STUDIOCANAL and Sun Africa Group Set Major Long-Term Theatrical Partnership in South Africa

STUDIOCANAL has agreed key terms for a long-term theatrical distribution partnership with Sun Africa Group (SAG), a proud member of the Telefilms Group (Owner of Sun Distribution Group), for the release of a significant slate of English-language feature films in South Africa, reinforcing STUDIOCANAL’s ambitions in one of Africa’s leading creative and theatrical markets.

Under the partnership, SAG will theatrically distribute STUDIOCANAL’s main slate of English-language feature films in South Africa, including animation titles, films from STUDIOCANAL’s genre label 6th Dimension, and selected South African productions developed by STUDIOCANAL and M-Net. Structured as a three-year agreement, the partnership establishes a long-term framework to bring a strong and regular pipeline of international and local films to South African audiences.

The first title to be released under the partnership will be the high-profile thriller PRESSURE, directed by Anthony Maras and starring Andrew Scott, Brendan Fraser and Kerry Condon. Upcoming releases under the deal will also include titles such as Danny Boyle’s INK, ELSINORE, FULL PHIL, THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY and Sean Byrne’s THE MANNEQUIN, with additional films to be announced in due course.

The partnership reflects a shared ambition to further develop theatrical distribution in South Africa, while increasing the visibility and circulation of both international and South African storytelling. It also builds on a long-standing relationship between STUDIOCANAL and SAG, which have collaborated since SAG’s creation, including on the South African release of the STUDIOCANAL-produced film WE LIVE IN TIME.

The announcement strengthens STUDIOCANAL’s growing ties with South Africa following the recent unveiling of THE ROAD HOME, the upcoming film directed by Academy Award-winner Bill Condon and starring Cynthia Erivo. The film, which will start shooting in South Africa at the end of June, explores the story of friendship between Hugh Masekela and Paul Simon, against the backdrop of apartheid-era South Africa.

More broadly, the partnership reflects the growing long-term ambitions of CANAL+ and STUDIOCANAL across Africa and their commitment to building strong creative and theatrical partnerships across the continent.

Anna Marsh, CEO of STUDIOCANAL and Chief Content Officer of CANAL+:

“South Africa is one of the world’s most vibrant and influential creative markets, and our partnership with Sun Africa Group marks an exciting new chapter for STUDIOCANAL global distribution. We are proud to bring a bold upcoming slate to South African audiences while continuing to champion local storytelling and the theatrical experience. We also believe this collaboration with Sun Africa Group will create new opportunities for South African stories and creative talent to reach audiences around the world in the years ahead.”

Debbie McCrum, CEO of Sun Africa Group:

“Our partnership with STUDIOCANAL represents a significant and exciting milestone for Sun Africa Group. By bringing their exceptional slate of high-quality films to cinema audiences across South Africa, we are strengthening our commitment to delivering world-class entertainment experiences. Leveraging our distribution expertise, together with our strong relationships and extensive reach within the exhibition landscape, we will ensure that STUDIOCANAL’s films are enjoyed as they were meant to be — on the big screen. This collaboration not only creates lasting value for both companies but also promises to deliver memorable and magical cinematic experiences to audiences throughout the territory.”

About STUDIOCANAL (a CANAL+ Company)

STUDIOCANAL, CANAL+’s in-house studio, is Europe’s leading film and television studio.

Through its in-house operations and network of 23 production companies across Europe and the US, STUDIOCANAL finances, produces and distributes around 100 films per year, and produces more than 20 premium local and international series.

STUDIOCANAL owns one of the world’s most prestigious film libraries, including the largest catalogue of European films, with nearly 10,000 titles from 60 countries spanning a century of cinema. Since 2020, the studio has invested €25 million in the 4K restoration of 1,000 films, including Breathless, The Graduate, Terminator 2, and Love Actually.

Building on the global success of Paddington, STUDIOCANAL is scaling its franchise model through three new labels: STUDIOCANAL Stories, focused on adapting literary hits for film and TV; STUDIOCANAL Kids & Family, dedicated to building children’s entertainment franchises, and STUDIOCANAL ON STAGE, specialising in adapting films for live theatre.

About Sun Africa Group

Sun Africa Group, a proud subsidiary of the Telefilms Group (Owner Of Sun Distribution Group) — a multi-territory powerhouse in film distribution and production — is committed to advancing the cinema industry across Africa. Our cinema-focused strategy is designed to sustain and grow the sector for the benefit of our studio and content partners, while positioning us as the leading distributor of content to the continent.

Central to our vision is fostering a global appreciation for Africa’s diverse stories, cultures, and creativity.