Durban Film Office

Siyayinqoba Beat It! Film and Animated HIV PSA Competition

Community Media Trust (CMT) produces a weekly TV show called Siyayinqoba Beat It! which is an HIV awareness and education show and we are entering into our 6th season on SABC 1 next month.

As part of our communications campaign this year we are running an animation competition that is open to all non-professional animators and filmmakers, who will be expected to create an innovative 30-second PSA to drive Siyayinqoba Beat It! viewers towards testing for HIV, being informed, and correctly and consistently using condoms. Entrants may use any form of animation and film.

Referring to the 2009 National Communication Survey on HIV/AIDS, Jack Lewis, director of CMT, underlines that the more communications people are exposed to, the more effective they are.

“We therefore call on all amateur animators and filmmakers to put their thinking caps on and come up with a PSA that will knock people’s socks off.
It is also a great opportunity to make a substantial - and very visible
-
difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS” Lewis states.

The competition carries prize money of R10 000 for the winner, R5 000 for the runner-up and R2 500 for the third-placed entry. The best animated PSAs will all be featured on Siyayinqoba Beat It!

We are very keen for as many female students and non-professionals as possible to enter as we think this could be an exciting opportunity, especially for future animators and filmmakers to get some exposure.

Could you please post this message on the Durban Film Office site and share with your database or include in your newsletter?


Go to our website www.beatit.co.za and follow the link to the competition you can download the entry form and the information pack as well.

VIDEOVISION ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES TORONTO PREMIERE FILMS

VIDEOVISION ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES TORONTO PREMIERE FILMS

Sanjeev Singh, Director of Acquisition and Distribution for Videovision Entertainment announced today the acquisition of the films Made in Dagenham, Super and Kaboom ahead of their screenings at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival which takes place from 9 to 19 September 2010.
The Bang Bang Club which was shot in South Africa last year will have its World Premiere in Toronto with a Gala Screening on 15 September.

Made in Dagenham follows Rita O'Grady who is the catalyst for the 1968 Ford Dagenham strike by 187 sewing machinists which led to the advent of the Equal Pay Act.  Working in extremely impoverished conditions for long arduous hours which they must balance with their domestic lives, the women at the Ford Dagenham plant finally lose their patience when they are reclassified as "unskilled".  With humour, common sense and courage they take on their corporate paymasters, an increasingly belligerent local community, and finally the government itself.  The leader of the women's struggle is fast-talking, no nonsense Rita whose fiery temper and occasionally hilarious unpredictability proves to be a match for any of her male opponents, and is echoed by Barbara Castle's struggle in the male-dominated House of Commons.

Super focuses on Frank, an average guy who transforms himself into superhero, The Crimson Bolt, after his wife Sarah hooks up with a smooth-talking drug dealer, Jacques. What Frank lacks in superpowers, he makes up for with a trusty wrench in his one-man war on crime. But every superhero needs a sidekick. Enter Libby, a cute psychopath working at the local comic book store. Transforming into "Boltie", Libby teams up with Frank to take Jacques down. From the surprising imagination of writer-director James Gunn (Slither) comes Bolt and Boltie, a crazed crime fighting duo for the XBox generation. They're here to save the day, or at least to beat you up.  The film stars Rainn Wilson, Liv Tyler, Ellen Page and Kevin Bacon.

Kaboom, directed by Gregg Araki and which stars Thomas Dekker, Haley Bennett, Chris Zylka, Roxane Mesquida and Juno Temple, had its World Premiere in Cannes earlier this year.  The film focuses on Smith's everyday life in the dorms - hanging out with his arty, sarcastic best friend Stella, hooking up with a beautiful free spirit named London, lusting for his gorgeous but dim surfer roommate Thor - all gets turned upside-down after one fateful night.  

The Bang Bang Club is based on the book of the same title, and chronicles the journey of photographer Greg Marinovich, from a broken home in a privileged Johannesburg suburb, to Pulitzer-Prize-winning photographer in the heart of the bloodiest combat zones of apartheid South Africa.  It the story of four young South African photojournalists who come of age on the front lines of this so-called Hidden War. In a world inclined not to care, their shocking images shine a light on the unfolding human tragedy in the dying days of apartheid South Africa.  The Bang Bang Club is directed by Steven Silver and stars Ryan Phillippe, Malin Akerman, Taylor Kitsch, Frank Rautenbach, Ashley Mulheron and a host of South African actors.

