DIGITAL LAB AFRICA #7
Acceleration
Applications for the 7th edition are now open. Digital Lab Africa (DLA) is the first mentorship and incubation program dedicated to innovative creative and digital content in Africa. The very idea of DLA is to offer emerging talents a springboard to fast-track their project’s development, with the support and expertise of DLA creative industries ecosystems in France and in Sub-Saharan African countries. It has incubated 48 projects since 2016. Digital Lab Africa has developed a large network in the French and Pan-African market and has continued to grow by offering an exclusive global mentorship programme that gives creatives access to experienced mentors, experts and studios from around the world.
/ Les candidatures pour la 7e édition sont maintenant ouvertes. Digital Lab Africa (DLA) est le premier programme de mentorat et d’incubation dédié aux contenus créatifs et numériques innovants en Afrique. L’idée principale de DLA est d’offrir aux talents émergents un tremplin pour accélérer le développement de leurs projets, avec le soutien et l’expertise des écosystèmes des industries créatives de DLA en France et dans les pays d’Afrique subsaharienne. Depuis 2016, il a incubé 48 projets. Digital Lab Africa a développé un vaste réseau sur le marché français et panafricain et continue de croître en offrant un programme de mentorat mondial exclusif qui donne aux créatifs un accès à des mentors expérimentés, des experts et des studios du monde entier.
Bootcamp
Now in its second edition Digital Lab Africa widens continues its popular Bootcamp – a collaborative space for young Africans working in the digital creative industreis working in: animation, video games, immersive realities (XR: AR or VR), music and visual arts. Creatives will be able to work with peer mentors who will collaboratively design the Bootcamp programme with the participants. The Bootcamp will form part of the 2024 Fak’ugesi Festival where the participants will pitch for production funds as well as the chance to be selected as finalists in the DLA #8 Acceleration programme. To find out more click below.
/ Maintenant dans sa deuxième édition, Digital Lab Africa élargit son Bootcamp très apprécié – un espace collaboratif pour les jeunes Africains travaillant dans les industries créatives numériques telles que l’animation, les jeux vidéo, les réalités immersives (XR : AR ou VR), la musique et les arts visuels. Les créatifs auront l’opportunité de travailler avec des mentors pairs qui concevront collaborativement le programme du Bootcamp avec les participants. Le Bootcamp fera partie du Festival Fak’ugesi 2024 où les participants présenteront leurs projets pour obtenir des fonds de production ainsi que la chance d’être sélectionnés comme finalistes dans le programme d’accélération DLA #8. Pour en savoir plus, cliquez ci-dessous.
Acceleration Programme Offering
For the 6 winners (2 per art form)
- masterclasses
- peer mentorship
- art form advisors
- pitch readiness @ Fak’ugesi Festival
And for the 3 pitch winners (1 per artform)
- production support
- guiding mentor
- residency and showcase
Bootcamp Programme Offering
For the 50 participants (10 per art form)
- peer mentors
- peer creative group
- bootcamp building
- pitch @ Fak’ugesi Festival
And for the 5 pitch winners (1 per artform)
- production support
- Finalist in DLA Acceleration #8
- showcase @ Fak’ugesi Festival 2024
Criteria and Selection
Throughout the year, there are various calls for applications to anyone from the field of digital content creation: artists, producers, designers, start-ups, SMEs, collectives, students or entrepreneurs, based in Sub-Saharan Africa or a national of a country in this region.
The purpose of these calls for applications is to identify innovative digital content from the perspective of form, storytelling and technologies used in five different categories: immersive realities, gaming, music, animation and digital art.
DIGITAL LAB AFRICA & the FAK’UGESI FESTIVAL
The DLA is part of our annual Fak’ugesi Festival both as a platform to showcase the output of DLA projects and as an integral part of its programmes.
Fak’ugesi creates an inclusive and valuable connection for DLA participants through:
- Pitching forums
- Panels and discussions
- Residencies and labs in partnerships with other festivals/events
- Business-to-business meetings
- Supportive digital community
The Fak’ugesi Festival also attracts a high number of investors through their diverse programming for the digital creative sector.
