Digital Lab Africa has selected 30 finalists across five media categories for its 2018 pitch competition for emerging talent. The selection committee reviewed 730 entries from more than 30 Sub-Saharan African countries (200 more than last year). Finalists include startups, entrepreneurs and up-and-coming creatives from South Africa, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, who represent the new generation of talent in VR, web creation, digital music, video games and animation.
From April 26, video pitches for the competitors will be available to view on vote.digilabafrica.com, a dedicated platform developed by Quant and presented in partnership with Dailymotion Africa. Internet users can anonymously vote for their favorite pitch until May 9.
The DLA Selection Committee will announce their 10 winners at NEXT, the innovation hub of the Cannes festival market, on May 10 at 4 p.m. The project with the most online votes will receive a special Audience Award, including an invitation (for one person) to attend a DLA Industry Event in France or Sub-Saharan Africa, including flight, accomodation and accreditation.
Additionally, the winner of the first edition of DLA, VR project Un-Human by Shariffa Ali and Yetunde Dada, will be introduced by its producer, Antoine Cayrol of Atlas V.
All 10 winners will receive a 3,000 euro cash prize and a tailored-made incubation program to accelerate their project development with two mentors from the French and Sub-Saharan creative industries (producers, distributors, broadcasters, experts, artists, etc.), a residence period in France within a digital cluster/hub, and participation in industry events in France and/or in Sub-Saharan African.
2018 DLA finalists listed below; more information available online.
ANIMATION
Dimbit by Feben Elias (ETHIOPIA)
Nwavu, the Blind Man by João Graça (MOZAMBIQUE)
Tales of Shaa by Rodney Masanga (ZIMBABWE)
The Brats Movie by Nildo Hassane Essa (MOZAMBIQUE)
Rapulani and Rapunzel by Yolanda Keabetswe Mogatusi (SOUTH AFRICA)
Issa et l’arbre perdu by Arthur Ella (CAMEROON)
VIRTUAL REALITY
Last Night A Haircut Saved My Life by Roxanne Dalton (SOUTH AFRICA)
II Worlds by Arnaud van Vliet & Naomi van Niekerk (SOUTH AFRICA)
Re-Inventing The Cross by Awuor Onyango (KENYA)
Cause and Effect by Francis Kamibili-Mzembe & Rodney Jonathan Likaku (MALAWI)
Street Hoopz by Amaebi Pere-Albert (NIGERIA)
Lucy Tour Guide by Abel Adane Seyoum (ETHIOPIA)
WEB CREATION
Man Must Chop by Razahk Issaka (GHANA)
Future Lab Africa by Jepchumba & Tegan Bristow (KENYA)
African God by Taf Hove (SOUTH AFRICA/ZIMBABWE)
The Spams by Howard James Fyvie (SOUTH AFRICA)
The Foxy Five by Jabulile Nadia Newman (SOUTH AFRICA)
Mission K-danse by Marina Niava (IVORY COAST)
DIGITAL MUSIC
Request Africa by Ali Dennis (KENYA)
Mbira Online by Tafadzwa Sharaunga (ZIMBABWE)
JokkoText by Mamadou Dione (SENEGAL)
Digital DJ by Chukwudi Obila (NIGERIA)
m-MuZiik by Patrick Mveng (CAMEROON)
The Rotoscope Orchestra by Magalela Mtshali (SOUTH AFRICA)
VIDEO GAME
Shadow Tongue by Alex Robert Ynclan & Thuso Terence Sibisi (SOUTH AFRICA)
Drive Jozi by Ben Myres & Cukia Kimani (SOUTH AFRICA)
Project Lumpa by Mwaaba Alec Mugala (ZAMBIA)
The Orchard by David Kamunyu (KENYA)
Jilinde Game by Musafiri Mbilinyi (SOUTH AFRICA)
Rigobert’s Goat by Patrick Nguiamba Nloutsiri (CAMEROON)
