by Thinus Ferreira
MultiChoice's sudden addition of international short films from the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival to the line-up in August at 2026's 14th kykNET Silwerskermfees film festival in Cape Town was just the harbinger of a major French influx of influence and integration this year at the 2026 MIP Africa and Fame Week.
The massive French presence is unmistakable and unsubtle - the corporate outflow of France's Canal+ that has taken full ownership of Africa's MultiChoice.
With MultiChoice as MIP Africa's highest-tier sponsor - Super Sponsor - and its pavilion taking up the largest physical footprint this year inside the Cape Town Convention Centre (CTICC) 2, a dramatic French presence looms over this year's annual TV and film trade market.
With France taking the spotlight as the official "Destination Focus" for MIP Africa and Fame Week, a massive French delegation of over 25 audiovisual professionals, buyers and distributors are making their impact felt throughout the week.
Led by diplomatic and cultural heads, the French presence focused heavily on trying to establish co-production deals and relationships, content distribution and creative partnerships with African storytellers.
Since MultiChoice is now a Canal+ company - and the biggest sponsor of MIP Africa and Fame Week - the momentum of this new French corporate ownership is also the force behind the trade fair's strategic partnership with the French embassy in South Africa and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), culminating in a massive, highly visible French presence.
The French influence at the 2026 MIP Africa and Fame Week literally took centre stage.
Sophie Bel, the consul-general of the French consulate in Cape Town, officially cut the ribbon to launch the massive French pavilion while Jean Spiri, IFAS director, was heavily involved in orchestrating the Création Africa programme.
For Création Africa, the French network brought 15 curated "Création Africa" cultural businesses to fast-track their growth and connect with regional partners.
The TV5Monde executive team, including senior executives from the global French network, served as a prominent bronze sponsor, further pushing major investments into connecting French-speaking communities with Africa.
Jacques Barreau, vice president of TransPerfect Media, was a featured panellist on global storytelling, while several other Canal+ and French execs were included across panel sessions to share their insights.
Besides its expansive and dedicated French pavilion on the trade show floor, France flew in its massive delegation not just from mainland France, but also from regional territories like Réunion Island and Mayotte.
Meanwhile, IFAS organised dedicated speed-networking sessions specifically to pair African filmmakers with French financiers and producers.
This year's 2026 MIP Africa and Fame Week kicked off with a major cultural splash at Cape Town's historic Labia Theatre.
"French night" featured the African premiere of the French cinematic adaptation Le Fantôme de l'Opéra (The Phantom of the Opera), paired with a live musical performance by MAFAT808 from Réunion Island.
The opening night of the Fame Shorts Film Festival was also handed over to highlight work and storytelling from Réunion and Mayotte.
While the "Destination focus" partnership was officially brokered at a diplomatic level through the French Embassy and IFAS, it is no coincidence that it aligns with Canal+ completing its multi-billion-dollar acquisition of MultiChoice.
The corporate synergy was on full display, with MultiChoice serving as the official "Super Sponsor", while Canal+, MultiChoice and its French distribution powerhouse StudioCanal held various panel sessions throughout the week to outline and explain their newly forged, unified Pan-African commissioning ecosystem.
The official diplomatic focus gave France the stage at 2026 MIP Africa, but the Canal+ takeover of MultiChoice provided the financial and structural motivation for French buyers, creators, and distributors to arrive in Cape Town in record numbers this year.
After attending and having their own pavilions in previous years, interestingly, Primedia Broadcasting and its Primedia Studios, as well as eMedia's e.tv broadcaster were completely absent on the trade floor this year at 2026 MIP Africa.
