SMPTE to host South African events

In a bid to expand its presence in Africa, SMPTE is hosting a series of industry events in South Africa this month. These include the organisation’s first Young Innovators Event outside the UK, held as part of the Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival in Johannesburg, and an AI-focused session at the Durban FilmMart.

“There’s tremendous talent, creativity and innovation coming out of South Africa, and we’re excited to strengthen SMPTE’s connections with this growing community,” commented Sally-Ann D’Amato, executive director of SMPTE. “For us, this is about building relationships, opening doors and making sure the next generation of industry talent has access to the knowledge, resources and global network that SMPTE offers.”

Taking place on 15 October, SMPTE will hold a Young Innovators panel and mixer at the Tshimologong Precinct in Johannesburg as part of the Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival. The panel, Career Pathways in Film, Television & Broadcast in the AI Era, will feature students working to establish a SMPTE Student Chapter in South Africa. The discussion will explore emerging career opportunities, the impact of AI on the industry and the skills and connections needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving media technology landscape.

“A South Africa Student chapter is significant because it opens members up to a global community of engineers, creatives and industry leaders, and to the standards that keep our industry connected,” said Tami Kusvabadika, co-chair of the SMPTE South Africa initiative. “This chapter will make sure our student members are equipped and stay up to date, whether they’re working in a control room, an edit suite or a classroom.”

On 12 October, there will be an AI white paper brainstorming session at Durban FilmMart, bringing together industry participants to explore emerging technologies and their implications for media production. During the Fak’ugesi Festival, SMPTE will share an exhibition stand with Magic Lightbox, where attendees can learn more about SMPTE’s standards, education, membership and global professional community.

“October is a month of firsts for us,” commented Sondia Viljoen, co-chair of the SMPTE South Africa initiative. “The beginning of new relationships, new possibilities and new pathways towards greater collaboration, industry development and cohesion across the continent and the globe.”

SMPTE added that the events aim to grow engagement in the region’s film, television and broadcast community, creating new opportunities for participation in its global programmes and laying the groundwork for a strong local presence.