Realness Institute

🟢Workshop 2 of The Creative Producer Indaba has come to a close 🎬✨ We began with Workshop 1 online, creating space for connection and collaboration. From there, we gathered in person in Johannesburg, South Africa, for Workshop 2—where conversations deepened, ideas were tested, and creative visions grew stronger. Next, the journey continues at the Indian Ocean International Film Festival (@fifoi.officiel ) in April 2026, offering this year’s cohort a meaningful platform to expand their knowledge, strengthen their networks, and engage with the wider film community. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible programme partners. Your unwavering support has been instrumental in empowering 15 visionary producers to sharpen their leadership skills, strengthen their entrepreneurial mindset, and elevate their creative craft. 🫂EAVE (@eave_producers ), the Indian Ocean International Film Festival (@fifoi.officiel ) and Maison du Cinéma et des Jeux Vidéo, with the financial support of Region Réunion (@region_reunion ), Austrian Film Institute (@filminstitut ), Canada Media Fund (@cmf.fmc ), FOCAL (@focal_film_training ), French National Centre of Cinema (CNC)(@le_cnc ), Institut français (@if_officiel ), Projeto Paradiso (@projetoparadiso ), Telefilm (@telefilm_canada )

📣Realness Institute welcomes new Board Members We’re proud to announce the appointment of a dynamic Board, bringing together visionaries committed to shaping the future of African storytelling. Joining the Realness Institute Board are: - Dillion Phiri 🇿🇦 (@dillionsphiri )- a filmmaker, founder, and creative entrepreneur known for building platforms and networks like Creative Nestlings that boasts over 100K+ creatives and aims to unlock the power of creative tech to power Africa’s transformation. - Enyinnaya Omeruah 🇳🇬(@enyiomeruah ) - a talent manager and film financier who has extensive experience in Film, production, and distribution. - Moussa Sene Absa 🇸🇳 (@moussa.absa ) - a painter, writer, musician, and award-winning film director whose works have been celebrated at Carthage, FESPACO, and Berlinale, and whose paintings have been exhibited in Europe and North America - Thabiso Molefe 🇿🇦(@mamolefe ) - a media and communications professional with experience in television, public sector strategic communication, and political stakeholder engagement across the SADC region. To read the ScreenDaily Exclusive, click the link in out bio #realnessinstitute #producing #screenwriting #africanstorytelling

📣Realness Institute appoints Alumni Advisory Council We’re proud to introduce our newly appointed Alumni Advisory Council — a powerful extension of our community made up of alumni who have helped shape our story. Their insight, leadership and lived experience will help strengthen connections, deepen impact, and ensure our community continues to grow, collaborate and lead African storytelling forward. 🌍✨ - Berry Hahn 🇲🇬 (@berbenyvoay ) - Sales agent and independent consultant - Godisamang Khunou 🇿🇦 (@g_khunou )- Filmmaker and producer - Kudi Maradzika 🇿🇼(@hey_kudisco ) - Screenwriter, director and producer, who was recently named to Forbes Africa Over 30 Under 50 list. - Omotunde Akiode 🇳🇬 (@omotundeakiode )- Screenwriter with extensive experience working on live action shows. - Lara Sousa 🇲🇿 (@alaradesousa ) - Director, artist, and founder of Kulunga Filmes. - Maéva Ranaïvojaona 🇲🇬(@maeva.h.r ) - Filmmaker and producer trained in fine arts, working across documentary and fiction. - Mimi Bartels 🇳🇬(@miseducationofmimi ) - Filmmaker and producer with extensive experience in production and film financing. - Tapiwa Chipfupa 🇿🇼(@tapiwachipfupa )- Director, producer and writer - Tshenolo Mabale 🇿🇦(@tshenolomabale ) - Story development executive and producer To read the ScreenDaily Exclusive, click the link in out bio #realnessinstitute #realnessinstitutealumni #producing #screenwriting #africanstorytelling

🚨Calling all West-African Screenwriter-producer duos with bold international TV series concepts 🌟 Applications are now open for the very first edition of Serial Bridges Accra — a mentorship and training programme supporting emerging TV creators from Ghana and across West Africa. This programme is lead by @thewritersroomgh and AuthenticA alumni Jessica Hagan (@thejesshagan ) Six duos will be selected to spend a week in Accra developing their series projects, with one winning duo earning the opportunity to attend Series Mania in Lille, France in 2027. This initiative is an important step in creating greater access, visibility, and international opportunities for West African TV creators, while continuing to strengthen African representation within the global television industry. This initiative is in partnership with The Wrtiers Room Ghana (@thewritersroomgh ), Series Mania Institute (@seriesmaniainstitute ), The French Embassy in Ghana (@franceghana ) and Institut Fraçais (@if_officiel ) Link to apply is in @thewritersroomgh bio! Application close on the 29th of May 2026. #thewritersroomghana #creationafricaghana #serialbridges

Alumni Breakfast in Cannes🍳🍓🥐 For all our alumni who will be in Cannes attending the Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes, we would love to engage and connect with you. We’re hosting a Rlns Alumni Breakfast and would love if you could join!!✨ 🗓️: Sunday, 17 May 2026 ⏰: 09h00 - 11h00 📍: Will be shared via a calendar invite. 🔗: Click the link in our bio to RSVP See you there!🤩 #realnessinstitute #realnessinstitutealumni #screenwriting #producing #filmmaker

