Seen Here: SHAPING THE FUTURE OF AFRICAN VISUAL STORYTELLING. 🎬🌍 Industry voices unite as The VFX Circle officially launches at Vega School, Emeris, in Sandton on 15 October 2026. The initiative marks a significant step towards building a connected, empowered and globally competitive African visual effects community, creating space for collaboration, shared expertise and new opportunities to propel the continent’s creative talent onto the world stage. Photo Credit: Community Newsroom
The new nonprofit professional network aims to strengthen collaboration, support skills development and raise the profile of African visual effects professionals across the continent and beyond.
SANDTON, JOHANNESBURG, 19 October 2026 — Africa’s visual effects (VFX) community has a new professional network following the official launch of The VFX Circle on Thursday, 15 October 2026, at Vega School at Emeris in Sandton.
Established as a nonprofit professional network, The VFX Circle aims to connect, empower and elevate professionals working across visual effects, film, television and digital storytelling, creating opportunities for collaboration, knowledge-sharing and career development.
The launch at Vega School at Emeris places the initiative within a creative education environment focused on developing talent and strengthening connections between education and industry. Vega School operates as part of Emeris, an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education.
Building connections across Africa’s creative industry
Visual effects have become an important component of modern screen production, enabling filmmakers and content creators to develop digital environments, create complex visual sequences and bring imaginative stories to life.
However, building a sustainable VFX sector requires more than technical ability. Access to industry networks, mentorship, professional development and collaborative opportunities can help artists strengthen their skills and navigate an increasingly competitive global market.
The VFX Circle seeks to address these needs by bringing together artists, students, freelancers, studios and other industry participants at different stages of their careers.
Its mission centres on three pillars: connecting professionals, empowering members through shared knowledge and opportunities, and elevating African talent within the wider visual effects industry.
While its launch marks the establishment of the network, its long-term impact will depend on the partnerships, programmes and professional opportunities it develops.
Seen Here: AMPLIFYING AFRICA’S VISUAL EFFECTS VOICE. 🎬✨ Founding member Nono Mofokeng addresses attendees at the official launch of The VFX Circle, held at Vega School at Emeris in Sandton on 15 October 2026. The newly established nonprofit network aims to connect, empower and elevate Africa’s visual effects professionals by fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing and opportunities across the creative industry. Photo Credit: Community Newsroom
Knowledge-sharing and professional development
Beyond networking, The VFX Circle aims to create opportunities for members to learn from experienced practitioners through industry masterclasses, curated workshops and professional engagement.
These initiatives are intended to encourage the exchange of practical knowledge, production techniques and insights into the workflows used across the visual effects industry.
The organisation positions itself as a professional community rather than a formal training institution or recruitment agency. Its emphasis is on helping members build relationships, learn from one another and explore opportunities for collaboration.
For emerging artists, such networks can provide exposure to industry practices and professional perspectives. For established practitioners and studios, they can create opportunities to share expertise, connect with new talent and strengthen relationships across the creative sector.
Raising the visibility of African VFX talent
The launch comes as Africa’s film, television and digital content industries continue to develop their creative and technical capabilities.
A stronger visual effects ecosystem could support local productions by expanding access to specialised talent and encouraging collaboration between artists, studios and production companies.
It could also help African practitioners establish stronger professional connections beyond their immediate markets, potentially opening pathways to international projects and wider industry participation.
For the continent’s creative economy, developing and retaining technical talent is an important part of building sustainable production capacity. Networks that encourage mentorship, collaboration and knowledge-sharing can contribute to this process.
The VFX Circle’s stated ambition is to help African professionals become more connected and visible within the industry. The scale of that contribution will become clearer as its programmes and partnerships take shape.
A community-led approach
The VFX Circle describes itself as a nonprofit initiative supported by individuals and organisations that believe in the future of African visual effects.
Its membership model is designed to welcome students, freelancers, experienced professionals, studios and production companies, encouraging participation across different levels of experience.
By creating a shared professional space, the organisation aims to support an environment where knowledge and opportunities can circulate more widely and where practitioners can build relationships that extend beyond individual projects.
Looking ahead
The launch of The VFX Circle at Vega School at Emeris marks a new initiative to bring Africa’s visual effects professionals closer together through networking, professional development and collaboration.
As the network develops, its ability to build sustained industry relationships and deliver tangible opportunities will be central to achieving its objectives.
For African creatives working behind the scenes of film and digital storytelling, the initiative offers a platform built around a shared ambition: to strengthen the community, elevate local talent and create more opportunities for the continent’s visual effects industry to grow.
For more information or to join the network, visit thevfxcircle.com.
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