Commenting on the acquisitions, Singh said, "We have been tracking Made in Dagenham, Super and Kaboom from script stage and we are delighted that we have been able to conclude a distribution deal prior to their Toronto screenings.  We are confident that Made in Dagenham will receive both BAFTA and Academy Award nominations and we will be releasing the film in January 2011.  The Bang Bang Club will be released in South Africa in February 2011."

Made in Dagenham, Super, Kaboom and The Bang Bang Club will be released by Videovision Entertainment through United International Pictures (South Africa).

For further information:

Nilesh Singh

Tel: 031 204-6050

E-mail: Nilesh@videovision.co.za

Call for Proposals Durban Film Office Media Liaison and Event Management Consultant

Call for Proposals

Durban Film Office Media Liaison and Event Management Consultant

The Durban Film Office is calling for proposals for a media liaison and event management consultant. The consultant should have:

•    A minimum (5) five years experience and skills in corporate relations and media event management
•    An extensive profile with local & international and print & electronic media networks
•    A referenceable track record, engaging with high profile personalities and events

For enquiries and to receive the proposal guidelines in this regard, please contact: Economic Development Dept; Durban Film Office
Contact Person: Gugu Zungu: +27 31 3114243 OR ZunguG@durban.gov.za

Deadline for submitting proposals is the 17 September 2010, at 12:00.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNIT
11th Floor Rennies House
41 Margaret Mncadi Ave.
Durban
South Africa
4001

Call for Proposals 2010/2011 Advertising Design

Call for Proposals

2010/2011 Advertising Design

The Durban Film Office is calling for proposals for the 2010/2011 advertising, design and DTP requirements.The service provider should have the following skills:

•    A minimum (5) five years experience in graphic design/DTP for print and electronic media output
•    An extensive profile in corporate imaging and communication

For enquiries and to receive the proposal guidelines in this regard, please contact: Economic Development Dept; Durban Film Office
Contact Person: Gugu Zungu: +27 31 3114243 OR ZunguG@durban.gov.za

Deadline for submitting proposals is the 17 September 2010, at 12:00.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNIT
11th Floor Rennies House
41 Margaret Mncadi Ave.
Durban
South Africa
4001

Call for Proposals The Ongoing Development and Monthly Maintenance of the Durban Film Office Website

Call for Proposals

The Ongoing Development and Monthly Maintenance of the Durban Film Office Website

The Durban Film Office is calling for proposals for the ongoing development and monthly maintenance of the Durban Film Office website, www.durbanfilmoffice.co.za. The service provider should have:

•    A minimum (5) five years web design experience and skills
•    Extensive profile in corporate imaging and communication
•    Referenceable search engine optimization expertise

For enquiries and to receive the proposal guidelines in this regard, please contact: Economic Development Dept; Durban Film Office
Contact Person: Gugu Zungu: +27 31 3114243 OR ZunguG@durban.gov.za

Deadline for submitting proposals is the 17 September 2010, at 12:00.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNIT
11th Floor Rennies House
41 Margaret Mncadi Ave.
Durban
South Africa
4001

The 6th annual South African HORRORFEST Film Festival

The 6th annual South African HORRORFEST Film Festival

28 October - 5 November 2010 @ The Labia Theatre, Orange Street, Cape Town, ZA www.HORRORFEST.info

Since its inception in 2005 the South African HORRORFEST Film Festival has been the Halloween event on the continent, showcasing horror, the macabre & the strange from around the world.

The 6th installment of this exciting week of horrors will include a range of new movies, classics, fan favourites, sneak previews and premieres from across the globe, as well as several chapters of short films (international & local), Halloween dress-up prizes, and killer audience give-aways before each movie.  In addition there will again be a big Horror DVD collection (of several dozen movies) up for grabs for one lucky viewer.

Then of course there is the spectacular live movie soundtrack performance to the screening of a classic silent horror movie by THE MAKABRA ENSEMBLE (created by members of TERMINATRYX, collaborating with members of LARK and violin maestro Matthijs Van Dijk).
While this will be their 5th movie enhanced with a new, eclectic soundtrack, early-August 2010 THE MAKABRA ENSEMBLE invaded S.A.'s biggest music festival for the 2nd year in a row with a live movie soundtrack performance (MACISTE IN HELL - Maciste all' Inferno).
http://www.TERMINATRYX.com/makabra.htm

The final festival line-up will be released soon.

The new literary leg added in 2009 with the Lounge Of Horror fiction readings has been expanded in 2010 to include Bloody Parchment's short story competition: http://www.shadowrealminc.com/ bloodyparchment/index.htm

Closing date for short film-, feature film-, and short story entries is late-August!  (extension by request - see website for full info
http://www.HORRORFEST.info) - naturally Horror elements are essential, and with the short films anything goes, from narrative and experimental to music videos, animation and everything in between.

