Netflix, in collaboration with the Gauteng Film Commission and the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, has revealed 14 young  South Africans for its first edition of the ScreenCraft Pathways training programme.

By Adedamola Jones Adedayo 

Netflix, in collaboration with the Gauteng Film Commission and the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, has revealed 14 young  South Africans for its first edition of the ScreenCraft Pathways training programme. The participants will spend the next year working in South Africa’s film and television production and post-production companies. The steaming giant has also announced that the programme will begin its second cohort in 2027.

The announcement came at a Youth Month event spearheaded by Netflix and its South African partners that assembled filmmakers, industry stakeholders, policymakers and government officials, geared towards negotiating audiovisual investment and national socioeconomic goals in tandem with the 2026 Youth Month theme “Year of Putting Young South Africans to Work.”

The 14 beneficiaries of the inaugural ScreenCraft Pathways Programme are Thobeka Nkosi, Lebohang Tsotetsi, Paballo Segalagala, Noluthando Tshazibane, Reotshepile Mohutsiwa, Tiny Mapodile, Ikageng Madia, Nontobeko Mbhele, Keletso Lesetla, Tyler-Vorne Arendse, Sipho Nuse, Bryoni Baxter, Didintle Ledwaba and Chloe Beukes.

Each trainee will be well remunerated during a 12-month placement in a below-the-line role of their choosing (covering pre-production, production and post-production) available within Netflix’s network of local production partners that includes Burnt Onion, Quizzical Pictures, The Refinery, Midnight VFX, Rechord Post, Mushroom Media and Gambit Films. Participants will receive high-level professional mentorship, granting them on-set, in-suite experience along with entry to specialised workshops led by Netflix, with emphasis on skills development, technical production, career advancement and networking access.

Pelin Mavili, Netflix Director of Global Affairs for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, described South Africa’s creative economy as a fertile ground for talent, initiative and opportunities. 

“ScreenCraft Pathways is our commitment to ensuring that talent has a structured, professional pathway into the industry, not just for the benefit of these 14 individuals, but for the long-term competitiveness of South Africa’s production sector”, Mavili said. “When young South Africans are working on world-class productions, everyone wins—from the industry to the economy and the audiences who get to see their stories told”.

Keitumetse Lebaka, CEO of the Gauteng Film Commission,  emphasised the Commission’s commitment to ScreenCraft Pathways as part of a long-term strategy to shape the future of South Africa’s film and television industry: “By giving young creatives access to real productions, experienced mentors and practical workplace experience, we are helping to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity. The Gauteng Film Commission is proud to partner on an initiative that not only equips young people with critical industry skills, but also strengthens the talent pipeline needed to grow a competitive and sustainable screen sector.”

Sibusiso Gumbi, Acting CEO of the KZN Tourism and Film Authority, reiterated the importance of human and creative development:  “South Africa’s film industry cannot grow sustainably unless we deliberately invest in the people who will power its future. ScreenCraft Pathways is a practical response to one of the sector’s greatest challenges—creating credible pathways from learning into employment. By placing young creatives inside leading production and post-production companies, this programme provides the experience, mentorship and professional networks that are often the difference between talent being discovered and talent being lost.”

“Our partnership with Netflix and the Gauteng Film Commission demonstrates what can be achieved when industry and public institutions work together to develop the next generation of film professionals”, Gumbi added. “Beyond supporting individual careers, initiatives such as this strengthen the broader screen sector, enhance South Africa’s competitiveness as a production destination, and contribute to job creation in one of the country’s most promising creative industries.”

Conversations at the Youth Month event, where the cohorts were unveiled, bordered on the deployment of regulatory frameworks and specialised initiatives in triggering skill development, career mobility and the country’s global competitiveness as a production haven. 

According to Lebogang Maile, Gauteng MEC for Education, Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, who also graced the event: “The creative industries have enormous potential to create jobs, stimulate economic growth and unlock opportunities for young people. Programmes such as ScreenCraft Pathways demonstrate what is possible when government and industry work together with a shared purpose. By opening doors to meaningful workplace experience and skills development, we are empowering the next generation of storytellers and contributing to a more inclusive and dynamic creative economy”.

