Launched on 1 June 2016 at DISCOP AFRICA Abidjan, the Digital Lab Africa call for projects closed with a bang on 31 August with 522 entries from over 30 Sub-Saharan African countries. This overwhelming response confirms Africa’s creative potential in multimedia content, and reinforces Digital Lab Africa as a springboard for African talent in this field.
In terms of numbers, South Africa and Nigeria are leading the pack with respectively 159 and 86 entries, followed by Ivory Coast (49) and Cameroon (48). In terms of categories, web creation and transmedia registered the highest number of entries (225), ahead of digital music (150), video game (82) and virtual reality (59).
The selected projects for each of the categories (3 per category) will be announced on 30 September 2016. From 2 to 4 November, the finalists will take part in a pitch competition at DISCOP AFRICA Johannesburg, partner of the DLA.
The selected projects will get a chance to win a 3,000 € cash prize and a Digital Lab Africa incubation ticket includingmentorship and project development support by leading French multimedia companies (see list of partners below). Additionally, the incubation programme will comprise a 1 month residency in France within digital hubs and participation in benchmark multimedia events. The expected outcome of DLA is market ready content/productions showcasing African creativity at its best.
"We would like to thank all the applicants for submitting their projects. The incredible number and variety of entries we received is a true reflection of Africa’s creativity and potential in multimedia production and digital content", says Frédéric Chambon, DLA Director and Regional Head of Film & Media at the French Embassy in South Africa.
MORE ABOUT DIGITAL LAB AFRICA
The Digital Lab Africa is open to any professional or individual from Sub-Saharan Africa (artists, producers, startups, developers, students) having an innovative project in 4 categories of multimedia production: web creation/transmedia, virtual reality, video game (serious game) and digital music.
The objective of Digital Lab Africa is to provide a springboard for African talent in multimedia creation and to make their project happen with the support of French leading companies (studios, producers, broadcasters, distributors) such as ARTE(Transmedia), Lagardère studios (web creation), Okio-Studio (virtual reality), CCCP (video game), and 1D Touch/Believe Digital(digital music).
The DLA incubation programme also includes the following partners:
Digital hubs, residencies and labs for project incubation: Pictanovo, Cap Digital, Imaginove…
Multimedia benchmark events for project presentation, capacity building, networking and fund raising: Paris Games Week /Game connection, Virtuality, Futur en Seine, Forum Blanc…
Local partners, clusters and professional associations/forums, for local support to the DLA platform and project incubation:Make Games SA/Interactive Entertainment South Africa, Virtual Reality SA, French Tech Hub Cape Town, Tshimologong precinct…
The Digital Lab Africa is initiated by the French Embassy and the French Institute in South Africa as part of their support to the creative industries in the region, in partnership with DISCOP AFRICA and TRACE.