Another added feature comes in the shape of a dark art & photography exhibition which is in the works.

With the S.A. HORRORFEST nurturing South African moviemaking (and encouraging its own fresh identity) in tandem with local short film prize sponsors VISUAL IMPACT and HD HUB, this is now further transforming to include fiction writers, artists and photographers.

The limited edition 2009 HorrorFest / Provoyeur Wine range was very well received and something similar will be created for 2010.

While last year's special guest (American Werewolf In London's John
Landis) couldn't make it, we are looking into bringing a prominent figure in Horror movies to the event.  Fingers crossed.

Check out the original HorrorFest promo clip produced by the festival organizers (expanded soon for the 2010 event): http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=xFh62j-3IpI

Catch Sonja (S.A. HORRORFEST co-organizer and TERMINATRYX & MAKABRA ENSEMBLE vocalist) in the hot, record breaking cover feature of the August VIXXEN Magazine! > check it out at http://www.vixxen.co.za/?
page_id=161

Further press inquiries, image requests etc.: info@flamedrop.com

All festival info at: http://www.HORRORFEST.info

Also connect with the S.A. HORRORFEST via:
MySpace: http://www.MySpace.com/SAhorrorfest
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6575356874
Twitter: http://twitter.com/SAhorrorfest
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/FlamedropProductions

Sponsor / Affiliate links:
http://www.visuals.tv
http://www.HDhub.co.za
http://www.cosmesis.co.za
http://www.magichour.co.za
http://www.SomethingWicked.co.za
http://www.altstadt.co.za
http://www.globaldiscs.co.za
http://www.mysteryghostbus.co.za

The NEMISA and SABCE invites applications for bursaries

The National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa, in
partnership with South African Broadcasting Corporation Education, invites applications for bursaries for studies in Animation, Graphic Design, Television Production and Radio Production. The application deadline is 30 September 2010. For more information, click here <http://www.ngopulse.org/opportunity/sabc-education-bursary-scheme-partn
ership-nemisa> .

2010 APPLICATIONS DEADLINE FOR AFRICA FIRST EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 3rd!

2010 APPLICATIONS DEADLINE FOR AFRICA FIRST EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 3rd!

Following requests from filmmakers to Focus Features' Africa First program director Kisha Cameron-Dingle and Focus director of production Matthew Plouffe at the recent Durban FilmMart in South Africa, the 2010 applications for Focus Features' Africa First program have been granted a DEADLINE EXTENTION; applications will now be accepted through FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd.

The uniquely conceived initiative, with funds earmarked exclusively for emerging filmmakers of African nationality and residence, is for the third consecutive year offering eligible and participating filmmakers the chance to be awarded $10,000 in financing for pre-production, production, and/or post-production on their narrative short film made in continental Africa and tapping into the resources of the film industry there.  

Complete details on Africa First - including application information - can be accessed through www.focusfeatures.com/africafirst <http://www.focusfeatures.com/africafirst> .

INAUGURAL DURBAN FILMMART A RESOUNDING SUCCESS FOR DURBAN

INAUGURAL DURBAN FILMMART A RESOUNDING SUCCESS FOR DURBAN
There was great excitement as the inaugural Durban FilmMart (DFM) ended, with the announcement of the winner of the Hubert Bals Fund Award in the ‘Specialist Projects’ category.  The award of € 5000 towards script and project development, for ‘the most promising African project presented at the DFM’, was presented to Jenna Cato Bass for her project ‘Tok Tokkie’.                                                    

The winner, chosen by a jury comprising Matthew Plouffe (Focus Features/USA), Peace Anyiam-Osigwe (Africa Film Academy/Nigeria) and Iwana Chronis (Hubert Bals Fund / Netherlands), was one of 12 projects selected for the Durban Film Mart, from a total of 80 projects submitted from South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zambia and Burkina Faso, with contributions in both feature film and documentary genres.  

