Mpumalanga International Film Festival

Home » Industry Programme

Film Industry Summit — MIFF Mpumalanga

Funding, co-production, technology, distribution, markets and career-building for African and international filmmakers — the working heart of the Mpumalanga International Film Festival.

What the summit covers

Film funding

South African and international funding pathways — NFVF, NYDA, SEDA, NEF, DFA and private capital.

International co-production

Treaties, partnerships and how to structure cross-border productions.

African film markets

Market access, distribution and streaming for African content.

Filmmaking technology

Cameras, lighting, wireless workflows, LED cinema, AI and data management.

Wildlife content

Conservation storytelling and the global wildlife content market.

Vertical filmmaking

Mobile-first storytelling and the business of vertical content.

Government support

Provincial and national programmes supporting film businesses.

Filming in Mpumalanga

Locations, permits and the provincial production ecosystem.

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES

Why the Industry Programme Exists

  • Position MIFF 2026 as Mpumalanga's Film Industry Summit — the premier gathering of film, technology, government and investment in the province
  • Connect SA filmmakers with global markets, streaming platforms, international co-production partners and distribution networks
  • Introduce cutting-edge film technology — AI, LED, PTZ, wireless, automation — and make it accessible to emerging and established filmmakers
  • Unlock government and private-sector funding for film businesses in Mpumalanga — NFVF, NYDA, SEDA, NEF, DFA, DEDET and beyond
  • Establish Mpumalanga as Africa's premier wildlife filmmaking destination through KNP, MTPA and conservation storytelling partnerships
  • Create measurable business outcomes: co-productions signed, investments made, skills transferred, careers launched
WEEK SCHEDULE

Masterclasses, Keynotes & Panels

All industry sessions run at Southern Sun Hotel Riverside from 12:30, following the morning cinema programme at Ster-Kinekor.
MONDAY 3 AUG

American Film Showcase — Building Global Film Careers

  • 13:00–14:00 · Keynote: Quan Phung — The Future of Global Storytelling
  • 14:00–15:00 · Masterclass: How International Studios Buy Projects
  • 15:30–16:30 · Workshop: Television Series Development & Showrunner Skills
  • 16:30–17:00 · Open Q&A + Resource Sharing
  • 18:00–20:00 · ★ Private Networking Reception — US Embassy Partnership (invitation only)
TUESDAY 4 AUG

Finance · Co-Production · Funding — Follow the Money

  • 13:00–14:00 · NFVF: Funding Opportunities for SA Filmmakers
  • 14:00–15:00 · International Co-Production: Treaties, Partnerships & How They Work
  • 15:00–15:30 · Film Publication Board: Classification in the Digital Age
  • 15:30–16:30 · DCSR: Growing Mpumalanga's Creative Economy
  • 16:30–17:00 · Open Industry Discussion: What Does the Film Industry Need Most?
  • 18:00–20:00 · ★ Government & Industry Investment Roundtable (invitation only)
WEDNESDAY 5 AUG

Digital Filmmaking & Technology — Make Amazing Work with Technology

  • 13:00–14:20 · Rocket Science (Siya Mpanza): Film Data Management, Archives & Digital Storage
  • 14:30–15:20 · Mr B: Vertical Films Workshop — Mobile-First Storytelling
  • 15:30–16:20 · Godox SA (Damien Bradshaw): Lighting Masterclass — Professional Light for Every Budget
  • 16:30–17:00 · Practical Demo + Q&A: Data · Vertical · Lighting
  • 18:00–20:00 · ★ Technology Business Networking (invitation only)
THURSDAY 6 AUG

Wildlife Filmmaking & Cinema Tech — Africa's Natural Advantage

  • 13:00–14:20 · Panasonic (Shintaro Umekage): Wildlife Camera Technology & Cinema Systems
  • 14:30–15:20 · Nology & ABSEN (Zoey): LED Cinema Technology — The Future of Outdoor Screening
  • 15:30–16:20 · MTPA & SANParks Panel: Wildlife Storytelling — Filming in Protected Areas
  • 16:30–17:00 · Panel: The Future of Wildlife Filmmaking in Africa
  • 18:00–20:00 · ★ Conservation Investment Networking (invitation only)
FRIDAY 7 AUG

Building the Film Business — Invest. Grow. Scale.

  • 13:00–14:00 · Sony + Visual Impact (Marius van Straaten): Understanding Film Equipment Investment
  • 14:00–15:00 · Hollyland (Danny Yang): Wireless Production Systems — The Modern Workflow
  • 15:00–16:00 · Axel Technology (Enrico Vaccari): Automation, Digital TV & Online Broadcasting
  • 16:00–17:00 · Government Support Panel: NYDA · SEDA · NEF · DFA + Private Investors
  • 18:00–20:00 · ★ Film Business Investment Forum (strictly by invitation)
SATURDAY 8 AUG

WildMarket Africa @ Kruger National Park

  • 09:00–11:00 · WildM Game Drive with wildlife filming mentors
  • 11:00–12:00 · Wildlife Storytelling Forum
  • 13:00–13:45 · Canon: Wildlife Photography & Long Lens Production
  • 13:45–14:30 · Media Valley: The Future of Wildlife Content
  • 14:30–15:00 · FAME Week Africa: International Markets & Positioning
  • 15:00–16:30 · Government Showcase Panel: DCSR · DEDET · NYDA · MTPA · DFA
  • 17:00–18:00 · Location Marketing: Why Mpumalanga?
  • 18:00–20:00 · ★ Wildlife Film Screening + Networking Around the Fire
18:00–20:00 DAILY · BY INVITATION ONLY

Private Networking & Investment Sessions

The highest-value part of the MIFF 2026 Industry Programme — limited attendance, designed for real business outcomes: investment deals, co-production agreements, equipment partnerships and strategic collaborations.

Mon · US Embassy Reception

Building global SA film careers — fellowships, exchanges and US–SA partnerships.

Tue · Investment Roundtable

Connecting capital to creative — structured 1:1 meetings, funding agreements, co-production MOUs.

Wed · Technology Networking

Film tech meets finance — distribution deals, rental businesses, film data centre investment.

Thu · Conservation Investment

Where wildlife meets film capital — LED cinema at KNP, documentary commissioning.

Fri · Investment Forum

Deals are made here — formal 1:1 investor meetings, term sheets and LOIs. The festival’s highest-priority session.

Sat · Under the Stars @ KNP

Networking around the fire at Skukuza — wildlife film pitches and tourism-film investment.
Request an Invitation
TECHNOLOGY AT MIFF 2026

The Tech Shaping Film in 2026

AI in Film

Script analysis, colour grading, autofocus, broadcast automation and archive search — presented by Panasonic, Axel Technology and Rocket Science.

Vertical & Mobile-First

Over 70% of video is watched on phones — monetise TikTok, Reels and Shorts as a professional filmmaker.

Cloud & Remote Production

Cloud editing, remote monitoring, wireless transmission and DCP delivery without hard drives.

LED Volume & Outdoor Cinema

The Mandalorian-style LED production and bright, reliable outdoor screening for the African bush.

Broadcast Automation

One person can now run an online TV channel — automation, AI scheduling and IPTV distribution.

Cameras & Lighting

Sony FX-line, Panasonic PTZ, Canon AI autofocus and the Godox LED lighting revolution.

Join the industry conversation at MIFF 2027.

SUBMIT YOUR FILM
Contact the team →

MIFF 2026 has concluded. MIFF 2027 submissions are now open.

Take your story beyond the screen.
SUBMIT TO MIFF 2027 · FILMFREEWAY
SUBMIT ON FESTHOME
Scroll to Top