Realness Institute will be in Cannes! 🎬✨ We’re heading to the Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes and would love to connect with filmmakers, partners, and collaborators from around the world. If you’d like to meet with us, set up a conversation, or learn more about what we’re working on, please reach out via email to schedule a time. 📧 [email protected]
📍 Meeting location details will be shared upon confirmation #realnessinstitute #marchedufilm #screenwriting #producing #filmmakers

🎬Africa Forward Summit 2026 CCI – Structuring Cultural & Creative Industries as a Digital Economic Driver Realness Institute will be participating in a transformative panel discussion shaping the future of Africa’s audiovisual sector, at Africa Forward | Inspire & Connect. Panelists include: • Samantha Biffot – Director • Jérémie Kessler – CNC, Director of European and International Affairs • Abderrahmane Sissako – Director • Mehret Mandefro – Co-Founder & Managing Director 📅 May 11, 2026 ⏰ 2:15 PM – 2:45 PM EAT 📍 Agora Innovate As cultural and creative industries continue to rise as a key driver of youth employment, economic growth, and cultural influence, the conversation will explore how Africa can move from fragmented efforts to fully structured audiovisual ecosystems. With increasing global demand for African content, the focus is now on strengthening value chains, expanding access to financing, and building sustainable systems that connect creation, production, distribution, and training. Be part of the dialogue driving Africa’s creative economy forward. #realnessinstitute #africaforwardsummit #producing #screenwriting #filmmakers

Season 4 of AuthenticA our podcast in collaboration with @storyboard.collective about African screenwriters is here 🎙️✨ In this first episode, we sit down with award-winning Kenyan scriptwriter and author Mona Ombogo—the creative force behind Volume, Salem, Shanga, and more. From global recognition to shaping stories that travel across cultures, Mona shares her journey, her craft, and the realities of building a career in film and television. This is one for storytellers, dreamers, and anyone curious about what it takes to create work that lasts. 🎧 Listen now (link in bio) #podcast #storytelling #filmmaking #africancreatives #newepisode

📣Congratulations to Rlns Alumn Nantenaina Lova (@nantenaina_lova ) on the international premiere of his film Dear Ancestor (Cher Ancêtre) at the 57th edition of Visions du Réel (@visionsdureel ) Dear Ancestor (Cher Ancêtre)  2067. A mother tells her daughter about her ancestor’s struggle against a large-scale rare earth mining project in Madagascar, and the resistance of the people in the north of the Great Red Island, faced with the systematic plundering of natural resources in the name of the economic interests of the globalised North. Combining the fairytale tradition with direct cinema, Nantenaina Lova addresses the fighters of the present from the future. A huge congratulations to @nantenaina_lova @endemikafilms and the cast and crew of Dear Ancestor (Cher Ancêtre) 🫶🏽 🟢Nantenaina Lova participated in the 5th Edition of Creative Producer Indaba.  #realnessinstitute #alumnispotlight #visiondureel

🟢Creative Prouder Indaba - Workshop 3 is in full swing🤩🎬! We’re thrilled to be in Réunion! The workshop is taking place during the Indian Ocean International Film Festival (@fifoi.officiel ), featuring engaging plenary sessions and collaborative group work where participants unpack real-world case studies and connect directly with our mentors and guest experts. We’re joined by these incredible experts in Réunion: • Alicia Petrusa - Senior Relationships Manager for Media & Entertainment at RBC • Hédi Zardi - Head of Atlas Workshops • Mathias Noschis - Film marketing strategist and founder of Alphapanda, a Film Marketing Agency. 💚A heartfelt thank you to our incredible programme partners: the Indian Ocean International Film Festival (@fifoi.officiel ) and Maison du Cinéma et des Jeux Vidéo, with the financial support of Region Réunion (@region_reunion ). Your commitment is instrumental in fostering talent and strengthening the industry. 🫂 EAVE (@eave_producers ), Austrian Film Institute (@filminstitut ), Canada Media Fund (@cmf.fmc ), FOCAL (@focal_film_training ), French National Centre of Cinema (CNC) (@le_cnc ), Institut français (@if_officiel ), Projeto Paradiso (@projetoparadiso ), Telefilm (@telefilm_canada )

Three years ago this was a conversation. Today it’s real. @realnessinstitute Creative Producer Indaba x @fifoi.officiel International Festival of the Indian Ocean region x Madison du Cinema et Des Jeux Video collab is live 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. Partnerships like this don’t happen fast. They happen because people keep showing up. Thank you to everyone who stayed in it. . . #fifoi #realnessinstitute #africanfilmmakers #indianoceanregion #creativepartnerships

🔵The AuthenticA Series Lab cohort attended and pitched this past week at the @seriesmaniaforum , after months of hard work, development, and collaboration🤩. Congratulations to each of them for the work it took to get there🫶🏽 @jolade @monwon82 @gamelapalayine @reemm_director 🫂Thank you to the Storyboard Collective (@storyboard.collective ) for your partnership, and to the Canada Media Fund (@cmf.fmc ) and the Series Mania Forum (@seriesmaniaforum ) for your continued support of the AuthenticA Series Lab. The AuthenticA Series lab creates the space, time, and support needed for creatives to develop their ideas, refine their craft, and step into an international industry with intention. This kind of investment in storytellers is what helps shape a more diverse and dynamic future for the industry🎬☄️ #realnessinstitute #storyboardcollective #cmf #seriesmaniforum #authenticaserieslab