Wild Talk Africa is an international film festival and conference which takes place biennially in South Africa.  It attracts the global wildlife filmmaking industry by offering a forum for networking, debating and negotiating with commissioning editors, distributors and producers. The last Festival held in 2011 attracted 250 delegates from 25 countries (Australia, Botswana, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Malawi, Malta, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, UK, United Arab Emirates, USA and Zimbabwe).  For the 2011 Festival Wild Talk Africa received a record number of 267 entries for the ROSCAR Awards. 

The Wild Talk Africa initiative was founded in 2005 when a group of 30 dedicated enthusiastic individuals gathered together to shape the future of the industry.  The initial members of this group included Dr Pallo Jordan - Minister of Arts and Culture, Eddie Mbalo - CEO NFVF, Marcel Golding - CEO e.tv, Mark Wild from Animal Planet and 20 wildlife filmmakers.  The decision taken was that Africa, the very continent that has been the setting for international award-winning wildlife films, should host a wildlife film festival to promote South Africa as the centre of excellence in the wildlife filmmaking genre. 

Amongst many others, the festival has been endorsed by:

• Basil Ford, Senior Account Manager IDC
• Marcel Golding, CEO e.tv
• Dr Pallo Jordan, Minister of Arts and Culture
• Eddie Mbalo, CEO NFVF
• Valli Moosa, President of the World Conservation Union (IUCN)
• Dr Essop Pahad, Minister in the Presidency
• Dr Ian Player of the Wilderness Foundation

The festival has also attracted the attendance of high-profile international VIP guests in the wildlife, travel and culture filmmaking industry, with representation from Animal Planet, National Geographic Television and Film, Tigress Productions, Off the Fence and the BBC NHU.

Wild Talk Africa takes place at Spier, which is regarded as an iconic destination, set in the vineyards of Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa.  Spier provides the ideal conferencing location for the Festival amidst the extensive landscaped grounds, and is only 20 minutes drive from Cape Town International Airport.  Delegates also have access to wildlife encounters, horse riding, craft exhibitions, an open-air theatre, a wine centre, swimming pools, a spa, and a nearby golf course.

Board Members

A Wild Talk Africa Strategic Alliance was held in April 2008, at Bakubung Bush Lodge in the Pilanesberg National Park. At the conference Wild Talk Africa had the pleasure of announcing the following Board Members (listed in alphabetical order), who have agreed to provide support to ensure the continuing success of the Wild Talk Africa Festival:

• Cecil Barry, Red Pepper
• Alison Barrat, National Geographic Television
• Marcel Golding, e.tv
• Hiro Iwasaki, NHK
• Andrew Jackson, Tigress Production
• Fred Kaufman, Thirteen/WNET New York
• Peter Lamberti, Aquavision TV Productions
• Eddie Mbalo, NFVF
• Mvuzo Mbebe, SABC
• Cristina Mittermeier, International League of Conservation Photographers
• Neil Nightingale, BBC NHU
• Sophie Vartan, NHU AFRICA
• Janet Vissering, National Geographic Channel International
• Bridget Whalen, National Geographic Channel
• Mark Wild, Animal Planet
• Ellen Windemuth, Off The Fence
• Kim Wolhuter, Mavela Media