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Local Film - Deep end wraps up filming in Durban

After 29 days of filming in Durban, local film production company Arclight, begins the next stage of their journey with the post-production on their surf-flick Deep End in the in the City.

 Filmed in Durban on a fairly healthy budget of R4 million, with a completely local crew, Deep End is funded by the DTI and KZN Film Commission with production house investment as well.

 The film is directed by well-known award-winning director, Eubulus Timothy who is chairperson of the Durban Filmmakers Guild, vice chairperson of Writer’s Guild Of South Africa, and a recipient of the prestigious Harley-Merrill Screenwriting Award (Hollywood). Jacintha Timothy of Arclight Distributors, an established Durban-based film and television production company, is producing the film.

 “Deep End is essentially a coming of age, surf love story,” explains Jacintha. “It’s a warm, exciting, family movie that will resonate across the board with audiences.”

 The film centres around a beautiful 20 year old Indian girl, Sunitha who comes from a traditional Durban family who defies her father, to become a competitive surfer. On the beaches she discovers a whole new world of inter- racial love, ethnic diversity, arranged marriages, conflict and friendship.  Her father’s heart is eventually softened by her skill for the sport and near death experience. And in the end she wins her struggle for self-expression and self-fulfillment in a society that supports conformity, gains her father’s approval and the man of her dreams. 

 The film stars Cape Town based actor Greg Kriek as Cory, the main love interest, and Durban-born, Cape-Town based Carishma Basday as Sunitha. Kriek has over 40 screen acting credits to his name and will soon be seen in the next installment of Universal Studios' Tremors as  "Dutch", in 20th Century Fox's Maize Runner: The Death Cure, Pureflix's Samson as one of the leads "Caleb" and also stars as Tony Sinclair in the upcoming biopic Serengeti Rules from Oscar winning production company Passion Pictures.

 Well-known SA actress Carishma Basday, a presenter on the popular Mela magazine show on SABC3, has many film and commercial credits to her name. Equally at home on stage and screen Casrishma has featured in films 31 Million Reasons (directed by John Barker) and starred in her first leading role as the love interest of famed comedian Riaad Moosa in Material directed by the award-winning Craig Freimond. 

 “We are thrilled that Arclight managed to secure significant funding to be able to film this delightful uniquely Durban story,” said Toni Monty, Head of the Durban Film Office. “As the City’s industry development unit, we are constantly looking at ways in which we can encourage production houses to make use of the City as we offer such a wealth of locations and a myriad settings. Arclight has taken advantage of these, and we look forward to seeing the fruits of their love and labour on the big screen.”

 Speaking on location on Durban Beachfront Jacintha, who also produced the second season of Durban Beach Rescue, says post-production will be done another Durban-based company -  The Other Theatre Company.

 “We have enough local talent to be able to make films in Durban,” enthused Jacintha, “but we need to give people a chance to gain the experience. So it has been fantastic to be able to do this in our home town.”

 

Issued by Nolwazi Magwaza / Sharlene Versfeld

For the Durban Film Office

Local female film-maker forges ahead in male-dominated arena

After identifying a gap in local film making production process, the eThekwini Municipality’s film industry development unit, the Durban Film Office introduced SCOUT, a location scouting and management programme as part of its overall mandate to encourage more film making in Durban.  One of the 2014 SCOUT participants, Sindisiwe Mngadi, has really taken the opportunity afforded her and is making waves in the industry, not only locally but on a national level too.

 Toni Monty, Head of the DFO explains: “SCOUT is an intensive programme developed to professionally develop local location scouts and expose young and previously disadvantaged filmmakers to the business of location scouting and with the aim that they will eventually move into full location management. We have had two sessions with local filmmakers one in 2014 and another in 2016. Participants took part in a one week theory class and two weeks of practical knowledge programme which also included a formal and accredited NOSA training in Basic fire Awareness, Introduction to Occupational Safety and Health and Health and Environment Representative Training, with professional Locations Manager Neville Botha from Unit Co-Op.”

 Twenty-eight year old, Sindisiwe, who is based on the Berea, worked at local production company Durban Motion Pictures after leaving school, where she gained invaluable experience working on the job and training at the same time.

 The young go-getter started her company, Lopper Media in 2010, with a focus on video production for events and editing. In the last few years she has ventured into film and commercial production services, and is fast developing a name for herself as a reputable service provider with a range of services that include location scouting, location and unit management, as well as security services .

 “The scouting programme was very informative and it opened my eyes to the many opportunities that we have in Durban from a locations point of view and also within the industry as a whole,” she says.

 “The knowledge that I gained from the training helped me so much and made me take my business more seriously,” she enthuses. “After doing the SCOUT programme my business has definitely improved and grown very fast. We have even ventured into location and unit management, and we recently were able to work with major production companies such as Born Free Media, Natives at Large and Mobile Media, and I was also a location and unit manager for a recent Red Bull Commercial that was managed by Mobile Media, here in Durban - the best two days ever,” she says.

Determined to make a real go of this industry, Sindisiwe is currently in Johannesburg where she is hoping to finalise the details for three new short films being shot in Durban. 

 “I am really excited about the opportunities that have come up and I am hoping to grow my business into a major unit management one.”

 

Canada and South Africa celebrate 20 years of film and TV co-production at DFM and DIFF 2017

July 6, 2017 – In 1997, Canada and South Africa signed an Audiovisual Co-production Treaty which would pave the way for collaboration between Canadian and South African film and television productions. This was the first ever co-production treaty signed by South Africa and remained the only one until 2003. To celebrate this important milestone, Canada will be a country of focus at the Durban FilmMart (DFM) and at the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF).

 

“We are immensely proud to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Canada and South African audio visual treaty. The incredible projects that have been produced under the treaty like Molo Fish, the first project produced, will forever be engraved in the memories of many South Africans. The celebrations of the treaty commenced at HotDocs, it is exciting to now host the celebration at SA’s premier film festival DIFF. We look forward to future projects between the two countries.” said Zama Mkosi, CEO of the National Film and Video Foundation

As part of the commemoration of the 20th anniversary, a delegation from Canada will be at DFM and will participate in various sessions of the program. The delegation includes:

-        Valerie Creighton, CEO of Canada Media Fund which provides funding for Canadian co-production projects.

-        Heidi Tao Yang, Fund Manager for the Hot Docs-Blue Ice Group Documentary Fund which provides funding to African documentary filmmakers.

