About Us
Based in Cape Town, South Africa, TOP Afrika is a film and TV production company with a proven track record of executing projects of various scales to a multitude of media formats and creative requirements. In 2018, TOP Afrika was created as a result of a creative and strategic plan to add our voice in the creation process. TOP Afrika has sister companies in Mauritius and Berlin.
TOP Afrika is a rebrand of Two Oceans Production established in 1998 by Giselher Venzke who moved to South Africa from Germany with industry experience since 1973. The primary objective was to deliver professional service support to the European television and cinema market. Since then, the company has grown to be one of the leading production companies in South Africa. Since 1998, over 120 feature length films have been co-produced, co-financed and serviced for clients around the world shot in South Africa, Mauritius and Namibia; from cinema releases like Northmen: A Viking Saga, Friend Request, Der Geilste Tag and The Three Investigators series to TV movies and mini-series such as BAFTA nominated The Sinking of the Laconia.
TOP Afrika
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01
CO-PRODUCERS
As co-producers, we believe in building unique and personalised relationships with our partners, giving hands on expert attention to each production from start to finish.
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02
CREATIVE PRODUCERS
As creatives and producers of original content, we believe in creating and supporting authentic stories that celebrate and inspire people from all walks of life.
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03
INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE
With years of industry experience and our network of broadcasters, highly qualified producers, sough-after crew & cast as well as specialist suppliers, we are able to deliver to a multitude of media formats and creative requirements.
CREATIVE MINDS
IN AFRIKA
Giselher Venzke
CEO / Senior Producer
Evidence Sello Magaga
Head of Development / Producer (Local Content)
Marco Le Roux
Head of Production / Producer / GM
Vuks Ngcingwana
Head of Distribution / Producer (Local Content)
Andrea Pienaar
Line Producer
Rochelle Wentley
Accounts Manager
CREATIVE MINDS
OUT OF AFRIKA
Gerhard Schneider
Founder/Managing Director / Producer
Sacha Ntivyihabwa
Founder / Producer
Anna-Maria Velhorn
Junior Producer
Veronika Zaplata-Lauratet
Managing Director
Alwyn Van den Heever
Producer
Sounesh Purguss
Accounts Manager
TOP
Services
- International co-productions and co-financing
- Film and television production service
- Commercials, documentaries and reality television
- Budget and rebate consulting
- Location research and consulting
47
Years Of Experience
SOUTH AFRICA AS A FILMING LOCATION
South Africa can truly be seen as the world in one country, offering vast and diverse landscapes allowing filmmakers from around the world to portray almost any location abroad within South Africa. The Western Cape has earned a reputation over the past decade as âlittle Hollywoodâ and has become a very attractive filming location for the American and European markets. What sets the Western Cape aside is itâs bountiful array of different locations, as well as the close proximity which makes it very film friendly logistically, as one can travel 1 hour from a desert location to a forest, or metropolitan setting for example. The Western Cape also boasts a world class film crew comprising of approximately 15,000 people. Cape Town is also home to world class studios and post production facilities. The Cape Town Film Studios has been a key addition to the facilities offered to the film industry in the province.
THE DTI TAX INCENTIVE IN SOUTH AFRICA
The Department of Trade and Industry in South Africa offers an incentive rebate comprising of a Foreign Film (location) rebate of up to 25% of expenditure in South Africa as well as a Co-Production rebate for qualifying Co-Productions under the treaty between South Africa and (Germany, Canada, Italy, United Kingdom, France, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland) of up to 35% of South African expenditure. Since the introduction of the co-production rebate in 2004, TOP has financed over 50 productions through the DTI incentive.
01 Currently the DTI approved an average of 99 film rebates per annum of which foreign film rebates comprised 31%, co-productions 46% and local productions 25%. 02 In the 2019 financial year, the DTI approved R 4.3 billion in qualifying production expenditure. A remarkable increase of R 1.4 billion from the 2017 to 2018 financial year. 03 Of the total R 4.3 billion approved expenditure in 2019, a staggering R3 billion was for productions in the Western Cape.
