Global power players, buyers, makers and film and TV executives have assembled in Cape Town for FAME Week Africa, the continent’s biggest entertainment industry trade event and an engine room for creative economic development in Africa.
Opening the event for the Host City of Cape Town, a key partner of FAME Week Africa, Mayoral Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, noted that film was a major economic driver in Cape Town. Speaking from the floor at the CTICC, Smith said Cape Town offered a unique backdrop for movies and television. He welcomed attendees who would be gathering over the week ahead, as well as FAME Week Africa’s featured destination, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Smith also noted that Cape Town’s Film Fund had already assisted seven productions, with a second call for applications in May yielding a number of entries now under consideration. Another call will go out in April 2026.
Bringing together decision-makers from across the world including representatives from Nigeria, the UK, China, Turkey, Brazil, Germany and more, the spotlight this morning was on Atlanta, USA, the Featured Destination for FAME Week 2025. Now producing more film and television than Hollywood, Atlanta is where major productions like Black Panther and The Walking Dead have been made. The city brings a track record of leveraging significant success from the creative and nighttime economy.
Alderman JP Smith was joined by Nomsa Philiso, CEO: General Entertainment at the Multichoice Group and Lerato Legodi, Strategic Relationship Manager: Government at Brand South Africa; Martin Hiller, Portfolio Director of FAME Week Africa and the Mayor of the City of Atlanta, Andre Dickens. Dickens said that Atlanta had come to build collaborative relations across Africa; “Good things happen when creative communities get together. In Atlanta, the worlds of film, fashion and technology thrive together and we are always looking for opportunities to collaborate and create.” The 62 person delegation from Atlanta includes people from fashion, music, film and television as well as local government and business leaders.
Martin Hiller, Portfolio Director for FAME Week Africa, emphasised that the event is a platform designed to unlock real business opportunities across the continent. “The African creative economy has the potential to grow exponentially. What we are building here at FAME Week Africa is not just a meeting point for industry leaders, but a marketplace of ideas, deals and collaborations. FAME Week Africa is where global players connect with Africa’s extraordinary talent, shaping the future of entertainment on the continent and beyond.”
Alongside the industry-focused sessions, FAME Week Africa also invites the public to experience the energy and creativity of the sector. Highlights include Tastes and Threads (3 September at Spyced Restaurant), a celebration of African food and fashion, and the FAME Shorts Film Festival (4-6 September at The Labia Cinema), showcasing fresh and original voices from across the continent. These events ensure that the week is not only a space for deal-making, but also for audiences to share in Africa’s cultural dynamism.