More information on the next round of ScreenCraft Pathways will be announced in due course.

The post Netflix Announces 14 Young South African Creatives For Inaugural ScreenCraft Pathway Cohort first appeared on Afrocritik.



Titre: BANLIEUSARDS 3 (2025)

Titre Original: Banlieusards 3 Réalisateur: Leïla Sy, Kery James Scénariste: Kery James Année: 2025 Durée: 93 mn Pays: Genre: Drame, Policier,  Distribution: Netflix SITE OFFICIEL

BANDE ANNONCE du film: Banlieusards 3 Artistes: Bakary Diombera, Mohamed Lamine Cissé, Bilal Ben Osmane, Kery James

Synopsis:

Sortie le: 04/03/2026 (France)

   



Titre: ALMOST COPS (2025)

Titre Original: Bad Boa’s Réalisateur: Gonzalo Fernandez Carmona Scénariste: Michel Bonset, Murth Mossel Année: 2025 Durée: 95 mn Pays: Genre: Action, Comédie,  Distribution: Netflix SITE OFFICIEL

BANDE ANNONCE du film: Almost Cops Artistes: Jandino Asporaat, Werner Kolf, Florence Vos Weeda, Ferdi Stofmeel, Ergun Simsek, Juliette van Ardenne, Stephanie van Eer

Synopsis:

Sortie le: 11/07/2025 (France)

   



Titre: MADEA: Mariage exotique (2025)

Titre Original: Madeas Destination Wedding Réalisateur: Tyler Perry Scénariste: Tyler Perry Année: 2025 Durée: 102 mn Pays: Genre: Comédie, Romantique,  Distribution: Netflix SITE OFFICIEL

BANDE ANNONCE du film: Madea: Mariage exotique Artistes: Tyler Perry, Cassi Davis, David Mann, Tamela J. Mann, Taja V. Simpson, Diamond White, Jermaine Harris

Synopsis:

Sortie le: 11/07/2025 (France)

Tyler Perry

   

On the evening of March 24, the launch of Kava, a new streaming platform for Nollywood and African content, brought together the worlds of music, film, and technology. Prodigy saxophonist Temilayo Abodunrin serenaded actor Shaffy Bello, who danced joyfully amid industry veterans, filmmakers, and investors.

Set to launch in August 2025, Kava, a subscription-based platform, is a collaborative effort between InkBlot Studios, an industry heavyweight behind box office hits, and Filmhouse Group, West Africa’s largest cinema chain. 

“We’re building a platform that doesn’t just stream films—it fuels careers, drives innovation, and connects African creativity to audiences around the world,” said Kene Okwuosa, Kava’s co-CEO and head of Filmhouse Group.

In a panel discussion, Kava’s co-CEOs, Okwuosa and Chinaza Onuzo, revealed the venture’s ambitious origins. What began as an idea five years ago only started taking shape three months prior. Onuzo, whose production company has collaborated with Filmhouse for nearly a decade, asserts the timing is now perfect for their vision: to build a sustainable digital ecosystem for African storytelling.

Kava has a point to prove

Nollywood has a remarkable history of reinvention, continuously adapting its distribution model from VCD rentals to cinemas and now, streaming. Today, global giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime, alongside YouTube and local pioneers like IROKOTV, offer vast movie catalogues.

Despite Nollywood’s increasing popularity, especially among the diaspora, no platform has yet cracked the code on making African stories a global streaming staple and a sustainable business. U.S. giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime, after significant investments, are scaling back operations in Nigeria..

Homegrown platforms like IrokoTV also exited the Nigerian market, with founder Jason Njoku candidly stating, “Between the revenues we generated and the venture capital we raised $35 million over the first ten years, we easily spent $100 million trying to win. We were just there, in full survival mode, operating in the toughest conditions possible.”

