Fremantle and Passenger’s Origin: The Story of the Basketball Africa League premiered last night at the Toronto International Film Festival to a sold-out audience.
Co-directed by Richard Brown (True Detective, Outlaw King) and Tebogo Malope (Queen Sono, Outlaws, Rise: The Siya Kolisi Story), with Akin Omotoso (Rise, Marked) serving as executive co-producer, the series documents the groundbreaking first season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) — the NBA’s inaugural league outside of North America. The BAL has since grown into a continental phenomenon, most recently crowning its fifth champion at SunBet Arena in Pretoria this past June.
Following the screening, a panel discussion brought together some of the key figures behind the project and the league’s success: Giants of Africa co-founder, former Toronto Raptors President, and series executive producer Masai Ujiri; BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall; two-time NBA All-Star Joakim Noah; executive producer, writer, and director Richard Brown; and executive producer Akin Omotoso. The group reflected on the BAL’s historic journey, the making of the series, and the future of basketball in Africa.