New Voices, Global Stories: African Creativity on Display

Pioneering African Narratives at Series Mania

Four talented African screenwriters are poised to showcase their unique television concepts to industry professionals this Tuesday at the 17th Series Mania festival in Lille, France. This exclusive event provides a platform for their innovative projects to gain international recognition.

The AuthenticA Series Lab: Nurturing African Talent

These four individuals are the latest cohort from the Realness Institute's AuthenticA Series Lab, a specialized program dedicated to episodic screenwriting. This lab operates in collaboration with The StoryBoard Collective and benefits from the backing of the Canada Media Fund and the Series Mania Forum.

Diverse Genre Offerings from Rising Stars

The AuthenticA African Series Pitch, scheduled for March 24, will feature an exciting lineup of original works. Reem Morsi, representing Egypt and Canada, will present "Humanitarians!," a dark comedy. Gamel Apalayine from Ghana will introduce "The Gospel According to Charlotte Nelson," a mystery-drama. Mona Ombogo of Kenya brings "Kanaan," a romantic thriller, and Joladé Olusanya, from Nigeria and the U.K., will unveil the sports epic "Kid: The Hogan Bassey Story."

Empowering African Storytellers through Intensive Development

Now in its fourth year, the AuthenticA Series Lab is dedicated to supporting and guiding African writers. Its goal is to help them craft television series that can compete globally, facilitating connections with international partners, financiers, and producers. The upcoming pitching session in Lille is the culmination of six months of rigorous development, during which the screenwriters received hands-on mentorship and extensive support.

Cultivating a Safe Space for Bold Storytelling

Mehret Mandefro, creative producer and managing director of the Realness Institute, emphasized the scarcity of environments where African writers can freely develop their narratives with the necessary resources. She stated that these four writers exemplify the extraordinary potential unleashed when such a supportive space is provided.

Redefining the African Narrative Landscape

Selina Ukwuoma, a script consultant and director of writing programs at the institute, highlighted the lab's encouragement for writers to explore and share their deeply personal, daring, and complex stories. She noted that with the lab's support, writers consistently push creative boundaries, delivering groundbreaking narratives that fundamentally reshape perceptions of Africa.

Meet the Visionary Screenwriters: Reem Morsi

Reem Morsi is an acclaimed writer, director, and filmmaker with a diverse background that includes professional scuba diving and human rights advocacy. Her feature film "Banned" has recently begun its festival circuit. Morsi has also directed the film "Queen Tut" and contributed to episodes of the CBC Gem series "Virgins!". Her series "Fish" won the Canadian National Genre Competition by WIFTV and is currently undergoing development, alongside two other scripted projects.

Meet the Visionary Screenwriters: Gamel Apalayine

Gamel Apalayine is a versatile storyteller, actively involved in film, television, theater, and music. He served as the head writer for 560 episodes of Ghana's popular series "Dede" and for two seasons of the Showmax original drama series "Eno." Through his creative enterprise, Whistling Rocks, he is currently developing a range of film, TV, and theater projects.

Meet the Visionary Screenwriters: Mona Ombogo

Mona Ombogo is an award-winning scriptwriter and a bestselling author. Her notable credits include the Netflix original musical drama series "Volume," for which she earned the 2024 Women in Film Award for best scriptwriter and the best writing in a series award at the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards. She has also served as head writer for M-Net's "Salem and Shanga" and contributed to Showmax's "Single Kiasi."

Meet the Visionary Screenwriters: Joladé Olusanya

Joladé Olusanya is a poet, filmmaker, and photographer known for his intimate storytelling that merges lyrical writing with striking cinematic visuals. His work has been commissioned by prominent organizations like the BBC and Barbican, and has been exhibited internationally. Through his company, By the Kin, he is developing short films and an original TV series while simultaneously building community-focused projects.

Series Mania Forum: A Global Showcase for African Talent

Francesco Capurro, director of the Series Mania Forum, expressed his enthusiasm for showcasing these four exceptional African talents on a global stage. He believes their rich and diverse stories will undoubtedly captivate the international industry, and the forum is proud to champion their voices and anticipate their worldwide impact.

The StoryBoard Collective: Empowering Authentic Voices

Laure de Peretti de la Rocca, executive director of The StoryBoard Collective, highlighted that the AuthenticA Series Lab is more than just a long-term creative development program. It equips writers with crucial market understanding and industry access, safeguarding their unique voices. She affirmed their commitment to supporting storytellers whose perspectives deserve greater visibility and creating avenues for international partners to bring these stories to fruition.