NEWS:

South African producer Firdoze Bulbulia has been appointed Secretary General of the International Centre of Film for Children and Young People/Youth (CIFEJ). Bulbulia is a director and owner of Johannesburg-based Moments Entertainment and chairperson of the Children’s Broadcasting Foundation for Africa (CBFA). She was also chairperson of the 5th World Summit on Media for Children (5WSMC), which took place in Johannesburg in March 2007.

CIFEJ, an international non-governmental organisation of professionals dedicated to promoting excellence in the audio-visual media for young audiences, was started in 1955. It is a member of the International Council for Film, Television and Audiovisual Communication (CICT-IFTC/UNESCO) and has 156 members worldwide. Membership consists mainly from Europe and Canada.

As chairperson of 5WMSC, Bulbulia welcomed global players from the international children’s media domain, overseeing Africa’s first ever hosting of the World Summit on Media for Children.
Bulbulia was formerly one of two Vice-Presidents of CIFEJ and states that the CIFEJ headquarters is relocating to South Africa after being in Canada for 17 years. As host country it will be responsible for the new Executive Director and Treasurer of CIFEJ.

She adds that the CIFEJ Board thought it appropriate to move the headquarters to another region of the world “and because of the sterling work of the 5WSMC, it was agreed that South Africa should become the next host”. This decision was ratified at the CIFEJ General Assembly in Amsterdam during the CINEKID International Film Festival which took place 15 – 19 October 2007.

Bulbulia says that this is a very exciting move and opportunity for Africa to become more prominent in the area of children’s media. “We intend to double the membership and particularly more membership from Africa and the broadcasting sector”.

Bulbulia appeals to all people working in children’s media to become members of CIFEJ.