Netflix is at Cape Town’s MIP Africa event this week, and has unveiled a South African version of reality show Love Never Lies and a batch of feature films to delegates in attendance.
Netflix’s VP of Content for the Middle East and Africa, Ben Amadasun, unveiled the slate, which he said would “continue strengthening our relationships with our production partners.”
MIP Africa has been taking place this week in South Africa, bringing many of the continent’s top content creators together, with the likes of MultiChoice unveiling strategies and programs.
Love Never Lies: South Africa comes from prolific local producer Rapid Blue and is based on the streamer’s 2021 reality series from Spain. It will feature six couples who must test their trust with an eye-scanning lie detector to win money. The series debuts on Netflix on November 29.
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Umjolo, from Stained Glass TV, is a four-part anthology of features that will launch every month from November until February 2025. The first, Umjolo: The Gone Girl, feels the story of a young woman with the perfect boyfriend, who is loving, supportive, attentive and attractive. When she gets engaged to him, she is on top of the world, until a doctor’s appointment changes everything. Pepsi Pokane, Nokuthula Zuma and Gugu Zuma-Ncube are executive producers. The Gone Girl will launch on November 8.
On the film front, Happiness Is is the latest in the Happiness romcom franchise, which began with Happiness is a 4 Letter Word and continued with Happiness Ever After. The latest film follows a group of friends who will be forced to face the weaknesses in each other and their bond. Blingola Media is producing with a women-led production team. Lesedi Siswana is the producer, with Bongiwe Selane serving as creative and executive producer.
Disaster Holiday is a holiday season film from the Ramaphakela siblings billed as a “fun-filled and hilarious offering” from Burnt Onion Productions, which made Netflix titles How to Ruin Christmas, How to Ruin Love, Lobola Man and Seriously Single. The feature follows a career-driven workaholic, who sets out to prove he is a perfect father and husband by taking his dysfunctional family on an impromptu holiday. Rethabile Ramaphakela is directing, with the film released on December 13.
“We have seen South African stories not only be loved locally, but they have also found a fandom in many countries around the world,” said Amadasun. “This is only a small taste of what’s to come next on Netflix as we continue our work to bring local South African and international stories to entertain our 278 million members around the world.”