-        Nicole Brooks and Lisa Wickham from Caribbean Tales who will run CineFAM - Africa, which is a two-day programme with the objective to support the development of original serialised television content created by women from Africa and the African Diaspora.

-        Alfons Adetuyi, Producer from Inner City Films

-        Daniel Iron and Lance Samuels, Producers from Blue Ice Pictures

-        Damon D’Oliveira, Producer from Conquering Lion Pictures

-        Mila Aung-Thwin, Executive Producer of EyeSteeleFilm

-        Richard Boddington, independent producer who’s film Phoenix Wilder will world premiere at DIFF.

As part of the commemoration of the 20 years of the co-production treaty, a selection of four co-produced films will be screened at DIFF. These include A Million Colours, Inescapable, Jonestone: Paradise Lost, and Phoenix Wilder (World Premiere). From 1997 to 2015, a total of 23 official projects have been produced under the treaty including television series such as Jozi-H and Charlie Jade, and feature films such as The Bang Bang Club.

“It is a great pleasure for us to commemorate 20 years of co-production with South Africa at DIFF, and in the presence of a Canadian delegation with significant co-production experience. We look forward to continuing the celebration at the Toronto International Film Festival in September with our South African colleagues’, said Sandra McCardell, High Commissioner of Canada in South Africa.

Canada has signed co-production treaties with 54 countries and South Africa is an important partner being among the top 10 countries for official film and television co-productions with Canada. Canada sees the film industry as an important job creator, and contributor to its economic growth, generating close to C$5 billion (approx. R50 billion) in revenue annually.

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Durban FilmMart Hosts Leading Film Executive Tilane Jones of Array Now

One of the key figures attending the Durban FilmMart this year, Tilane Jones is the executive director of ARRAY, the film distribution collaborative founded by Oscar-winner Ava DuVernay which is focused on women filmmakers and filmmakers of colour. Since 2011, Array has acquired key titles, including Ava DuVernay’s Middle of Nowhere, Andrew Dosunmu’s Restless City and Haile Gerima’s Ashes and Embers. In the process, Jones has shifted the position of films made by women and people of colour, bringing an audience to films that would otherwise struggle to find screens. As well as her position at Array, Jones is also a production manager with several high-profile titles to her name, including a range of fashion and beauty films and television productions.

Talking about her first visit to South Africa and her engagement with the local film market, Jones says that she hopes to inspire and encourage women to overcome the challenges they face on the continent as women filmmakers. “I want to let women filmmakers know that there is an audience that is hungry for stories told from their perspective. ARRAY has worked hard to cultivate that audience and we are eagerly awaiting them and their films.”

Tilane will also be meeting with local women filmmakers to find out what their needs are and what hurdles they need to overcome, in order to better inform herself on how she might be able to inspire and encourage them in the important work that they are doing. “I am very excited about my first visit to South Africa and the Durban FilmMart”, she said, “and I look forward to meeting with emerging filmmakers from the continent, with the aim of acquiring more African titles to be distributed in the United States”.

Asked about whether there was a defining moment when she had cut through the barriers that traditionally held women back from being major players in the global film industry, Jones takes a somewhat pragmatic approach. “There always have been and always will be barriers to break through as a woman and person of colour. But the task of breaking those barriers will never end, so instead I focus on trying to acquire films by women filmmakers and filmmakers of colour that, one by one, break a barrier just by existing and being seen by audiences. There are many audiences that would not have been able to experience this art form if it weren’t for ARRAY and our partners. I focus my efforts on the work more than on breaking barriers.”

Talking about women in the industry who have inspired her, Jones says that she is motivated to continue her work by every woman filmmaker and producer who creates complex, dynamic images. Of those women, ARRAY founder, Ava DuVernay is a key inspiration to her– “Due to her amazing storytelling ability, for loving herself as a black woman and a black woman filmmaker who tells stories from her own unique perspective, for being passionate about her culture, and for being passionate about film. Ava is always pushing past the ‘no’ and finding her own ‘yes’ and that inspires me more than anything.”

Finally, does she have any advice for young female film-makers just starting out as to how they can cut through the clutter in an industry that is still male-dominated? “I always tell filmmakers to tell their own stories and to tell them well.  Being a woman filmmaker and telling stories from a women’s perspective is all that needs to be done to cut through the clutter. Don’t focus on the noise – it is there to distract you. Focus on the story and telling it to the best of your capability. “

Jones will appear in the DFM programme, session entitled ‘Women-led Film: In Conversation with Tilane Jones’ on Friday 14 July at 14h00 - 16h00.

The 8th Durban FilmMart takes place in Durban, at the Tsogo Sun Elangeni from 14 to 17 July 2017, during the 38th edition of the Durban International Film Festival (13-23 July 2017).

For more information on the Durban FilmMart visit www.durbanfilmmart.com. Registration can now only be done at Elangeni Hotel from 9am on Thursday, July 13.

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7th Durban FilmMart Full Programme Announced

Media Release

7th Durban FilmMart Full Programme Announced

Durban, South Africa: The 7th Durban FilmMart (DFM), Africa’s premier film finance and co-production forum has announced its full programme for this year’s edition, which takes place at the Tsogo Sun Elangeni Hotel from June 17 to 20 during the Durban International Film Festival.

An insightful industry programme has been scheduled for this year’s DFM, which has as its objective to stimulate the development of project collaboration between African filmmakers in order to kindle the creation of film on the continent and increase the visibility of African cinema on a global platform.

This year’s DFM industry development programme has a strong focus on story development, the essential starting point for any film, and so a number of sessions will delve into topics that will address the subject of “What is an African story and how to sell these African stories”. South African film-makers Junaid Ahmed and Akin Omotoso will share their experiences of developing their latest films – Happiness is a Four Letter Word and Tell Me Sweet Something respectively. United Kingdom-based Selina Ukwuoma, a script consultant who has worked extensively with the likes of Curtis Brown and projects ranging from 2008’s BAFTA winning Boy A to the more recent Teddy and FIPRESCI Prize-winning Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho will presenting a masterclass on storytelling. South African author and entrepreneur, GG Alcock, will present an unusual Masterclass under the banner of "Authenticity is Key – Building Credibility with Audiences”, where he will talk about the vital necessity of engaging with an audience on their own terms through an authentic understanding of local narratives. Then the Business Model Canvas Programme based on Alex Osterwalder’s book Business Model Generation will demystify the business model design for film which to help businesses to get their first principles right – starting with who their customer might be.

