin International Film Festival, offering a space for emerging filmmakers to connect, learn, and collaborate. Talents Durban serves as its African counterpart, providing a similar platform specifically tailored to the continent’s unique filmmaking landscape.

The Heads of Berlinale Talents, Nikola Joetze and Florian Weghorn, also weighed in on the importance of Talents Durban to the African film ecosystem.

“Over the many years of our trusted partnership, Talents Durban has grown into a central hub on the continent, where project development, training and lasting exchange come together in the most sustainable way. We are extremely proud to welcome also this year’s very strong selection of participants to the global Talents community.”

Talents Durban is a training and development programme that brings together Africa’s rising film professionals – screenwriters and directors with fiction, documentary, animation, and hybrid projects in development (this includes all media formats such as film, television series, web series, and content for mobile platforms).

Talents Durban is an initiative of the Berlin International Film Festival and is part of six international initiatives of Berlinale Talents. Talents Durban was founded in 2007 as a partnership between the Durban International Film Festival and Berlinale. Since 2019, Talents Durban has become a project of the Durban FilmMart Institute.

Selected talents for the 2024 programme will participate in a series of project-oriented, hands-on skills development programmes. These include sessions such as Story Junction, where participants present their projects to producers and financiers, alongside masterclasses and one–on–one mentorship opportunities. Mounia Aram, Jihane Bougrine, Hawa Essuman, Yanis Gaye, Karabo Lediga, Carol Kioko, Beverly Mitchell, Kethiwe Ngcobo and Laza Razanajatovo, will serve as this year’s mentors.

Click here to see the full list of participants and feature projects at Talents Durban 2024.

With A dreary Bank Holiday and week ahead …

What better than to chill out, relax and watch some great TV? Check out our picks for this coming week.

Dark Matter – Wednesday 8th May | Apple TV+

Follows Jason Dessen, a physicist, professor and family man who one night while walking home on the streets of Chicago, is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Wonder quickly turns into a nightmare when he tries to return to his reality amid the mind-bending landscape of lives he could have lived. With Dayo Okeniyi and Amanda Brugel.

Abbott Elementary: Season 3 – Wednesday 8th May | Disney+

Janine spearheads a pilot program that brings a librarian to Abbott; however, when friction arises with one of the teachers, it strains Janine’s relationships with both parties. Meanwhile, both Melissa and Jacob deal with some big changes at home. Ava and Gregory are invited to speak on a panel about public schools.

Water And Garri – Friday 10th May | Prime Video

Aisha makes an emotional return to her hometown in Nigeria, after spending 10 years in the US becoming a successful entrepreneur. She is met by the tensions and challenges which come after spending time away from her family and friends.

Doctor Who – Friday 10th May on Disney+ & Saturday 11th May on BBC One & iPlayer

The Doctor and Ruby head towards plenty of excitement and laughter, but expect things to take a turn for the worse when the Doctor finds someone he loves in danger. Starring Ncuti Gatwa, Michelle Greenidge, Genesis Lynea and Golda Rosheuvel