The Box: Onir Speaks Out On Inequality Within Indian LGBTQ+ Cinema
South African Broadcasting Channel
Africa: At the 15th edition of Series Mania in Lille, France, four African screenwriters under the aegis of the AuthenticA Series Lab had the opportunity to pitch their original stories. This year, the pitches included diverse genres of urban fantasy, crime drama, comedy-drama, and political satire. AuthenticA, a training program for African episodic screenwriters, is currently under the support of Series Mania Forum, The French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS). For the first time, a delegation of 12 South African producers and stakeholders participated formally at Series Mania, emphasizing the cinematographic and audiovisual co-production agreement between France and South Africa that came together in 2023.
“This unique agreement is a valuable tool for the industry, and nurtures more valuable partnerships and projects, like AuthenticA, that actively fosters co-productions, uniting French and South African creators, sharing narratives, and driving economic growth and sustainability for both industries,” said David Martinon, ambassador of France to South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi.
The SABC lost almost 3 million viewers on March 4 after shifting the channel and time slots of just three locally-produced programs. Executives chose to push Skeem Saam to a later timeslot on SABC1, thus causing a ripple effect changing two more shows – Deal or No Deal SA and the Afrikaans TV news bulletin – to different channels. As a result, the SABC lost 2.8 million viewers combined and the Afrikaans TV news bulletin shed almost three-quarters (73.6%) of its dedicated audience. The massive drop in viewership does not come at a good time, with the SABC already struggling financially. Ad placement executives predict the SABC will lose millions of rand in potential ad revenue.
MultiChoice hiked DStv decoder prices by a drastic 17% in late February. According to Statistics South Africa, South Africa’s inflation rate currently hovers around 6%, meaning MultiChoice’s increased prices by almost triple the inflation rate. The markup comes at a strategic time – MultiChoice recently entered into a partnership with Comcast and the United Kingdom’s Sky, hoping to mimic Sky’s Sky Glass with a new DStv Glass. The release will mean DStv subscribers no longer need to buy a decoder from MultiChoice but rather a TV set. DStv subscribers now question their need for a valid SABC TV license and new cost of content.
As of March 31, MultiChoice shut down DStv’s 1Magic and ME channels. Another two channels have been lost at the same time as DStv’s price hike and a massive drop in viewership. The loss of 1Magic and ME channels is just the latest in a string of eight TV channels that have been cut on DStv since January 2024. As TV channels continue to wither away, MultiChoice expects its subscribers to pay more for the satellite service. The loss of ME channels hit South African viewers the hardest, as ME offered lower-tiered DStv subscribers a way to watch first-run M-Net content – especially American series.
Despite the recent turmoil with DStv, Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) added a new 13-episode teen drama series, Obstruction, on March 8. Obstruction revolves around a high school netball player who, as a talented black woman, must navigate tumultuous relationships with her parents, peers, and love interests on the road to achieving a spot on the Gauteng provincial netball team. The series stars Luyanda Zuma as 17-year-old Zenokuhle, Bukamina Cebekhulu as Zenokuhle’s mother, and Menzi Biyela as Zenokuhle’s father.
In addition to Obstruction, MultiChoice, and M-Net are in the process of creating a new drama series named Queen Modjadji, dedicated to the legendary rainmaker. In the Balobedu legend, Queen Modjadji’s bloodline ruled Southern Africa’s Lobedu clan for centuries. The historical series aims to tell the story of this matriarchal dynasty while emphasizing South African heritage. Nomsa Philiso, MultiChoice CEO for general entertainment, says Queen Modjadji will encompass the corporation’s plans to create a portfolio of drama series in African languages. The series will be produced by Rhythm World Productions and Duma Ndlovu, and it will be featured on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161).
Nelson Mandela is set to be the subject of a 30-hour scripted TV series named Mandela, financed and produced by Josh Wakely’s Grace: A Storytelling Company. Wakely announced Mandela will be structured similarly to Netflix’s The Crown. The series will center on Mandela’s life when he was sent to prison for 27 years, with the goal to end apartheid in South Africa. The series will begin production in early 2025 and will be available via premium cable and streaming outlets. Wakely will executive produce and write Mandela, along with South African writer and director Kagiso Lediga (“Queen Sono”) and producer Kweku Mandela (who is Nelson Mandela’s grandson).
“My grandfather committed his life and freedom to changing South Africa,” Mandela said. “His life was filled with danger and events that would, and now still, capture the world’s attention.” The series will reflect that urgent tone, not as a period piece, but as a pressing, pertinent and fast-paced drama that feels like it’s happening now.”
Canal+ Group acquired a stake in Senegalese production company Marodi TV, a leading provider of TV series across Africa and a vital part of the continent’s economy. Canal+ now has a stronger hold in French-speaking Africa, with over 4,000 hours of African content and 30 channels. The partnership will allow Marodi TV to grow Africa’s creative industry commercially, says Fabrice Faux, director of channels and content at Canal+ International.