Another key highlight of this year’s industry programme “Packaging for the US Market” with Hollywood producer director Jeff Byrd, a protégé of Spike Lee (Byrd worked on Mo’Better Blues, Jungle Fever and Malcolm X with Lee). Byrd is joined by well-known SA Producer Themba Sibeko Managing Director of Ziya Pictures who has over 25 years of experience in film, television and video and has worked with the likes of Bill Duke (A Rage in Harlem, Deep Cover, Sister Act 2), Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon, The Color Purple), Ruby Dee (American Gangster, Do The Right Thing), and Isaac Hayes (Shaft) to name a few. 

Hot topic at the moment for film-makers is the subject of Virtual Reality and how this will play out in the film space. Leading a workshop on this topic is Ingrid Kopp who is Director of Digital Initiatives at the Tribeca Film Institute in New York City where she overseas the TFI New Media Fund and leads the Institute’s digital and interactive programs including TFI Interactive and the national Tribeca Hacks hackathon programme. 

Todd Brown, founder of the international film website TwitchFilm.com, and director of international programming at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, USA, will present a masterclass on “Using Short Films to Build Brand and Audience”.

Other workshops and masterclasses include “Video on Demand - How Filmmakers can access this New Distribution Stream”, “Where Social Media and Marketing Meet”, “New Strategies for Financing Independent Film”, “Presales Agreements: Creating value for your investors”, “Talking Through Completion Bonds with Film Finances SA”, “Building Relationships, Building Stories: What to expect and what you get in the editor/director collaboration” with SA Guild of Editors and "How to Pitch and Not Fall Flat on Your Face" with Restless Talent. Round table discussions will include “Finding the Right Partner for Film” with industry professionals and “Window to the World” with international festivals and markets to enable delegates to grow and establish their networks across the continent and further afield.

The National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa, will present a number of sessions including “Financing Film through Distribution” and “Marketing and Co-Production with Netherlands”.

“We are really pleased with the programme for this year’s DFM,” says Toni Monty, Head of the Durban Film Office which partners with the DIFF to present the DFM. “The topics and speakers are all on point in terms of what is happening in the industry on a global level and we look forward to hosting delegates for an exciting four day programme, networking, negotiating and film loving!”

Partners and supporters of this year’s DFM include AfriDocs, Berlin Talents Campus, Business Model Canvas, Callsheet, CineMart, Documentary Filmmakers Association, DTI, Durban Tourism, Dutch Film Fund, Film Finances SA, Film and Publications Board, French Embassy, German Embassy, Goethe-Institut, Hot docs Blue Ice Fund, Institut Francais, International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, KUMISA, KZN Film Commission, Mnet, National Film and Video Foundation, Opdocs, OIF, Produire au Sud, Restless Talent Management, SABC, SAGE, Screen Africa, Sonoton, Sørfond, Sundance Institute, Talents Durban, Tsogo Sun, Tribeca Institute, Versfeld & Associates, Variety and VideoVision Entertainment. 

For registration or for more information view the delegate registration process online at the official website - www.durbanfilmmart.co.za.  Early Bird registration closes on 30 May 2016. 

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Photos attached: Credit: Supplied by DFM

Independent Filmmaking Workshop, 7 May 2016

MEDIA RELEASE

INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING WORKSHOP

AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FILM INDUSTRY PRINCIPLES

 

Since its launch in 2011 the EThekwini Filmmakers Association has been offering a set of skills-based monthly workshops that are aimed at equipping and uplifting local emerging filmmakers within the eThekwini Municipality. This month’s workshop will take place on Saturday, 7 May from 9am – 4.30pm at the Bat Centre in Durban.

The Independent Filmmaking Workshop, a developmental initiative between the Durban Film Office and non-profit organisation, the eThekwini Filmmakers Association (EFA), covers the basics of filmmaking. Award winning filmmaker Lehlogonolo “King Shaft” Moropane who graduated with BA film degree from AFDA film school in 2003 will facilitate. Moropane has over 15 years experience in the film industry working as a director, writer and producer and he will be sharing his experiences with film-makers.

Moropane, who owns production company Sunrise Entertainment, has directed and produced numerous short films, TV dramas and music videos. Some of his notable work includes SABC 1 dramas such as Skeem Saam and Uzalo 2015, 360 a feature film  and music videos for artists such as HHP, Proverb, Flavour and Mafikizolo. He is currently studying for his Masters of Fine Arts in Motion Picture, and working on his next feature film June 16.

The workshop is free and all filmmakers from the eThekwini Municipality are welcome to attend.

 

For bookings or more information on the workshop contact eThekwini Filmmakers Association Chairperson Andile Buwa on 072 994 343 or via email at efa031@gmail.com.  Alternatively contact Ntuthuzelo Gentse on 083 498 9580.

 

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 Sharlene Versfeld

Versfeld & Associates

031-8115628

083 326 3235

sharlene@versfeld.co.za

Call for Projects for 2016 Durban FilmMart

Media Release

Call for Projects for 2016 Durban FilmMart

The Durban FilmMart (DFM) has opened submissions for projects for the 7thedition, which will take place next year.  It is important to note, that the deadline for submissions has been being shifted earlier to December 14, 2015 to allow for the selection committee to have more time to assess projects, and for more time to create opportunities for marketing and promotion of the projects and film-makers at the DFM.

A joint project of Durban Film Office, the eThekwini Municipality’s industry development unit, and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), the DFM aims to raise the visibility of African cinema, stimulate production on the continent, and facilitate project collaboration between African filmmakers.

The DFM has become an integral part of the fast-growing South African film industry and since its inception in 2010, has helped facilitate more than 90 African co-production projects, many of which have subsequently been produced as acclaimed films.

Selected DFM projects will undergo a two-day packaging and mentoring programme followed by two days of one-on-one meetings with a panel of film financiers, buyers and distributors.

The programme is open to full length feature and documentary films with Africans in key creative roles (writers, directors and producers) that are looking for co-producers, financiers, sales agents and funders. A selection committee will review all submissions for consideration, and will select 10 fiction feature and 10 documentary feature projects that are in development to participate. African filmmakers, from writers to directors, are encouraged to submit their projects by 14 December 2015.

“We would like to encourage African film-makers to take advantage of the opportunity to submit their projects to the DFM, as we have seen how valuable the programme is to helping filmmakers get their projects off the ground.” says Durban Film Office’s Toni Monty. “The networking with film-makers from around the globe at the DFM also provides opportunities for film-makers to grow their networks further afield. Over the years we have seen many alumnis secure further funding grants for their films, and their works screened at film festivals around the world. It is really a great springboard for developing projects.”

