JBX Market Head on How Joburg Event Can Boost Africa as ‘Global Force’ in Film and TV Production

variety.com:

Christopher Vourlias The third edition of JBX, or Joburg Xchange, an industry confab running from March 12 – 14 parallel to the Joburg Film Festival, looks to spotlight Africa’s role in shaping the future of film, television and digital storytelling.

With a focus on stories “made in Joburg for Africa and the world,” this year’s event “reflects the growing demand for African stories, innovative business models and stronger industry infrastructure,” according to Joburg Film Festival executive director Timothy Mangwedi.

The highlight is the JBX Talks program, which gathers industry professionals from across the continent and the globe for a series of talks, workshops, panel discussions and masterclasses curated with an eye toward “equip[ping] professionals with the tools needed to navigate a rapidly evolving media landscape,” says Mangwedi.

This year’s event centers on six key themes. Firstly, it will look at ways to expand African storytelling on global platforms by examining how creators can position their content for mainstream and niche markets.