Afda to participate in Africa Celebrity Week 2024 as Official Education Partner

“Afda is proud to be the leading institution of higher learning in Africa’s creative economy and Fame Week Africa has become the premier platform for African creatives – it’s a match made in heaven. This collaboration represents the perfect synergy between the two pillars of Africa’s creative industries. We are eager to further strengthen our relationships with industry leaders and our esteemed alumni during Fame Week 2024. Afda will be prominent with its own stall, our staff participating in discussion panels and our students participating in organisations supporting Fame Week. We can’t wait for Fame Week 2024! ” said Diaan Lawrenson, Director of Afda Cape Town.

“We are delighted to be working with our education partner Afda, the fantastic work they are doing within the film and television industry in South Africa and abroad is truly inspiring. Afda alumni are at the forefront of the industry, bringing their expertise and energy to Fame Week Africa through panel discussions, masterclasses and more. Their contributions add to the energy of the event, showcasing the future of African entertainment,” said Martin Hiller, Portfolio Director at Fame Week Africa.

20 Afda Advanced Certificate students will assist with the event. Afda will host workshops and panel discussions on Revolutionizing Filmmaking: Harnessing AI and Virtual Production Technology, moderated by Afda lecturer Royston Daniels, and Afda lecturer Alex Tabisher will host an Inclusion Awards Ceremony and a workshop on The Power of Inclusion: Elevating Diverse Stories in Media.

Afda alumni Mandla N, Gugu Zuma, Lala Tuka and Jozua Malherbe will also participate in various panel discussions.

Six Afda films will screen in competition at the Fame Week short film festival at the Labia Theatre, and three Afda Cape Town 2023 graduate films will be screened in the City of Cape Town.

Fame Week Africa is the premier event for African creatives, providing them with a platform to bring their talents, stories and culture to the fore. How exactly does it achieve this? Fame Week Africa brings together relevant events focusing on the key creative economies, namely film, television, animation, music, fashion and entertainment technology.

Held in the host city of Cape Town, Africa Celebrity Week is a must-visit for African and global creative professionals, featuring content conferences, music showcases, film screenings, exhibitions and a variety of networking opportunities. The conference and festival will celebrate the convergence of the tech, film, television, animation and music industries.

Fame Week Africa is made up of the following events: MIP Africa, Cape Town International Animation Festival, Muziki Africa, African Fashion Forum and Fame Short Film Festival.

This year marks a milestone for South Africa’s first creative economy academy, Afda, which celebrates 30 years of pioneering education in the creative arts. Founded in 1994 with just six students, a broken television and a rented VCR, Afda has grown into a creative academy that has shaped the landscape of South Africa’s entertainment industry.

Afda’s journey began during a vibrant and transformative era in South African democracy. With a mission to produce graduates who can drive the local creative economy, Afda has come a long way over the past three decades. Today, the school has four well-equipped campuses, over 2,700 students, 280 full-time staff and a growing network of over 7,000 alumni.

Afda’s impact on South Africa’s creative industries is undeniable. In 1994, the entertainment industry struggled to maintain 4,000 jobs. Today, thanks to bodies like Afda, the industry employs over 34,000 people. Afda graduates are deeply embedded in the local entertainment community, contributing to all sectors of the creative economy and beyond. Many have started their own companies, employing large numbers of people and making their mark both locally and internationally.