Film-makers must note that it is important that all projects must have both a producer and director attached to them.

To find out more about the DFM 2016, project submission criteria and how to submit your project, please visit www.durbanfilmmart.com

For further enquires contact: info@durbanfilmmart.com or call   +27 31 311 4243

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3934 - Cannes-born script-writer expert Sari Turgeman gives a masterclass at the DFM 2015.

3962 - Film-maker Mohammed Siam pitching his film Amal to the panel at the 2015 DFM.



Durban FilmMart to host leading Financiers, Producers and Broadcasters for its Sixth Edition

Media Release

Durban FilmMart to host leading Financiers, Producers and Broadcasters for its sixth edition July 17 – 20, 2015

Durban, South Africa: The Durban FilmMart (DFM), the co-production forum of Durban Film Office (DFO), the film industry development programme of the city and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), Africa’s premier film festival will host leading industry financiers, producers and commissioning editors at its sixth edition  from July 17 – 20, 2015.

The DFM, now in it’s 6th year, is Africa’s leading finance and co-production market, and networking event, which includes a finance forum, master classes, an Africa in Focus workshop and seminar programme in conjunction with the DIFF for industry delegates,  and numerous networking functions.

“Film-makers from Africa and across the globe enjoy the opportunity that the DFM creates to connect with others in the industry to share contacts, knowledge and creative ideas.” says Toni Monty, of the Durban Film Office. “Filmmakers take full advantage of the various networking sessions and social engagements in between sessions to connect with financiers, producers, commissioning editors as well as distributors and the myriad creative filmmakers that attend.”

“Our main objective is to help people connect and develop networks and partnerships with others in the industry, especially those from across Africa.” says Toni Monty of the DFO. “We see how African filmmakers have developed strong relationships over the years and through various collaborative efforts we are starting to see an interesting growth in the industry. .”

This year some top-drawer industry professionals will be in attendance to meet the filmmakers of the pre-selected film projects in the Finance Forum. Durban FilmMart delegates will be able to network with these financiers and other high profile industry guests on over the four days of the DFM.

The line up of producers, commissioning editors and financiers include producer, Alexandra Stone, who heads CMP Film Ltd, a London-based film and television production company. She was worked with top-end filmmakers such as  Bernardo Bertolucci, Terry Gilliam, Jonathan Glazer, Johnny Depp, Phillip Noyce and David Cronenberg, as well as Peter Weir, Euzhan Palcy, Lasse Hallstrom and Steve Kloves.

Cosima Degler producer of unafilm, whose slate of films have been screened at A-festivals around the world including Berlinale, Cannes, Toronto, Locarno, IDFA, San Sebastian, DOKLeipzig, among others them. In 2013 unafilm’s Heli won the award for Best Director in competition in Cannes and in 2014 Bridges of Sarajevo was shown in the Sélection Officielle in Cannes.

Managing Director of Barentsfilms, Ingrid Lill Høgtun, is the Norwegian co-producer for Cylinder Production, for the film "Essential Killing" by Jerzy Skolimowski, a Polish, Norwegian, Irish, Hungarian co-production, which won the Jury´s Special Award and Best Actor in Venice 2010. She is also Executive Producer for the TV-series "Hellfjord" by Tommy Wirkola and others, produced by Tappeluft Pictures.  Based in Oslo, Norway, Barentsfilm produces mainly art house films and documentaries. Among others, the company has produced most of the films of the acclaimed Norwegian director, Knut Erik Jensen.

Jelena Goldbach, producer with ZAK Film Productions,  specialises in European co-productions. In 2014 Jelena produced The Chicken by the up-and coming Bosnian writer/director Una Gunjak, which won the European Film Award for Best Short Film. The Chicken premiered at the 67th Festival de Cannes, in the Semaine de la Critique strand and was the winner of the prestigious Robert Bosch Coproduction Price. In 2010 Jelena founded Wostok, an independent London-based production company that specializes in development, financing and production of international projects with focus on up-and coming talent.

Philipp Hoffman, from Rushlake Media, a company that supports producers, rights holders and institutions marketing their content in the changing landscape of film distribution with its core business is VOD licensing and digital distribution:  Beside the digital distribution, we do the international sales for selected producers with a focus on the African market. Clients include Tom Tykwer’s One fine Day Films and Gravel Road Entertainment Group.

Director of Documentary programming at the Tribeca Film Institute, Jose Rodriguez has been a script/book reader for Overture Films while also working on Tze Chun’s Children of Invention and the documentary Poor Consuelo Conquers the World. The Tribeca Film Institute champions storytellers to be catalysts for change in their communities and around the world. With over $1.5 million USD in annual grants and professional development programs, TFI supports a diverse, exceptional group of filmmakers and media artists, providing them resources needed to fully realise their stories and connect with audiences.

Additional key guests include Afridocs (South Africa), Afrinolly (Nigeria), Arrow Entertainment Inc (Canada), Arte  (France), Barents Film (Norway), BBC StoryVille (UK), Caribbean Tales (Canada), Cinemart (Netherlands), CMP Films (UK), Docubox (Kenya), Doe Eye Media Production Inc (Canada), Endorphine Production (Germany), Goethe Institut (Germany), Gotel Communications Ltd, Hot Docs / Blue Ice (Canada), IDFA (Netherlands), Inner City Films (Canada), Melia Films France (France), Produire au Sud (France), Prospector Films (Canada), Real Livin’ Films Inc (Canada), Rome Cinema Network (Italy), Rush Lake Media (Germany), Sherwood Productions Inc, (Canada), Sisu Productions (Canada), Ste Films (Italy), Sundance Institute (USA),Ten 10 Films (UK), Torpedo Pictures (Canada), Tribeca Film Institute (USA), Triptych Media Inc (Canada), Una Film (Germany), XYZ Films (USA), Zak Films (Germany), ZDF (Germany).

By all accounts Durban FilmMart 2015 is set to offer attending delegates enormous opportunity to build important networks for project development.

Early bird registration closes 27 June 2015. This offers a discounted fee for the DFM as well as an opportunity to be listed in the industry manual, which is used as a reference tool by filmmakers.

