SPI CEO Leon Forde to Speak at Joburg Film Festival in Johannesburg
Olsberg•SPI (SPI) CEO Leon Forde will appear on a panel as part of this year’s Joburg Xchange (JBX), the industry hub of the Joburg Film Festival (JFF), taking place 4th – 6th March 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The panel, titled Assessing the Value of the South African Film and TV Incentive Programme, will take place at 11:00 CAT on Wednesday, 4th March 2026. The topic of discussion comes alongside the launch of SPI’s Economic Impact Assessment of the South African Film and Television Production Incentive, commissioned by the Independent Producers Organisation (IPO), which sets the stage for a focused and forward-looking conversation about the role of incentives in shaping a country’s screen sector, unpacking the report’s key findings, assessing the tangible economic and industry-wide benefits generated by the incentive programme, and consider how policy implementation has shaped production activity, investor confidence, and South Africa’s position within the global screen marketplace.
Leon will be joined by Delon Bakker (Producer and Chair of the IPO), Kagisho Bapela (Head of Services Strategic Business Unit at the Industrial Development Corporation), Luke Rous (Producer and Executive Committee Member of the IPO) and Mak Mogoba (Acting Executive Head of Partnerships, Industry, and Special Projects at the Gauteng Film Commission) on the panel, which will be moderated by Unathi Malunga (Entertainment Lawyer, Creative Industries Consultant, Advocate and Lobbyist).
The JBX, launched in 2019, is the industry hub of the JFF and is composed of two complementary platforms: JBX Talks, the professional industry platform for filmmakers, producers, creatives, and industry stakeholders, and JBX Youth, a youth-focused industry programme that nurtures emerging talent and amplifies young voices.
Information on JBX and the full schedule can be found here.
Read more about the upcoming Economic Impact Assessment of the South African Film and Television Production Incentive here.
Find out about SPI’s previous conferences and seminars here