JBX Talks Explores Africa–France Film Collaboration at Joburg Film Festival

As the Joburg Film Festival prepares for its eighth edition, its JBX industry programme will host a focused conversation on the evolving relationship between Africa and France in film and television.

A Timely Industry Conversation

Taking place on 5 March from 10:00 am to 10:50 am, The French Connection: Creativity and Collaboration Between Africa and France will examine how co-productions, commissioning partnerships and cross-border development models are shaping the next phase of storytelling across the two regions.

Set against the backdrop of MultiChoice Group’s integration into global media giant Groupe CANAL+, the discussion arrives at a pivotal moment for the continent’s film and television industry.

With African storytelling reaching wider international audiences, expanding partnerships and distribution networks are creating new opportunities for collaboration across markets.

Africa and France have long maintained strong ties through co-production agreements, festival exchange and broadcast partnerships. The difference now is scale. Collaboration increasingly spans mainstream television, streaming platforms and multi-territory commissioning. This shift supports broader audience reach, shared expertise and sustainable industry growth across film, series and unscripted formats.

Moderated by Neil Brandt

The session will be moderated by filmmaker and producer Neil Brandt, whose work spans documentary and fiction. Brandt has worked on internationally recognised projects, including The Forgotten Kingdom, Lesotho’s first Academy Awards submission.

His experience in developing and positioning projects for global audiences will anchor a discussion focused on practical realities, from financing to cross-border production strategy.

Panel Insights Across the Industry

The panel brings together three leaders representing creative, commissioning and institutional perspectives.

Jaco Bouwer: Creative and Cross-Border Success

South African filmmaker Jaco Bouwer brings extensive international experience. His debut feature, Gaia, premiered at SXSW in 2021, won the ZEISS Cinematography Award, and secured distribution in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Bouwer directed all eight episodes of Spinners for Showmax, a co-production with CANAL+ that became the first African series to showcase at Canneseries. His recent true-crime limited series Niggies for kykNET aired in early 2025 and broke broadcaster viewership records.

Bouwer’s work illustrates how African stories retain local identity while travelling globally.

Nathalie Folloroux: Commissioning and Strategy

Nathalie Folloroux, Director of Unscripted & Entertainment Content Initiatives for CANAL+, brings insight into programming, audience development and multi-territory strategy. With senior roles across Francophone African markets, she offers a perspective on how content moves across regions and how partnerships strengthen industry ecosystems.

Cecilia Zoppelletto: Capacity and Infrastructure

Cecilia Zoppelletto contributes an institutional lens. She launched a film studies programme at the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Kinshasa and serves as Vice-Chair of African Film Festival Inc. Her work spans talent development, preservation and international exhibition networks, underscoring the importance of long-term industry frameworks.

What Comes Next for Africa–France Collaboration

Together, the panel reflects the breadth of Africa–France collaboration, from development and international sales to commissioning strategy and industry capacity building.

For the Joburg Film Festival, placing this session on the programme signals awareness of a rapidly shifting industry landscape. For filmmakers, producers and commissioners, the discussion offers direct engagement with the mechanisms shaping contemporary African storytelling.

At JFF 2026, The French Connection is focused firmly on what comes next.

For more information on JBX Talks and festival accreditation, visit www.joburgfilmfestival.co.za

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