For more information or to register for the DFM 2015 go to www.durbanfilmmart.com, or email info@durbanfilmmart.com

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Note to Editors:

The Durban FilmMart (DFM) is a co-production and finance market and is a joint programme of the Durban Film Office (DFO) and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF). DFM provides filmmakers from across Africa with a valuable opportunity to pitch projects to financiers, distributors, sales agents and potential co-producers, and to participate in meetings, project presentations and a series of master classes and workshops on the latest industry trends.  www.durbanfilmmart.com

The Durban Film Office (DFO) is the film industry development arm of the eThekwini Municipality, mandated to position Durban as a world-class film production destination and facilitator for the development of the local film industry. The DFO drives activity and development in the sector in order to boost tourism, job creation and the development of core skills and SMMEs in the region.  www.durbanfilmoffice.com

The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) presents over 250 screenings from different countries and cultures with a special focus on Africa. The festival includes development programmes such as Talents Durban and a rich schedule of workshops. DIFF is a flagship project of the Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal, which facilitates creative platforms and economic opportunities for artists and related industries, intercultural exchange and network development, training, audience development and strategic Pan-African and international cooperation in the cultural sectors.  www.cca.ukzn.ac.za

Official Project Selection for the 6th Durban FilmMart Announced in Cannes

Media Release

Official Project Selection for the 6th Durban FilmMart Announced in Cannes Yesterday

Nineteen documentaries and fiction feature film projects from around Africa have been selected for this year’s Durban FilmMart (DFM) which takes place in Durban, South Africa from July 17 to 20, 2015. The details of the selection were announced at a networking function held at the South Africa Pavilion at the Cannes International Film Festival last night.

The Durban FilmMart, now in it’s it 6th edition has selected these projects from 120 submissions by African filmmakers who wished to participate in the continent’s premier finance and co-production market. 

A joint initiative between the Durban Film Office and the Durban International Film Festival, the Durban FilmMart aims to raise the visibility of African cinema, stimulate production on the continent, and facilitate project collaboration between African filmmakers. The DFM creates an optimum platform for African filmmakers, financiers, broadcasters and top film experts to converge, network and spark creative thinking around current and future projects.

“This year, we are pleased to welcome projects from a diverse range of countries on the continent, including Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa,” says Toni Monty, of the Durban Film Office. “The DFM has become an important springboard for projects that have been conceptualized by African filmmakers, to support them as the projects move from the idea to exhibition. Over the last five years we have seen many projects go on to be awarded further opportunities to develop at various other markets, and eventually be screened in cinemas and festivals around the globe. In previous years, past DFM projects have been selected for the Durban International Film Festival, testimony to the value this market adds to the development process.”

A Reader Panel, comprising of African and international film professionals had to moderate and score submissions, culminating in a rigorous selection discussion over shortlisted projects in both the documentary and fiction section.

These feature and documentary film-makers will be attending the DFM for one-on-one meetings with potential investors and co-producers in the Finance Forum. The projects will also have an opportunity to pitch to a panel of commissioning editors from local and international funders and financiers.  The selected project participants will also be given opportunities to network and meet industry professionals during several scheduled industry sessions.

Selected Projects:

9 Documentaries

After Marikana – The End of Democracy  (South Africa), Producer Anita Khanna, Director Rehad Desai

Amal (Egypt) Producer Sara Bökemeyer, Director Mohamed Siam

Life and Times of John C (South Africa) Producer Neil Brandt, Director Francois Verster

Truck Mama (Kenya) Producer Zipporah Nyaruri, Director Zipporah Nyaruri, Co-director Peggy Mbiyu

Not in My Neighbourhood (South Africa) Producer and Director Kurt Orderson

Project Delight (South Africa) Producer and Director Karin Slater

Terre Jaune (Togo) Producers Sitou Ayite and Madje Ayite with Elisabeth Guthmann, Director Bouna Cherif Fofana and Sitou Ayite

The Other Half of the African Sky (Zimbabwe) Producer and Director Tapiwa Chipfupa

The Rainbow: Jazz for the Struggle, and the Struggle for Jazz (South Africa) Producer Antoinette Engel, Director Niren Tolsi

10 Fiction

Cactus Flower (Egypt) Producer Hossam Elouan, Director Hala Elkoussy

Inkabi (The Hitman) (South Africa) Producer Anco Henning, Director Norman Maake

Laughter is the best Colour (Nigeria) Producer  Mohammed  Musulumi, Director Chike Ibekwe

On the Way to Paradise (South Africa) Producer Imraan Jeeva, Director Sara Blecher

One More Night in Lagos (Cote d'Ivoire) Producer Tosin Coker, Director Marina Niava

Riot Waif (South Africa) Producer Jean Meeran, Director Zinaid Meeran

Selma and Charlize (South Africa) Producer Junaid Ahmed/Helena Spring, Director Robyn Aronstam

Sunflowers Behind a Dirty Fence (Uganda) Producer Nathan Magoola, Director Simon Mukali

The Tall Assassin (South Africa) Producer Carolyn Carew, Director Roy Zetisky

Unbalanced (Ghana) Producer Akosua Adoma Owusu, Director P. Sam Kessie

The DFM also invites filmmakers who do not have projects selected for the market and industry professionals, to attend as delegates for the programme of  masterclasses, forums and networking events during the four-day market.  Registration is now open and early bird rates apply until 27 June 2015. Delegates who register within the early bird window, get discounted registration rates and inclusion in the DFM’s Industry Manual, a valuable networking tool during and after the market.

The 6th Durban FilmMart takes place in Durban, at the Tsogo Sun Elangeni from 17 to 20 July 2015, during the 36th edition of the Durban International Film Festival (16-26 July 2015).

For more information on the Durban FilmMart and to register as a delegate visit www.durbanfilmmart.com

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Issued on behalf of The Durban FilmMart by:

Sharlene Versfeld & Ayanda Mabanga

Versfeld & Associates

 031-8116528/ 083 326 3235

Sharlene@versfeld.co.za/ info@versfeld.co.za

 

Note to Editors:

The Durban FilmMart (DFM) is a co-production and finance market and is a joint programme of the Durban Film Office (DFO) and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF). DFM provides filmmakers from across Africa with a valuable opportunity to pitch projects to financiers, distributors, sales agents and potential co-producers, and to participate in meetings, project presentations and a series of master classes and workshops on the latest industry trends.  www.durbanfilmmart.com

The Durban Film Office (DFO) is the film industry development arm of the eThekwini Municipality, mandated to position Durban as a world-class film production destination and facilitator for the development of the local film industry. The DFO drives activity and development in the sector in order to boost tourism, job creation and the development of core skills and SMMEs in the region.  www.durbanfilmoffice.com

 The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) presents over 250 screenings from different countries and cultures with a special focus on Africa. The festival includes development programmes such as Talents Durban and a rich schedule of workshops. DIFF is a flagship project of the Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal, which facilitates creative platforms and economic opportunities for artists and related industries, intercultural exchange and network development, training, audience development and strategic Pan-African and international cooperation in the cultural sectors.  www.cca.ukzn.ac.za

5th Durban FilmMart Project Selection Announcement

5th Durban FilmMart Project Selection Announcement

It’s that exciting time of the year again when the Durban FilmMart proudly reveal the names of the African filmmakers whose film and documentary projects have been officially selected to participate in the continent’s leading finance and coproduction film market.  The Durban FilmMart was pleased to receive applications from filmmakers from around the African continent intent on participating in the biggest edition of Durban FilmMart thus far.

