New Digital Platform to Map Lusophone Audiovisual Industry
A transformative digital platform is set to launch next month, designed to map and spotlight the audiovisual industries of Portuguese-speaking nations. The initiative aims to bolster international visibility for local creators while providing a data-driven look at the sector’s impact on national economies.
A Global Showcase for Lusophone Talent
Announced by the Cinema and Audiovisual Network of Portuguese-Speaking African Countries (PALOP) and Timor-Leste, the platform will officially debut on September 5 in Maputo. It serves a dual purpose: acting as a comprehensive professional directory and updating a critical industry survey first conducted in 2019.
“The process intends to reinforce knowledge about the audiovisual sector’s contribution to national economies,” the Network stated in a press release. By systematizing information on professionals, production companies, and finished works, the platform will act as an international showcase, “demonstrating and catapulting” the region’s creative potential to the global stage.
Mapping the Creative Landscape
Data collection is already underway. Local teams are currently surveying the audiovisual landscapes of Mozambique, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste. Expansion into Guinea-Bissau is expected by the end of this year. This exhaustive mapping will allow the platform to serve as a central hub for all network activities.
Expansion into Short Films and Film Commissions
The digital platform is only the first phase of a broader strategic rollout. The organization revealed plans to establish a dedicated Short Film Agency by the first quarter of 2027. During that same period, the Network will release the full results of its sector mapping alongside a specialized study regarding the creation of film commissions within the member countries.
Strategic Support and Funding
The initiative is bolstered by international cooperation. It receives support from the CULTIV’ARTE program—funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France—in collaboration with the Mozambican Ministry of Education and Culture.
Coordination of the PALOP + Timor-Leste Cinema and Audiovisual Network is led by the Association of Friends of the Cinema Museum in Mozambique (AAMCM), working alongside partners in Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe. Additional funding is provided by the Camões Institute via the PROCERIS program.
Image: Pexels – Bruno Massao