Our Creative Works.
| TOP AFRIKA FILMS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Project Name | Production Company | Distributor |
| 2021 | This Is How (Season 2) | TOP Afrika | Self-Distribution via YouTube |
| 2020 | This Is How (Season 1) | TOP Afrika | Self-Distribution via YouTube |
| 2020 | Das Traumschiff (Dreamboat) | Polyphon Film | ZDF |
| 2020 | Tribes of Europa | Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion | Netflix |
| 2020 | Omani Presence In East Africa | DeMAX GmbH | Omani TV |
| 2019 | Letâs Face Reality (Documentary) | Redseven Entertainment GmbH | ProSieben |
| 2019 | Löwenzahn (Dandelion) | Studio TV Film | ZDF |
| 2018 | Berlin Alexanderplatz | Sommerhaus Filmproduktion GmbH | Various Distributors |
| 2018 | FEVER (Documentary) | Filmallee GmbH | Self-Distribution |
| TOP MAURITIUS FILMS | |||
| 2019 | Mariteam â Im Einsatz FuÌr Die Meere (Mariteam â Serving The Seas) | W&B Television GmbH & Co. KG | ARD Degeto |
| 2019 | Bad Banks 2 | Letterbox Filmproduktion GmbH | ZDF / Netflix |
| 2019 | Die Inselärztin V & VI (Island Doctor) | Tivoli Film Produktion GmbH | ARD Degeto |
| 2019 | Die Inselärztin III & IV (Island Doctor) | Tivoli Film Produktion GmbH, Mona Film | ARD Degeto |
| 2018 | Last Resort | Perplexia Films | Jetpack Distribution |
| 2018 | Life's a Beach | Perplexia Films | Jetpack Distribution |
| 2018 | Camp Getaway | Perplexia Films | Jetpack Distribution |
| 2018 | A Horse Called Wish | Perplexia Films | Jetpack Distribution |
| 2017 | Die Inselärztin I & II (Island Doctor) | Tivoli Film Produktion GmbH, Mona Film | ARD Degeto |
| 2017 | Das Kindermädchen: Mission Mauritius (Premium Nanny 1) | FFP New Media GmbH | ARD Degeto |
| 2014 | Zwei Familien auf der Palme (Stranded in Paradise) | Telenorm Film GMBH | SAT 1 |
| 2003 | Das Traumhotel â Verliebt in Mauritius (Dream Hotel â In Love on Mauritius) | Lisa Film Produktion GmbH | ARD Degeto, ORF |
| 2001 | Entscheidung auf Mauritius (Decision on Mauritius) | ndF, MuÌnchen | Self-Distribution |
| TWO OCEANS PRODUCTION FILMS | |||
| 2018 | Schwiegereltern im Busch (In The Outback) | TNF Telenormfilm GmbH | SAT 1 |
| 2018 | Das Kindermädchen: Mission SuÌdafrika (Premium Nanny 2) | FFP New Media GmbH | ARD Degeto |
| 2017 | Liebe auf den ersten Trick (Lie To Me) | UFA Fiction GmbH | SAT 1 |
| 2017 | Deutschland86 | UFA Fiction GmbH | Amazon Prime |
| 2017 | Auf Der Flucht (On The Run) | Hager Moss Film GmbH | ARD Degeto |
| 2017 | Grosser Freund, Kleiner Freund (Big Friend, Little Friend) | Moviepool GmbH | ZDF |
| 2017 | Der Weg Zum Kilimandscharo (The Road to Kilimanjaro) | Ariane Krampe Filmproduktion GmbH | ARD Degeto |
| 2016 | Tödliche Geheimnisse - Jagd in Kapstadt (Deadly Leaks 2) | Sperlfilm, Wiedemann & Berg | Degeto Film |
| 2015 | Township Life is Like a Dog | Two Oceans Production | Self-Distribution |
| 2015 | Jana und der Buschpilot (Jana and the Bushpilot) |
Pantaleon Films GMBH | Warner Brothers Independent |
| 2015 | Der Geilste Tag (Most Beautiful Day) |
Mecom Fiction GMBH | ZDF |
| 2014 | Rosa â Die Hochzeitsplanerin Wolken uber Kapstadt (Rosa â Clouds Over Cape Town) | Wiedemann & Berg Television GMBH | SAT 1 |
| 2014 | Super Dad | Film 77 GMBH | SAT 1 |