Set to take place in Durban at the new venue of Tsogo Sun, Elangeni Hotel from 18-21 July 2014, during the 35th edition of the Durban International Film Festival (17-27 July 2014), the Durban FilmMart – a joint initiative between the Durban Film Office and the Durban International Film Festival - will serve as a meeting place for African filmmakers, financiers, broadcasters and top film experts.

“We are very pleased to note that the number, quality and geographical spread of project submissions are growing every year. Our evaluation committee had a tough job selecting the top twenty projects most suited to the Durban FilmMart programme and we thank everybody who submitted projects for their interest in Durban FilmMart.” said Durban Film Office Head Toni Monty.

The project selection process was undertaken by a Reader Panel consisting of African and international film professionals who were given the daunting task of moderating and scoring the 164 submissions, which consisted of 85 feature and 79 documentary projects.

Following the outcome, 10 fiction projects and 10 documentary projects have been selected for one-on-one meetings with potential investors and co-producers in the Finance Forum. This year’s programme will also include a full day pitch forum in which both documentary and fiction projects will be pitched to a panel of commissioning editors, funders and financiers.  Durban FilmMart participants will also have the opportunity to liaise with industry professionals during several scheduled networking sessions.

Many of the Durban FilmMart alumni have gone on to compete and premiere at festivals across the globe, including the Durban International Film festival, said festival manager Peter Machen.  “From Durban to Cannes, Toronto and Berlin, talented African filmmakers, including those selected to participate in DFM 2014, are making their mark in the global arena.  African filmmaking is on the rise.”

The following fiction film projects have been selected for DFM 2014:

 All Time Idlers (Egypt) - Directed by Khaled Hafez and produced by Hossam Elouan

The Boy in the Mask (South Africa) - Directed by Jan Lampen and produced by Jennifer Mostert              

Cold Stone Jug (South Africa) - Directed by William Collinson and Ashleigh Nash

Dances of Red (Namibia) - Directed by Oshosheni Hiveluah and produced by Tapiwa Mahaka     

Hawa Hawaii (Kenya) - Directed by Amirah Mohamed Tajdin and produced by Wafa Mohamed Tajdin

Nyanga Sky (South Africa) - Directed by Matthew Griffiths and produced by Rafeeqah Galant   

The Story Of A Kiss (Egypt) - Directed by Ahmed Amer and produced by Wael Sayed El Ahl          

The Train of Salt and Sugar (Portugal/Mozambique) - Directed by Licinio De Azevedo and produced by Pandora Cunha Telles   

Tree of Crows (South Africa) - Directed by Stephen Abbott and produced by Eduan van Jaarsveldt

The Wound (South Africa) - Directed by John Trengove and produced by Elias Ribeiro    

The following documentary film projects have been selected:

Afterglow (South Africa) - Directed and produced by Amber (Arya) Lalloo

Alex On Seventh (South Africa) - Directed by Engelbert Phiri and produced by Guy Bragge

Alison (South Africa) - Directed by Uga Carlini and produced by Amy Nelson       

Beyond the Barricades (South Africa) Directed by Zanele Muholi and produced by Joost Verheij               

The Colonel’s Stray Dogs (South Africa) - Directed by Khalid Shamis and produced by Steven Markovitz

Egyptian Jeanne d'Arc (Egypt) Directed by Iman Kamel and produced by Talal Al-Muhanna         

Home Expulsion (Rwanda) - Directed and produced by Kayambi Musafiri

In search of African Duende: The Uganda Flamenco Project (Uganda) - Directed by Caroline Kamya and produced by Keren Cogan

Kula: A Memory in Three Acts (Mozambique) - Directed and produced by Inadelso cossa

The Sound of Masks (South Africa) - Directed by Kofi  Zwana and produced by Sara Gouveia

The 5th Durban FilmMart takes place in Durban from 18-21 July 2014, during the 35th edition of the Durban International Film Festival (17-27 July 2014). Filmmakers who do not have projects as part of the official selection can still register as delegates for the event, and will have the opportunity to attend numerous cutting-edge masterclasses throughout the four-day event.  Registration is now open and early bird rates apply until 27 June.

For more information on the Durban FilmMart and how to register as a delegate please visit www.durbanfilmmart.com

Ends

 

Ten Days To Go To SA's Top Film Event - The 34th Durban International Film Festival

It’s juts ten days to go to the start of the 34th Durban International Film Festival , South Africa’s premier film industry event which sees a host of local, continental and international filmmakers and film-lovers converge in the city to feast on everything to do with film from July 18 to 28.

The festival, is hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal, a special project of the Deputy Vice Chancellor and Head of the College of Humanities, Prof Cheryl Potgieter, with principal funding by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund. Over the years, the fest has grown in global stature to being one of the most important global festivals for viewing African and South African films, as well as offering audiences the best of the most recent international films. The full programme with schedule of films and workshop and seminar as well as all synopses of films is now up on the web –www.durbanfilmfest.co.za.

Eleven venues around Durban will host 170 films in 250 screenings in a smorgasbord of the best of contemporary cinema, and film-lovers and aspiring and experienced film-makers can enjoy a comprehensive workshop and seminar programme that facilitates the sharing of knowledge and skills by film industry experts.

This year the theme focus areas are African cinema with 12 world premieres of South African films including the opening night film Of Good Report directed by Jahmil Qubeka; Contemporary Europe, American Independent films, films about sexual identifies and sexuality, a Zombie fest as well as a broad variety of films showcasing the best of world cinema.

For film-lovers, this is an opportunity to go see films from firm favourites as well as to explore new and first time directors, films from new places and foreign language films; to discuss and debate the films, and get to meet the people who make them. Festival-goers will be delighted to hear that the DIFF has created a new free public marquee with refreshments for sale in front of the Blue Waters Hotel, as a social meeting point.

