EXCLUSIVE: Netflix‘s Africa content material workforce has reshuffled with ex-Amazon exec Kaye-Ann Williams introduced in to supervise TV and films as Tendeka Matatu exits.
Williams takes on the newly-created Director of Scripted Content material position and can deal with native productions, overseeing a workforce that develops and creates African authentic movies and sequence. 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 Sequence and Motion pictures at Prime Video/Amazon Studios, the place she targeted on South Africa.
Commencing her position 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 informed 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 a few of the most bold tasks on African tv.”
“I’m delighted to welcome Kaye-Ann to the workforce as we strengthen our long-term dedication to African storytelling,” he added. “I sit up for working alongside her to additional construct on the great work the workforce has accomplished to this point to ship compelling tales from Africa and to nurture our many native inventive partnerships.”
Amazon minimize funding in Africa and made layoffs final 12 months and sources from the native sector had not too long ago questioned whether or not Netflix was heading in the identical route, 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 current MIP Africa in Cape City, Amadasun unveiled a trio of latest motion pictures together with a Blood Legacy sequence from Blood & Water producer Gambit Movies and actuality present Love By no means Lies: South Africa.
The information comes off the again of a robust week for Netflix. The streaming powerhouse smashed estimates by including almost 19 million subscribers in This fall – the ultimate quarter for which it would report these numbers.