| 2014 | Grzimek | UFA Fiction GMBH | ARD Degeto |
| 2014 | Friend Request (Unfriend) | Wiedemann & Berg Film GMBH | Warner Bros. Germany |
| 2013 | Alleinflug (Solo Flight) | UFA Fiction, GMBH | ZDF |
| 2013 | Northmen â A Viking Saga | Elite Filmproduktion | ASCOT Elite Film Zunich â Munich |
| 2013 | In Einem Wilden Land (The Way to Freedom) |
Wiedemann & Berg Film GMBH | SAT 1 |
| 2012 | Alle Macht den Kindern (Power to the Children) |
TeamworX Television & Film GMBH | SAT 1 |
| 2012 | Neue Familie in Afrika (New Family in Africa) |
U5 Film Produktion | Self-Distribution |
| 2012 | Johana und der Bushpilot (Johana and the Bushpilot) |
Mecom Munchen Film & TV GMBH | ZDF |
| 2011 | Auf der Spur des Löwen (Lionâs Track) |
Tivoli Film GMBH & Mona Film GMBH | ZDF, ORF |
| 2011 | Der Borschafter âWeisses Goldâ (Ambassador âIn Pursuit of White Goldâ) |
U5 Film Produktion GMBH | ZDF |
| 2011 | Afrika ruft nach Dir (Africa Calling) |
Tivoli Film GMBH & Mona Film GMB | Ard Degeto |
| 2010 | Verschollen am Kap (Mission Crane) |
TV60 Film GMBH | ZDF |
| 2009 | Kongo (Congo) |
TeamworX Television & FilmGmbH | ZDF, ORF |
| 2009 | Der Untergang der Lakonia (The Sinking of the Laconia) |
TeamworX Television & Film GmbH | Ard Degeto, ZDF, SWR & BBC |
| 2009 | Ein Sommer in Kapstadt (A Summer in Cape Town) |
TeamworX Television & Film GmbH | ZDF |
| 2009 | Ein Sommer in New England (A Summer in New England) |
TeamworX Television & Film GmbH | ZDF |
| 2009 | Der Untergang der Lakonia (The Sinking of the Laconia) |
TeamworX Television & Film GmbH | Ard Degeto, ZDF, SWR & BBC |
| 2009 | Grier (Greed) | Bavaria Fernseh Produktion GmbH | Ard Degeto, WDR, NDR, MDR, ARTE & ORF |
| 2009 | Das Geheimnis der Wale (The Secret of the Whales) |
U5 Filmproduktion GmbH & Co.KG | ZDF |
| 2008 | Der Botschafter (The Ambassador â âAssignment Afrikaâ) |
U5 Filmproduktion GmbH & Co.KG | ZDF |
| 2008 | 30 Tage Angst (30 Days Fear) |
UFA Fernseh Produktion GmbH | ZDF |
| 2008 | Schweitzer (Feature Film) | NFP neue film Produktion GmbH | NFP Marketing & Distribution, Warner Bros. International |
| 2008 | Diamond Diver | Phönix Film Karlheinz Brunnemann GmbH & Co Produktions KG | ARD Degeto |
| 2008 | Die Drei Fragezeichen â Das verfluchte Schloss (The Three Investigators and the Secret of Terror Castle | Studio Hamburg Produktion GmbH | Walt Disney Germany |
| 2007 | StuÌrme in Afrika (Storms in Africa) |
Bavaria Fernseh Produktion GmbH | ARD Degeto |
| 2007 | Fleisch (Meat) | Lion Heart Entertainment GmbH | ProSieben |
| 2007 | Der Tod meiner Schwester (The Death of my Sister) |
Telefilm Saar | ZDF |
| 2006 | Mein Herz in Afrika (My Heart in Africa) |
Network Movie Film-und Ferseh Produktion GmbH & Co.KG | ZDF |
| 2006 | Der Mann von Gestern (The Man of Yesterday)) |
TeamworX Television & Film GmbH | ARD Degeto |
| 2006 | Das GluÌck am anderen Ende der Welt (Luck on the other Side of the World) |
TeamworX Television & Film GmbH | ARD Degeto |
| 2006 | Julia â Wege zum GluÌck (Julia â Ways to Happiness) |
Grundy UFA Produktions GmbH | ZDF |
| 2006 | Die Drei Fragezeichen und das Geheimnis der Geisterinsel (The Three Investigators and the Secret of Skeleton Island) | Studio Hamburg Produktion GmbH | Buena Vista International / Walt Disney Germanyo |
