Since 2009, Michael has financed and produced 26 films/TV series of which 16 were international copros. He currently also consults to PwC and AFREXIM Bank on the African Audiovisual Fund. He previously served 6 years as the Festival Director of the Cape Town World Cinema Festival and the CEO of the Sithengi Film and TV Market which, at the time, were the biggest industry events in Africa attracting over 1900 delegates from 46 countries. During his term he quadrupled the funds raised and initiated various value-added services including the Feature Film Co-production Forum (FFCF), the Documentary Co-production Forum (DCF), the Writers Forum (WF) and the Sithengi Talent Campus. He also conducted script and packaging workshops in Kenya, Zanzibar, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. Prior to Sithengi Michael provided management consultancy to the Southern African Media Development Fund SAMDEF in the compiling of a management training module for Community Radio stations as well as writing a Film Funding policy and evaluating applications for funding. Michael also played a role in developing film and television policy on the continent as a speaker and trainer in East, West and Southern Africa. He initiated the German and Italian Co-production Treaties, both of which were signed at Sithengi, and established and managed the HIVOS/Sithengi film fund which provided funding for short films, feature films and documentaries. Prior to taking over Sithengi Michael operated as a regional media consultant and entertainment lawyer with such clients as the Open Society Institute of Southern Africa, the Southern African Media Development Fund, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). During 2000 he managed the National Constitutional Assembly media campaign that defeated Robert Mugabe for the first time in a referendum. Prior to that he was a lawyer and media entrepreneur. Mike has served on the IPO Exco for around 10 years.
