By Luto Mpunga.
Strategic partnership to drive investment, skills development, inclusion and new opportunities for directors and emerging creative talent.
The Directors Guild of South Africa (DGSA) and AVIJOZI NPC have entered into a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at advancing investment, skills development and professional opportunities across South Africa’s creative industries.
The collaboration brings together the DGSA’s commitment to advancing the art and craft of directing and supporting directors throughout their careers, with AVIJOZI’s mission to bridge the gap between creative talent and access to meaningful career and skills development opportunities through the AVIJOZI International Festival and its broader year-round programmes.
The partnership is founded on a shared belief that South Africa’s creative industries have significant potential to contribute to economic growth, job creation, skills development and international competitiveness — but that unlocking this potential requires stronger collaboration, investment and access.
Building A Stronger Creative Ecosystem
Through the partnership, DGSA and AVIJOZI will collaborate to advocate for greater investment in African creative industries, while identifying opportunities to strengthen the funding and support ecosystem for creative practitioners and initiatives.
The organisations will leverage their respective networks, expertise and platforms to create more meaningful pathways for directors, emerging creatives and young talent seeking to enter and build sustainable careers within the industry. The collaboration will also focus on strengthening connections between established industry professionals, emerging talent, funders, stakeholders and the wider creative ecosystem.
“This collaboration represents a shared commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive and sustainable creative industry ecosystem. By bringing together our respective networks, expertise and resources, we can create more meaningful pathways for directors and emerging creatives while advocating for greater investment in our industry.” — Directors Guild of South Africa & AVIJOZI NPC
Investing In The Next Generation
A key component of the partnership will be the delivery of knowledge-sharing and professional development initiatives designed to equip creatives with relevant skills, industry knowledge and practical exposure.
These initiatives will include a panel exploring the future of directing in an increasingly technology-driven industry, a Masterclass on Directing, as well as the Junior Animation Director initiative, which aims to nurture and develop emerging talent.
As the creative landscape continues to evolve through advancements in artificial intelligence, animation, visual effects, gaming, interactive technology and other emerging technologies, the partnership recognises the importance of ensuring that South African creatives are equipped to participate in — and ultimately lead — these developments.
Creating Access Where It Matters Most
Inclusion sits at the centre of the collaboration.
DGSA and AVIJOZI are committed to reaching underrepresented and excluded communities and broadening access to opportunities within South Africa’s creative industries.
The partnership will seek to create pathways that enable more creatives to access professional networks, knowledge, skills development and opportunities that can contribute to sustainable careers. This approach reflects a shared ambition to build a creative ecosystem that is not only more diverse and representative, but also more connected, resilient and economically sustainable.
A Collective Call for Greater Investiment
The partnership also seeks to strengthen the conversation around investment in South Africa’s creative economy.
With film, television, animation, VFX, gaming, interactive technology and AI creating new possibilities for both local and international markets, DGSA and AVIJOZI believe that greater collaboration between industry practitioners, funders, government and other stakeholders is essential to realising the sector’s full potential.
The organisations will work together to identify opportunities, encourage stakeholder engagement and advocate for greater investment that can translate into tangible opportunities for creative professionals and emerging talent.
Looking Ahead
The signing of the MOU marks the beginning of a broader collaboration between DGSA and AVIJOZI, with both organisations committed to working alongside industry stakeholders, funders and creative practitioners to unlock new opportunities and contribute to the continued growth of South Africa’s creative economy.
Together, the organisations aim to strengthen the bridge between talent and opportunity, skills and employment, creativity and investment — while positioning South African creatives to compete, collaborate and lead both locally and on the global stage.