For film-makers there is the Fourth Durban FilmMart, a partnership project with the Durban Film Office, and supported by the City of Durban, which is a film finance and co-production market presented in three strands – Finance Forum, Master Classes and the Africa in Focus seminars. The DFM master class and networking programme is open to registered delegates only. See www.durbanfilmmart.com for further details.

For the ninth year, DIFF partners with Wavescape – a feast of surfing cinema and shark stories including 11 features and 5 shorts with a free outdoor screening at the Bay of Plenty Lawns on Sunday 21 July, before locating at Ster-Kinekor Musgrave Monday 22 July to Friday 26 July.

The 6th Talent Campus Durban brings together the creativity of 50 selected filmmakers from 18 different countries in Africa, chosen from over 450 submissions, who will take part in a series of masterclasses, workshops and industry networking opportunities during the DIFF.

Running parallel to the DIFF is Durban Wild Talk Africa, the continent’s most respected Natural History Film Festival and Conference which takes place at the Docklands Hotel in Durban from July 23 to 26.  For more info www.wildtalkafrica.com.

Principal screening venues are Suncoast Cinecentre; Ster Kinekor Musgrave, Cinema Nouveau – Gateway, Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre; Ekhaya Multi-Arts Centre in KwaMashu; and the Blue Waters Hotel. Other venues include the Bay of Plenty Lawns, the Upstairs at Spiga D’oro and the Luthuli Museum on the North Coast, which will have a special programme of screenings.


Tickets are through the respective venues and prices range from R25 to R35 (R50 for 3D screenings), except at Luthuli Museum, Blue Waters, Ekhaya and Bay of Plenty lawns, which are free of charge.  The Short Film programme at Upstairs at Spiga d’Oro  costs  R20.

Programme booklets with the full screening schedule and synopses of all the films are available free at cinemas, and other public information outlets. Full festival details can also be found on www.durbanfilmfest.co.za or by calling 031 2602506.


Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts in the College of Humanities (University of KwaZulu-Natal) the Durban International Film Festival is supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (principal funder), National Film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism, City of Durban, German Embassy, Goethe Institut, Industrial Development Corporation, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture, and a range of other valued partners.

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Durban International Film Festival / Durban FilmMart form strategic partnership with Durban Wild Talk Africa

Durban, South Africa: The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal), with principal funding from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, and the Durban FilmMart (DFM), the joint project of the Durban Film Office (DFO) and DIFF, are pleased to announce that a strategic partnership has been formed with Durban Wild Talk Africa, the continent’s most respected natural history film festival and conference, which takes place at the Docklands Hotel in Durban from July 23 to 26. 

The return of Wild Talk Africa to Durban is supported by the City of Durban through Durban Tourism and the Durban Film Office. “We are pleased that after a number of years we can welcome back this prestigious conference and festival to our City,” says Philip Sithole, Head of Durban Tourism and Business Support. “Durban Wild Talk Africa combined with the continent’s two major film events – the Durban International Film Festival and the Durban FilmMart, firms up a truly strong film industry package for visitors and we look forward to welcoming the many local, continental and international industry guests to our shores.”

Durban Wild Talk Africa is considered to be Africa’s key film festival and conference for natural history and wildlife film and television programming. The event includes; workshops, seminars, masterclasses, open pitching sessions, commissioners panels and exhibitions, and is a valuable networking forum with both local and international delegates and industry leaders. This year DWTA will include the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition to be held at uShaka Marine World and sponsored by National Geographic, from 25 July to 25 September 2013.

The Durban International Film Festival is SA’s largest and longest-running film festival, which takes place from July 18 to 28. The Durban FilmMart, which runs parallel to the DIFF from July 19 to 22, is the continent’s premier film industry event, which provides opportunities for selected projects to pitch to financiers and producers, as well as offering a series of master classes and top-drawer networking opportunities with industry players.

A selection of natural history films have been chosen from 445 entries from across the globe, to be screened during 9 slots as part of the DIFF programme. These films were entered as part of Durban Wild Talk Africa’s ROSCAR Awards competition. The Durban Wild Talk Africa has scheduled its conference in the footprint of DIFF, as part of a greater vision to build Durban’s golden mile as a hub for film market activity in the month of July. 

“Forming this strategic partnership with Durban Wild Talk Africa, adds a valuable new dimension to DIFF,” says Peter Machen, Manager of DIFF. “The Wild Talk Africa Film Festival selection complements our huge variety of more than 200 factual and fiction films screened at the DIFF. This, no doubt will add to the dynamic and vigorous discourse that usually takes place during the festival both informally and formally in seminars and workshops, as well as in the media.”

“We have chosen our dates to co-incide with the DIFF and DFM in a united effort to build the film festival and market environment for factual content and feature films in Durban,” says Donfrey Meyer, Director of Wild Talk Africa. “As the DWTA is an autonomous conference, running concurrently with the DIFF, we believe that film-makers and industry players will take advantage of the abundance of content, industry representation and opportunities to discuss, network and start conversations about content generation and distribution. There is a global focus on the natural history of this continent and, with this in mind, we are pleased to be welcoming commissioning editors and representatives from Discovery Networks International, NHK Japan Broadcasting Corp., BBC NHU, ORF Austrian Broadcasting Corp., ABC Australian Broadcasting Corp., National Geographic, SABC, NFVF, e.tv. NHU Africa and others to Durban.”

“The success of the Durban FilmMart is clearly demonstrated by the fact that we have seen many of the projects pitched in the finance forum successfully make it to festivals and theatrical release over the past four years.” says Toni Monty of the Durban Film Office. “The DFM provides an important platform for the business of film to be conducted. This, together with the industry events at both the DIFF and DFM, promises to create a conducive environment for delegates to exchange ideas and forge partnerships and relationships.. All of this helps to further develop a dynamic and robust industry on the continent. We see the alignment with Durban Wild Talk Africa as a great opportunity to further promote and develop factual film content in Africa. We are hoping that film-makers and industry representatives attending the DFM will stay on a little longer to engage with Wild Talk Africa, and take in the additional industry opportunities available.”

Registration for the DWTA is now open on www.wildtalkafrica.com. The delegate pass includes full access to workshops, seminars and panels, as well as evening networking events and functions.  

