France to feature as Destination Focus at FAME Week Africa

The French delegation will comprise professionals from mainland France, Réunion Island and initiatives supported through the Création Africa programme, which is now in its second edition. The programme supports entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industries through mentorship, business incubation and investment.

According to the organisers, the French participation aims to strengthen professional exchanges and foster new partnerships between French and African creatives through a programme of music showcases, screenings, panel discussions, business meetings and fashion presentations.

The French Institute, the cultural arm of the Embassy of France in South Africa, said it has supported more than 70 projects annually over the past three decades across literature, music, fashion, visual and performing arts, film, animation and gaming. Its initiatives include Création Africa, the Fête de la Musique and the Absa L'Atelier Gerard Sekoto Award.

France’s participation also coincides with growing international interest in Africa's creative industries. The organisers said the programme seeks to promote long-term cooperation through co-creation, skills exchange and professional mobility.

Among the frameworks supporting collaboration between the two countries is the Franco–South African Cinematographic and Audio-visual Co-Production Agreement, which facilitates joint film and television productions while encouraging professional exchanges between the French and South African audio-visual industries.

One example cited by the organisers is Spinners, a series co-produced by France’s Empreinte Digitale, Natives at Large and CANAL+, together with South African streaming platform Showmax. The production became the first African series to be selected for the official competition at Canneseries.

FAME Week Africa will bring together creators, entrepreneurs, cultural institutions and industry professionals from across Africa and international markets to explore opportunities for collaboration and business development in the creative sector.