Onir - SUJIT JAISWAL
Asia: Indian director Onir speaks out about LGBTQ+ cinema in India and the restrictions queer filmmakers face in the industry. Onir explained his frustration over the abundance of non-Indian queer films available on streaming platforms, while Indian stories are shown from a “heteronormative gaze.” Onir is one of the few out and proud Indian filmmakers – he made his debut in 2005 with My Brother… Nikhil, one of the few Bollywood films to examine AIDS and same-sex relationships. Onir’s latest film, Pine Cone, is set to hold its U.K. premiere at the BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival. Pine Cone tells the story of gay director, Sid, who represents Onir himself and the struggles he has endured balancing professional success with his identity. Many scenes in Pine Cone are direct references to real events in Onir’s life. In the very first scene, the protagonist mentions an Indian army-related film that was not cleared. This is a reference to Onir’s attempted sequel to 2010 film I Am, titled We Are Fahreem & Karun. We Are was inspired by a love affair between an Indian army man and a Kashmiri local. In 2021, upon production of the sequel, Onir requested clearance from the Ministry of Defence to tell a story about the Indian army. He was denied, as the Defence Ministry spokesperson claimed the film was derogatory towards the army because of the LGBTQ+ subject matter. Onir felt “humiliated and angry” from the rejection and decided to create Pine Cone, a film inspired by his life, as a story of hope.
“I am tired of hearing that the Indian [and] South Asian community is taking baby steps in accepting the queer community and stories. I want this film to push that audience to acknowledge that our lives are not only about their acceptance. There is love, loss, and desire that is very often made invisible,” says Onir.
Feature documentary Marching in the Dark centers on the growing number of farmer suicides in India and the negative impact it has on the agricultural community. International sales agency, Lightbox, acquired the documentary ahead of its world premiere at CPH: DOX in mid-March. The documentary, by Kinshuk Surjan, focuses on a young widow Sanjivani who has two children to care for after the tragic loss of her husband. Marching in the Dark was filmed in Maharashtra, India, which has the highest rate of farmer suicides in India’s agricultural sector. Between 2009 and 2016, over 23,000 farmers in Maharashtra committed suicide. Between 2014 and 2022, there were 30 farmer suicides per day on average. With this documentary, Surjan aims to raise awareness of the impending issue and spark change in the sector.
Paramount Global sold its 13% equity interest in Viacom18 Media to Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries for the equivalent of $517 million. The deal comes at a convenient time, with Paramount Global high in debt and suffering streaming losses. The transaction completes a joint venture involving Reliance, Viacom8, and Star Disney. Disney will license 30,000+ of their content assets in the JV. The arrangement will result in over 750 million viewers across India and will also cater to the global Indian diaspora.
China’s Linmon Pictures is preparing a new premium series, Hate Coin, based on Chan Ho Kei’s international best-selling novel Second Sister. The cybercrime story tells the tale of a young woman who suspects her sister’s alleged suicide requires further investigation. Linmon Pictures hired screenwriter Terry Lam, whose previous credits include Hong Kong’s all-time highest-grossing film A Guilty Conscience. The series will be produced by Jonathan Wong and Justina Shih’s production company Octagon Metatainment.
Quentin Lee pitched his new romantic comedy, Morning, Paris! at Series Mania in mid-March. Lee describes Morning, Paris! as a heartfelt comedy about a young, modern BIPOC Canadian woman who discovers herself on a trip to France during Paris Fashion Week. The mini-series combines themes of East-West Asian identities, romance, comedy, and workplace ambition.
Osaka-based Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation launches ytv animation, a new brand that will elevate Yomiuri TV’s almost 60 years in animation. The announcement came a day ahead of the Anime Japan 2024 convention. The company’s main production for this year, Blue Miburo, is scheduled to premiere Oct. 2024. The series is set to appear at anime events around the world prior to its official release date.
Erik Matti - imdb
Europe: Kevin Macdonald, Erik Matti, and Barbara Albert were this year’s winners at the second edition of Seriesmakers. Scotland’s Kevin Macdonald won for his U.K./Durch series, George Blake, which tells the story of a double agent in British history, touching on topics of a working-class community and resistance. Manila-based Erik Matti won for his series, The Squatter, an eight-part thriller focused on a Filipino maid and a Ukrainian detective who are on a mission to solve a wild mystery. Barbara Albert won for her German series, Sleeping Swans, following a utopian community that is torn apart when its children fall prey to a mysterious disease.
Nicandro Díaz - Medios y Media
Latin America: Eiza González, star of 3 Body Problem, mourns the death of Nicandro Díaz on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Díaz gave González an opportunity early on in her acting career when González starred in Díaz’s telenovela Amores Verdaderos back in 2012. Amores Verdaderos was the last telenovela González starred in before making her way to Hollywood. The cause of Díaz’s death has not yet been confirmed.
“I am devastated with the news about Nicandro. You are light, I always spent hours laughing with you. My family and I love you very much and we are eternally grateful,” González posted on X. “You changed the course of my life and I will always be indebted to you. My deepest condolences to your beautiful family. I adore you Nicandro, we will always miss you. Your favorite lobuki.”
TeleUnivision’s streaming platform ViX is set to release its first original shows in 2024. The new series will span across multiple genres, providing content for all types of viewers.
The upcoming ViX originals are:
Movies
Intecambiadas, a comedy similar to Freaky Friday, with nine-year-old Sebastian wishing his maid, Lupe, was his mother instead. When his wish comes true and the two swap bodies, both women learn valuable life lessons about professional life and self-esteem.
Mi casa no es tu casa, in this film, Mia struggles to have her sons accept her new boyfriend. Things go awry when he moves in.
Reality Shows
Chiquis Unfiltered, a docuseries showing the past struggles and triumphs of musical artist Chiquis
Mi Mundo, a series showing an unfiltered glimpse into the community of regional Mexican music
Documentaries
Laura Bozzo: From Hell to Stardom, reveals the controversial TV host’s private life, scandals, and intimate moments with archival footage.
Toros Neza, a sports docuseries following Toros Neza, a ‘90s Mexican soccer team that won the hearts of a nation
