A group of Ugandan filmmakers, creatives, and film ecosystem players will attend the iKON Activate Creative Exchange in Johannesburg, South Africa, from October 14 to 19. The event is a series of pan-African creative exchange programs designed to foster dialogue, networking, and co-production opportunities. The Johannesburg event will be hosted by acclaimed South African actor, producer, and creative entrepreneur Thapelo Mokoena.
The iKON Activate program celebrates the rich cultural ties between Uganda and South Africa while acknowledging South Africa's leadership in the continent's film landscape. The event will feature an African Film Forum at MultiChoice City, themed "Africa Is Our Studio: From Collaboration to Commerce." The forum will include a keynote address from the Head of Content Strategy at MultiChoice Group.
The African Film Forum will feature a panel session with several industry experts, including Mathew Nabwiso, a Ugandan actor, producer, and director, and Thapelo Mokoena, a South African actor, producer, and creative entrepreneur. Other panelists include Mayenzeke Baza, Nwabisa Binase, Driki van Zyl, and Ernest Nkosi. The forum will provide a platform for attendees to discuss collaboration and commerce in the African film industry.
Following the forum, attendees will participate in the iKON Filmmakers' Soiree, a social evening for filmmakers, creatives, and ecosystem players to network and celebrate. Additional activities will include a tour of MultiChoice City, sightseeing around Johannesburg, and visits to active film sets, allowing guests to interact with and learn from South African filmmakers.
The iKON Awards, an initiative of Reach A Hand Africa and Sauti Plus, will host its fourth edition in Kampala on December 12, 2026, under the theme "Beyond Borders." The awards aim to celebrate innovation and excellence in Uganda's film and television industry, with a view to spotlighting exceptional talent from across Africa and strengthening African cinema through cross-border collaboration.
Humphrey Nabimanya, Founder and CEO of Reach A Hand Africa and the iKON Awards, expressed excitement about bringing the iKON Activate to Johannesburg, citing the rich history and experience that South Africa has in the film ecosystem. The program's core mission is to promote the film ecosystem as a sustainable career path for African youth.
The iKON Activate program has made significant progress in promoting the film ecosystem, having awarded 75 winners and trained 75 young filmmakers over the past three editions. These filmmakers have gone on to produce 22 short films and 4 feature films. Thapelo Mokoena noted that the energy of Uganda's film industry is strong and that South Africans want to help Uganda's creative sector grow into a regional and continental film powerhouse.
Key points
- The iKON Activate Creative Exchange aims to foster dialogue, networking, and co-production opportunities among African filmmakers and creatives.
- The event will feature an African Film Forum and a social evening for filmmakers to network and celebrate.
- The iKON Awards will host its fourth edition in Kampala on December 12, 2026, under the theme "Beyond Borders."
