The IPO represents, protects and promotes the interests of independent South African film, television and digital media producers and, in turn, all who work in and are suppliers to the industry value chain.

NEWS 

Showmax announces four new originals

ipoadmin

MultiChoice in a statement to the media on Tuesday announced that it would be releasing four new original shows on its streaming platform Showmax. MultiChoice in a statement to the media on Tuesday announced that it would be releasing four new original shows on its streaming platform Showmax. This comes after the success of its previous originals including Tali’s Wedding Diary, The Girl From St Agnes, and Somizi & Mohale: The Union. 

“We’ve deliberately ramped up emphasis on local content,” says Candice Fangueiro, Showmax’s head of content.  “If you look at something like the first view metric, which asks what’s the first show someone watches after signing up for Showmax under the assumption this is probably what convinced them to join, three out of the top five first view pieces of content are now local.”

Life with Kelly Khumalo 

The first new Showmax Original will be Life with Kelly Khumalo. The reality show about one of South Africa’s biggest music stars will launch on 6 August 2020. Kelly will allow South African audiences into her life, with Life with Kelly Khumalo, which is being produced by BarLeader, the company behind Being Bonang, Somizi & Mohale: The Union, and 2020’s other breakout reality series, Kwa Mam’Mkhize. 

Tali’s Baby Diary 

Coming in 2021 will be the long-awaited second season of Tali’s Wedding Diary aptly titled Tali’s Baby Diary. Produced by Sketchbook Studios the second season sees an unexpected pregnancy force Tali (Julia Anastasopoulos) into a desperate pivot from Insta-influencer to ‘wholesome’ momfluencer, as Darren (Anton Taylor) and Rael (Comics’ Choice nominee Glen Biderman-Pam) navigate the choppy waters of the Cape Town property game.

Skemerdans 

Also coming in 2021 is the murder-mystery Skemerdans, a Cape Flats neo-noir set at The Oasis, a jazz club and after-dark entertainment venue that becomes the centre of a power struggle between two brothers, a scorned widow and an organised crime syndicate. 2019 Standard Bank Young Artist Amy Jephta (writer: Trackers, Die Ellen Pakkies Storie) serves as executive producer and showrunner on this new 13-part series, co-directing alongside Ephraim Gordon (Sara Se Geheim, Suidooster). 

Dam 

The fourth Showmax Original that will be available in 2021 is simply titled Dam. It tells the story of a prodigal daughter who returns home to the Eastern Cape to bury her father, only to be tormented by spirits in the house: but are they real or in her head? Dam is being written and directed by two-time South African Film and Television Award winner Alex Yazbek (The Wild, Isibaya, Gaz’lam), with Picture Tree (Vehicle 19) producing. 

Source: News24