Registration for the Durban FilmMart is now open on www.durbanfilmmart.com. For more information about the Durban International Film Festival go towww.durbanfilmfest.co.za

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Note to Editors: 

The Durban FilmMart (DFM) is a co-production and finance market and is a joint programme of the Durban Film Office (DFO) and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF). DFM provides filmmakers from across Africa a valued opportunity to pitch projects to financiers, distributors, sales agents and potential co-producers, and participate in meetings, project presentations and a series of master classes and workshops on latest industry trends. www.durbanfilmmart.com

The Durban Film Office (DFO) is the film industry development arm of the eThekwini Municipality, mandated to position Durban as a world-class film production destination and facilitator for the development of the local film industry.  The DFO drives activity and development in the sector in order to boost tourism, job creation and the development of core skills and SMME’s in the region.   www.durbanfilmoffice.com

The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) presents over 250 screenings from different countries and cultures with special focus on Africa; it includes development programmes such as Talent Campus Durban. DIFF is a flagship project of the Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal, which facilitates creative platforms and economic opportunities for artists and related industries, intercultural exchange and network development, training, audience development and strategic Pan-African and international cooperation in the cultural sectors.  www.cca.ukzn.ac.za

 

Delegate Registration Opens for Durban FilmMart

Durban South Africa: Delegate registration for Durban FilmMart (DFM) opens today (June 6), with the continent's premier film finance and co-production forum urging industry delegates to take advantage of the discounted early bird registration. Now in its fourth edition, the DFM takes place from 19-22 July and promises an exciting programme of masterclasses and networking opportunities.

The Durban FilmMart - a joint project of the Durban Film Office (DFO) and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) - is an African co-production market that provides a platform for international experts, broadcasters, financiers and filmmakers to meet and develop strategic partnerships that get films made. The four-day event comprises of a programme of Master classes, Africa in Focus panels, networking functions, the DOC Circle Pitching Forum and the Finance Forum for selected projects of the market. Delegates will also get to enjoy the selection of films screening at the  Durban International Film Festival.

“The FilmMart objective is to facilitate the development of African film content and to fuel business and employment opportunities within this sector on the continent,” says Durban Film Office’s Toni Monty. “We have seen some strong projects emerge from the Finance Forum programme into theatrical exhibition and onto important international film festivals. We have also seen how the DFM has become an important meeting point for film-makers from South Africa, Africa and increasingly from beyond the continent to network and engage in meetings, discussions, master classes and further develop their professional careers.”

The Durban FilmMart programme features a range of masterclasses presented by leading industry experts on a wide range of topics ranging from world trends in co-production to finance, distribution, script development and new media. Africa in Focus is comprised of a range of seminars and panel discussions featuring local and international filmmakers experts, specifically dealing with salient issues in African cinema. DOC Circle Pitching Forum is a high-level pitching event where the selected documentary projects of the DFM as well those of as Talent Campus Durban's Doc Station pitch to an audience of financiers, commissioning editors and broadcasters as well as DFM delegates. This pitching forum is invaluable for the development of new filmmakers. In addition, Durban FilmMart  delegates have access to a range of networking events attended by key industry professionals . Delegates can also attend workshops, seminars and screenings in the festival . 

World-renowned film expert Clare Downs will present a scriptwriting workshop entitled Strategies for development: the Agony and Ecstasy. Clare Downs is a founding member of the script analysis team for EAVE and has worked in training, script development, producing and writing for over three decades.  Clare has been involved in many international development and training programmes including the Southern African Producer training programme AVEA (2000 -2005). 

Filmmaker, author, strategist and consultant John Reiss will present a transmedia masterclass drawing from his critically acclaimed book Think Outside the Box Office -The Ultimate Guide to Film Distribution in the Digital Era. John Reiss is the director of numerous films including the documentaries Bomb It and Bomb It 2, which look at the subversive and often controversial international subcultures around graffiti. 

Presenting a masterclass on co-production entitled The Art of Working Together is Christoph Thoke, a German film and television producer and president of Mogador Film, who has worked for leading German/French broadcaster ARTE and German production companies including Bavaria Films, Taunus Film and CineMedia. Mogador’s first film Lorna's Silence by the Dardene Brothers was selected in competition for Cannes 2008 and screened at the Durban International Film Festival.

Marketing and Publicity for Cinema: the Mentality to Promote is the masterclass to be presented by film distribution and marketing expert Alvaro Vega of Vertigo Films - Spain's leading distribution company (recently incorporated into Wild Bunch). Vega has been involved in the distribution of films for leading directors including David Lynch, Gus Van Sant, Wong Kar-Wai, Mike Leigh and Sofia Coppola.

A number of local, continental and international broadcasters,as well as various government agencies, film commissions, and distribution agencies will be in attendance, enabling delegates to establish contact and engage in one-on-one meetings. 

This year the DFM partners and supporters include the International Film Festival Rotterdam's (IFFR) CineMart, the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), the Berlinale Film Festival, Worldview, and others. Attending DFM this year, the Hot Docs Documentary Film Festival - North America’s largest documentary film festival - through its Blue Ice Fund Group initiative will continue to facilitate a financing and mentorship program for six African film grantees, awarded earlier this year. New partners include Paris Cinema’s film market Paris Project, who will select one project for their 2014 edition. Independent Filmmakers Project, America’s largest independent film non-profit, will select one DFM project to attend their lab for this year. ARTE returns to award a cash prize to the best fiction project, while Festival des 3 Continentes – Nantes and the International Organisation of Francophone will also be in attendance.

Renowned South African film and television pitching coach, Howard Thomas of Busvannah Communications will deliver four one-hour primers on proposal writing and pitching, covering the areas of research, target audience, writing and budgeting. These primers are aimed at beginner and intermediate producers active in content producing and will form part of the Durban FilmMart and Talent Campus Durban programme, with limited seats available to the public.

Following the DFM, and running from 23 to 26 July, is Wild Talk Africa, Africa’s key film festival and conference for natural history and wildlife film and television programming. “This is also a great opportunity for delegates to stay on in Durban and take advantage of the valuable opportunities in factual television-producing and broadcasting that Wild Talk presents.” says Monty.

“This year DFM’s has a really strong contingent of top quality experts and industry representatives, which adds significant weight to the level of engagement that will take place.” says Peter Machen, Manager of the Durban International Film Festival. “We look forward to welcoming delegates and hope that they seize the opportunity to network with the peers and experts in a meaningful way, and that this year’s Durban FilmMart continues to stimulate the growth of the industry on the continent.”

The 4th edition of Durban FilmMart takes place from 19 - 22 July 2013 during the Durban International Film Festival and is now open for delegate registration. Early bird registration, which enables the delegate to be included in the industry manual closes on July 2 and costs R1250. Registration thereafter costs R1750 and closes on July 18.

For more information and to register visit www.durbanfilmmart.com

- Ends