Kenyan first-time film directors will have an opportunity to have their films screened on Showmax in 50 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa in 2024 if they secure slots in the 2023 Shomax action film competition.
This is after the South African-based streamer announced that it had opened submissions from February 1, 2023, for action films from four countries including Kenya.
In addition, the streamer stated that there were only 10 slots for action films from first-time filmmakers set in contemporary Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, or South Africa.
While making the announcement on Tuesday, January 31, Showmax Chief Executive (CEO) Yolisa Phahle stated that the move, aimed at finding new African talent, was in partnership with the Joburg Film Festival.
“We are trying to empower local filmmakers to tell their own stories for their own communities in their own languages. We're looking for genuine stories that will appeal to our local audiences,” Phahle stated.
While issuing specifications for the submission, the CEO stated that the streamer's audience preferred local content, adding that Kenyan content ranked highly in content consumption.
“Showmax’s audience prefers local content, with eight of the top 10 titles in Kenya last year being African,” Phahle noted.
Showmax issued a statement with the requirements for the submissions, stating that the proposals had to have a first draft screenplay that was set in contemporary Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, or South Africa.
It specified that the first-time directors attached to the films ought to be residents or citizens of the mentioned countries.
The streamer further stated that the submissions were to be done in form of a five-minute video, done in English, including the bios of the writer, director, and producer.
Additionally, the video ought to include a summary of the story including the ending, an introduction of the lead characters, and an explanation of the chosen genre and visual references.
“Here is the link for the submission portal: submissions(dot)mnetcorporate(dot)co(dot)za(slash)channel(slash)showmax. If the proposal is successful, you will be contacted for a pitch session.
“If the pitch session is successful, we proceed to a head of department pitch session and later we will proceed to a development agreement,” Showmax stated.
Moreover, the streamer also accepted submissions of films in the local languages of the countries listed.
The African streaming service was first launched in 2015 as part of the entertainment company MultiChoice Group and had since featured Kenyan films including Crime and Justice and Nairobi Half life, Igiza, and Njoro Wa Uba.