| 2006 | Forsthaus Falkenau â Der Ausstieg
(Forestry Falkenau â The Start & Decision in the Savannah) |
ndf neue deutsche Filmgesellschaft m.b.H. | ZDF |
| 2005 | Ein Familienschreck kommt selten allein (Family Fright) | Stream Films Produktion GmbH | SAT 1 |
| 2005 | Julia â Wege zum GluÌck (Julia â Ways to Happiness) |
Grundy UFA Produktions GmbH | ZDF |
| 2005 | SOKO 5113 | UFA Fernseh Produktion GmbH | ZDF |
| 2005 | Girlfriends 7 | Network Movie Film-und Fersehproduktion GmbH & Co.KG | ZDF |
| 2005 | Longing for Love | All Media Kino Produktion GmbH |
NDR, ORF, ARTE |
| 2005 | Die Frau im roten Kleid (The Woman in the Red Dress) |
Ziegler Film GmbH & Co.KG | ARD Degeto |
| 2004 | Der endlose Horizont (The Endless Horizon) |
Multimedia GmbH | NDR, ARD Degeto |
| 2004 | Eine Liebe in Saigon (A Love in Saigon) |
Network Movie Film-und Fersehproduktion GmbH & Co.KG | SAT 1 |
| 2004 | Kein Himmel uÌber Afrika (No Heaven above Africa) |
TeamworX Television & Film GmbH | ARD Degeto |
| 2004 | Einmal so wie ich will (My Way) |
Sperl & Partner mit TeamworX Television & Film GmbH | ZDF |
| 2004 | Samt&Seide - Relaunch (Velvet & Silk) |
ndf neue deutsche Filmgesellschaft m.b.H.MuÌnchen | ZDF |
| 2004 | Sterne uÌber Madeira (Stars over Madeira) |
Network Movie Film-und Fersehproduktion GmbH & Co.KG | ZDF |
| 2003 | Safari ins GluÌck (Safari into Bliss) |
TeamworX Television & Film GmbH | SAT 1 |
| 2003 | Zwischen Liebe und Tod (Between Love and Death) |
Network Movie Film-und Ferseh Produktion GmbH & Co.KG | ZDF |
| 2003 | Die RosenzuÌchterin (The Rose Grower) |
Ziegler Film GmbH & Co.KGn | ZDF |
| 2003 | Girlfriends | Network Movie Film-und Fersehproduktion GmbH & Co.KG | ZDF |
| 2003 | Das Licht von Afrika (The Light of Africa) | Objectiv Film GmbH | ZDF |
| 2002 | FuÌr immer verloren (Forever Lost) | TeamworX Television & Film GmbH | SAT 1 |
| 2002 | Eine Liebe in Afrika (A Love in Africa) | TeamworX Television & FilmGmbH | ARD Degeto |
| 2001 | Der Kranichmann (The Crane Man) | Objectiv Film GmbH | ZDF |
| 2001 | Paps, Versprechen hält man (Dad, keep promises) |
ALLMEDIA Film & Fernseh GmbH | SAT 1 |
| 2001 | Check-In ins Disaster (Check-In to Disaster) | Creatv Fernseh Produktion GmbH | Pro 7 |
| 2000 | Mein Papa mit der kalten Schnauze (My Father with the cold snout) |
Studio Babelsberg Motion Picture GmH | Pro 7 |
| 2000 | The Last Holiday | Engram Pictures | SAT 1 |
| 2000 | Zugvögel der Liebe (Migrants of Love) |
Trebitsch Produktion Holding GmbH | ZDF |
| 1999 | Falling Rocks (Feature Film) | TTD Checkpoint Berlin GmbH | Pro 7 |
| 1999 | Die Spesenritter (Knight of the Expense Account) |
Studio Hamburg ProduktionfuÌr Film und Fernsehen GmbH | ARD Degeto |
| 1998 | StraÃen von Berlin (Streets of Berlin) |
Otto Meissner KG | Pro 7 |
| 1998 | Die WuÌstenrose (The Desert Rose) | Otto Meissner KG | Pro 7 |
| 1998 | Kap der guten Hoffung III (Cape of Good Hope III) |
Studio Hamburg ProduktionfuÌr Film und Fernsehen GmbH | ARD Degeto |
| 1997 | Kap der guten Hoffung II (Cape of Good Hope I/ II/ III) |
Studio Hamburg ProduktionfuÌr Film und Fernsehen GmbH | ARD Degeto |
| 1996 | Kap der guten Hoffung I (Cape of Good Hope I) |
Studio Hamburg ProduktionfuÌr Film und Fernsehen GmbH | ARD Degeto |
Our Clients & Partners