However, Damola Ademola, co-founder of Inkblot and Kava’s product head, remains optimistic. He told TechCabal that IrokoTV “may have been ahead of its time,” noting that when the company launched nearly a decade ago, “broadband networking was not as penetrative on the continent.” Now, he argues, “a lot more people are used to the concept of streaming. It’s an easier sell.” 

Ademola draws parallels to successful niche services like Crunchyroll for anime and Shudder for horror, asserting, “African movies can easily be just like that.” He even cites a surprising example of Nollywood’s global reach: “Before the Ukrainian war, every time we released a Nollywood movie, we would see a spike in Ukraine… it means that our content can be universal, can be global.”

Kava Co-CEO Onuzo further emphasises the existing global consumption of Nigerian content: “One of the things that the streaming era showed us was that our content is consumed all over the world. I don’t know how many Nigerians are in Brazil, or Argentina, but you find that our content trots well and people engage it.”

Kava aims to capitalise on this interest by delivering high-quality, diverse content at scale. “When we’re able to deliver content at scale to audiences that are not just us, they will understand and fall in love with the stories that we have. They just don’t know it yet, but they will fall in love with us.”

At launch, Kava will feature over 30 premium Nollywood titles, with fresh releases weekly, including Alakada Bad and Boujee, Owambe Thieves (starring Zubby Michael, Odunlade Adekola, and Solo Sobowale), What About Us (featuring Kuni Remie and Uzor Arukwe), and House Job with Erica Nlewedim. Beyond licensing, the co-CEOs are committed to original content. 

Onuzo notes, “The beauty of this platform is that it allows us to scale our ability to tell stories…in different identities, different languages, different versions.” While Nigeria and Nollywood are the starting point, Kava envisions programming in many African countries.

Funding the vision 

This ambition requires significant funding. Kava has secured initial investments from a “family and friends” round and financiers like Vested World and TLG Capital. While the specific amount wasn’t disclosed, product chief Adedamola told TechCabal the company will soon raise more funding for rapid expansion across Africa and into Europe, particularly the UK.

This optimism aligns with a recent surge of investment in Nollywood from Nigeria’s tech sector. Since 2023, African startup founders and VCs have been increasingly backing films directly, with firms like Voltron Capital reportedly achieving up to 3x returns on projects like The Black Book and Gangs of Lagos. Dedicated film financing marketplaces like TalentX Africa are also emerging.

Ladun Awobokun, Kava’s Head of Content Acquisition, encapsulates the platform’s expansive vision: “Kava will champion African music, movies, fashion, culture, and voices, creating a space where creators across Nigeria and the diaspora can shine.”

The global success of Afrobeats and African fashion offers a compelling precedent for Nollywood. Onuzo reiterated, “One of the things that the streaming era showed us was that our content is consumed all over the world… you find that our content travels well and people engage with it.” Kava aims to leverage this existing global interest. “And we believe that when we’re able to deliver content at scale to audiences that are not just us, they will understand and fall in love with the stories that we have,” Onuzo concluded. “They just don’t know it yet, but they will fall in love with us.

Mark your calendars! Moonshot by TechCabal is back in Lagos on October 15–16! Join Africa’s top founders, creatives & tech leaders for 2 days of keynotes, mixers & future-forward ideas. Early bird tickets now 20% off—don’t snooze! moonshot.techcabal.com



Titre: À BOUT (2025)

Titre Original: Straw Réalisateur: Tyler Perry Scénariste: Tyler Perry Année: 2025 Durée: 105 mn Pays: Genre: Drame, Thriller,  Distribution: Netflix SITE OFFICIEL

BANDE ANNONCE du film: À bout Artistes: Taraji P. Henson, Sinbad , Rockmond Dunbar, Glynn E Turman, Sherri Shepherd, Teyana Taylor, Ashley Versher, Mike Merrill, Shalèt Monique, Diva Tyler

Synopsis:

Sortie le: 06/06/2025 (France)

Sinbad

Rockmond Dunbar

Taraji P. Henson

Glynn E Turman