Lagardère buys African outfit

France’s Lagardère Entertainment is expanding its operation in Africa after taking control of TV and movie company International Distribution of Films and Fiction from Africa (DIFFA).

Takis Candilis

Lagardère agreed a deal earlier this month for DIFFA, which has a catalogue of 500 hours of programmes and a network of 24 producers in 12 African countries.

The company, which will now be known as DIFFA, was launched three years ago by Alain Modot of Media Consulting Group and Jean-Hubert Nankam from Ivory Coast prodco Martika Production.

Modo will remain MD of DIFFA and the firm will continue to provide opportunities for film and TV production in Africa, with Lagardère Entertainment opening new offices in Abidjan and Johannesburg.

Takis Candilis, president of Lagardère Entertainment and of DIFFA, said: “Lagardère Entertainment’s positioning in Africa coincides with the growing need for content on the continent.

“We wish to offer the production means capable of responding to this demand, and accompany the growth of the audiovisual market.”

Nankam, who remains MD at Martika, added that the new firm would “will help in building a pan-African community of producers who exchange, share and develop common values and best practices.”