Africa’s Realness Institute appoints new board, advisory council

EXCLUSIVE: Realness Institute, the organisation supporting the growth of African independent screen creatives, has appointed a new board of directors and alumni advisory council.

The new Realness Institute board is: South African filmmaker Dillion Phiri; Nigerian talent manager and financier Enyinnaya Omeruah; Senegalese artist and filmmaker Moussa Sene Absa; and South Africa communications professional Thabiso Molefe.

Scroll down for the full board & advisory council

The board will offer its collective expertise towards Realness’s strategic direction, aiming to keep it grounded in the lived realities of African screen talent.

Realness has also founded a new Alumni Advisory Council to offer guidance on its programmes, and to develop an alumni network. The council consists of nine former Realness programme participants working across the African industry.

“This is a defining moment for Realness Institute,” said Mehret Mandefro, managing director of Realness Institute. “We’ve spent the past five years establishing a successful model of skills development for screenwriters and producers, and now with the right governance in place, we can scale it and make sure more African storytellers have the foundation they need to build lasting careers in the industry.”

Last summer script consultant Selina Ukwuoma joined as director of writing programs at Realness; with producer Diana Elbaum joining as director of growth and international collaborations.

Cape Town-based Realness ran its first training programme in 2015, since when it has established programmes including the Creative Producer Indaba, a fellowship for producers focused on sustainability and co-financing; and the AuthenticA Series Lab, supporting episodic development, in partnership with StoryBoard Collective and Series Mania. More than 200 industry professionals have now come through Realness programmes.

Realness Institute board, advisory council

Board

Dillion Phiri (S Afr) – filmmaker, entrepreneur

Enyinnaya Omeruah (Nigeria) – talent manager, financier

Moussa Sene Absa (Sen) – artist, filmmaker

Thabiso Molefe (S Afr) – communications professional

Alumni Advisory Council

Berry Hahn (Mad-Fr) - sales agent, consultant

Godisamang Khunou (S Afr) – filmmaker, producer

Kudi Maradzika (Zim-S Afr) – filmmaker, producer

Omotunde Akiode (Nigeria) – screenwriter

Lara Sousa (Moz) – director, artist

Maeva Ranaivojaona (Mad-Fr) - filmmaker, producer

Mimi Bartels (Nigeria) – filmmaker, producer

Tapiwa Chipfupa (Zim) – filmmaker, producer

Tshenolo Mabale (S Afr) – development executive, producer

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