Story and Photography by: Christopher Vourlias for Variety
Pubcaster looks to expand footprint into English-speaking world.
JOHANNESBURG — Ivory Coast pubcaster RTI is stepping up efforts to become the driving force behind West Africa’s growing TV market.
Three years after launching its production and distribution arms, the pubcaster has introduced a production slate that underscores its ambitions in the region and beyond.
According to RTI’s director-general, Ahmadou Bakayoko, this is only the beginning. “We intend to ramp up the volume of production,” he says.
RTI was in Discop this week to promote a host of new projects, including the series “Abidjan City Club,” starring César Award-winning thesp Isaac de Bankolé, and directed by French-Ivorian helmer Philippe Lacote, whose feature film debut, “Run” premiered in Cannes in 2014. The pubcaster hopes to begin shooting third quarter 2018.
While also venturing into docs and feature films, the pubcaster is looking to diversify its growing catalog of premium TV series.
Production is already underway on the second season of the popular series “National Security,” “Psych,” and “Sibling Rivalry.” And RTI’s first animated feature – a co-production with Abidjan animation studio Afrika Toon – is slated for a November theatrical release.
While also venturing into docs and feature films, the pubcaster is looking to diversify its growing catalog of premium TV series. “Our goal is to become the leading public broadcaster in terms of TV series production in sub-Saharan Africa,” says Bakayoko.
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