CaribbeanTales Media Group expands the Cross Continental Forum to South Africa, creating new pathways for Black and Global Majority filmmakers.
In July 2026, the scenic Pietermaritzburg Midlands in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, will host a gathering that promises to reshape global film collaboration. This is not a conventional festival or networking event. It is the Cross Continental Forum (CCF), an international co-production platform designed to connect filmmakers across Africa, the Caribbean, Canada, Europe, and the Americas. Its mission is clear: to transform filmmakers from the Global Majority from participants into originating partners with agency, creative control, and market access.
A Vision to Build What Did Not Exist
Founded by award-winning filmmaker and Academy member Frances-Anne Solomon, CaribbeanTales Media Group (CTMG) has long worked to decolonize the screen. Solomon’s vision extends beyond storytelling: she has created a full ecosystem that supports filmmakers at every stage—from development and production to distribution and strategic co-production. The Cross Continental Forum represents the most ambitious realization of that ecosystem, turning systemic inequities into structured opportunity
After successful editions in Barbados in 2024 and 2025, the CCF’s 2026 edition moved to South Africa. The location reflects a deliberate strategy to foster “South-South” collaboration. By anchoring the Forum in a region with robust co-production treaties and growing industry infrastructure, CTMG is helping filmmakers access markets and financing without reliance on traditional Western gatekeepers.
Turning Shared Heritage into Shared Enterprise
The expansion is powered by partnerships with UMEDA, the uMgungundlovu Economic Development Agency, and Pambili Media, a South African production company. Together, they are creating a space where projects are developed locally and prepared to reach international markets. Sydney Masina of Pambili Media explains, “This partnership is about creating the conditions for meaningful collaboration—where projects can be developed locally while building the international relationships they need to travel globally.”
Award-winning actor CCH Pounder, a member of the CCF Steering Group, will help to lead the South African expansion. She emphasizes, “Creation, to me, is our most powerful act of connection. Expanding the Cross Continental Forum to South Africa allows us to turn shared heritage into shared enterprise—creatively, economically, and strategically.” Her involvement underscores the Forum’s dual focus on cultural storytelling and sustainable business practice.
Driving South-South Collaboration
The Forum’s 2026 theme, Bridging Markets, Building Futures, reflects its mission to center Black authorship and Global South leadership in international co-productions. By leveraging recent co-production agreements, including between South Africa and Nigeria, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the CCF is fostering a pipeline that allows creators to retain intellectual property rights while connecting to global markets. Dr. Keith Nurse, Chair of CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution, notes, “South Africa’s dynamic screen industry, combined with its co-production infrastructure, positions it as a strategic gateway for South–South collaboration and creative entrepreneurship.”
Practical Learning and Market Access
CCF 2026 is structured to provide creators with more than visibility. Participants engage in mentorship, creative and business labs, curated B2B matchmaking sessions, and pitch opportunities with international investors. The hybrid program, which includes in-person sessions in July and integration with the Toronto International Film Festival Market in September, ensures participants leave equipped with knowledge, network connections, and tangible co-production opportunities.
Reclaiming Narrative Power
The Cross Continental Forum is committed to story sovereignty, inviting Black and Global Majority producers from Canada, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, the U.K., and Latin America to submit projects in feature films, television, and documentary. Applications close April 15, with bursaries available to ensure inclusivity.
A New Era for Global Majority Filmmaking
The 2026 South African edition represents more than geographic expansion. It signals a shift in industry power dynamics, embedding Africa into the global co-production network and creating a replicable model for sustainable, independent film economies. Through the CCF, CaribbeanTales Media Group is transforming opportunities for Global Majority creators, turning previously marginal positions into market-ready pipelines.
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