EXCLUSIVE: Netflix‘s Africa content material staff has reshuffled with ex-Amazon exec Kaye-Ann Williams introduced in to supervise TV and flicks as Tendeka Matatu exits.
Williams takes on the newly-created Director of Scripted Content material function and can deal with native productions, overseeing a staff that develops and creates African unique movies and collection. She joins after a brief stint as content material boss at The Traitors South Africa producer Primedia Studios and is a former Head of Scripted Collection and Films at Prime Video/Amazon Studios, the place she targeted on South Africa.
Commencing her function subsequent month, Williams will report back to Ben Amadasun, Netflix’s Vice President of Center East & Africa Content material.
Williams will be part of shortly after the exit of Matatu, who was Director of Native Language Movies, Africa, for the previous three years. No phrase on Matatu’s subsequent transfer however we’re instructed he’s pursuing different alternatives. His credit included Coronary heart of the Hunter and Kandasamys: The Child.
Amadasun credited Williams with serving to inventive expertise “create among the most formidable tasks on African tv.”
“I’m delighted to welcome Kaye-Ann to the staff as we strengthen our long-term dedication to African storytelling,” he added. “I look ahead to working alongside her to additional construct on the great work the staff has accomplished up to now to ship compelling tales from Africa and to nurture our many native inventive partnerships.”
Amazon minimize funding in Africa and made layoffs final yr and sources from the native sector had lately questioned whether or not Netflix was heading in the identical course, with rumors of exhibits being pulled.
Netflix pushed again, noting that it’s “strengthening its funding in African storytelling” and pointing to Williams’ stellar credentials.
Since kickstarting native African commissioning with 2020’s Queen Sono, Netflix cited important offers struck with the likes of Silverton Siege’s Mandla Dube and Jayan Moodley, creator of the Kandasamys franchise.
On the latest MIP Africa in Cape City, Amadasun unveiled a trio of recent motion pictures together with a Blood Legacy collection from Blood & Water producer Gambit Movies and actuality present Love By no means Lies: South Africa.
The information comes off the again of a powerful week for Netflix. The streaming powerhouse smashed estimates by including practically 19 million subscribers in This fall – the ultimate quarter for which it can report these numbers.