“Although the jury’s decision was unanimous,” says Hubert Bals Fund representative, Iwana Chronis, “it was a tough choice because all the projects have enormous  promise in some way.   “’Tok Tokkie’ is fresh, innovative and original as well as having enormous commercial promise, that could appeal to South African, African and international audiences alike.  In addition, we felt that the € 5000 prize would really make a significant difference to this project.”
The Durban Film Mart (23-26 July), is the largest and one of only two co-production markets on the African continent.  Hailed as a ‘resounding success’ by delegates and guests alike, 185 delegates, from 16 countries, attended the four-day event.  
“The main aims of the DFM were that it would be a key driver in raising the visibility of film content from Africa and encourage project collaboration between African film-makers from different African countries,” says acting CEO for the Durban Film Office (DFO) and joint-organiser of the DFM, Toni Monty.   
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”In addition, it has given African film-makers the opportunity to pitch film projects to leading financiers, funding organisations, sales agents and internationally-reputed directors and producers, in order to form alliances for future collaborations.”
“We hope that as a result of these partnerships DFM will become a ‘feeder’ of African product to other international festivals and markets such as CineMart (Rotterdam), International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) and others,” Monty continues.  

The delegate programme, presented by local and international specialists, Luciano Gloor, Mike Kelly, Leena Pasanen and Clare Downs took the form of master-classes, workshops and fora and covered industry-related issues, such as financing and funding projects, managing rights in the digital age, pitching and packaging product, scriptwriting and marketing and distribution strategies.                                                            
”As a result of the meetings and connections made at DFM we hope that film financiers will be successful in identifying fundable African projects that will ultimately find their way to the big screen,” says Peter Rorvik, director of the Centre for Creative Arts and Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) and joint organiser of the DFM.  “Feedback from the funders and financiers in attendance is that the standard of the projects was very high and the producers and directors were well prepared, as a result of the input they had received from the master-classes and one-one meetings with the specialist speakers.”
 
“The DFM promises to be a further catalyst for growth in the region by becoming one of the key events of the South African and African film industry and a focal point to interface with global parties and stimulate interest and activity in the city and the province,” Rorvik continues.  
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According to Marit van den Elshout, the Durban FilmMart’s international liaison person from CineMart Rotterdam, the DFM / DIFF partnership brings an important business component to the existing Durban International Film Festival. “It provides a focal point for international players to interface and engage about global trends affecting and ultimately impacting on how Africa accesses the global marketplace.  Running a film festival and co-production market in tandem is essential to the success of a market of this nature for the long-term,” van den Elshout emphasises.

“We are extremely fortunate to have had the support, in cash and in kind and co-operation of our local role players in order to make this FilmMart such a success,” says Monty. “From the support of the eThekwini Municipality, to Tourism Durban, SABC, CineMart & the Hubert Bals Fund of the International Film Festival Rotterdam,  Microsoft,  TIKZN, IDFA and The National Film & Video Foundation (NFVF).

AWARD-WINNERS AT THE 31ST DURBAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The Durban International Film Festival is pleased to announce that the winner of the Best Feature Film of its 31st edition is The White Meadows (Iran). Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof, the film was lauded by the International Jury as a "timeless and poetic narrative." "The film conjures up a landscape that is visually stunning and intriguing because it is both harsh and beautiful. It is an enigmatic and poignant political allegory and takes the viewers through a journey on life's fundamental questions and beliefs," the jury said.

The Best Feature Film award carries a cash prize of R50 000. Cash prizes of R25 000 and R20 000 are also awarded to the winners of the Best South African Feature Film and Best First Feature Film respectively.

The Best South African Feature Film was awarded to Life, Above All, directed by Oliver Schmitz. Calling it "beautifully filmed and masterfully edited, with astounding performances, the jury highlighted the film's "universal resonance." Thirteen year old Khomotso Manyaka who played the role of Chanda in the film was named Best Actress by the International Jury. "It was a natural and touching performance that movingly portrays the resilience, determination and integrity of her character," the jury said.

The Best First Feature Film was awarded to Peepli Live (India), directed by Anusha Rizvi. The International Jury noted: "Peepli Live is an ambitious and well-realized film that deals with serious political issues in a witty and entertaining manner. It creates an enchanting world of colourful characters, images and music that engrosses viewers throughout".

The International Jury comprised producers Aihara Hiromi (Japan) and Christoph Thoke (Germany) and South African academic, writer and producer Bhekizizwe Peterson.

The jury awarded the Best Director award to Debra Granik for Winter's Bone (USA). "The director's vision shows a remarkable attention to the details that make up all the aspects of production, resulting in an intensely atmospheric and sensitive film," the Jury said. "The direction shows a strong visual concept and makes use of a well chosen cast to draw out powerful performances."

The Documentary Film Jury awarded the Best Documentary to Waste Land
(UK/Brazil) by Lucy Walker, Joao Jardim and Karen Harley. The jury
commented: "Waste Land is an insightful and compelling documentary that records Brazilian artist Vik Muniz's journey to the world's largest landfill located around Rio de Janeiro. Here, Muniz works with a select group of proud pickers who hail from the favelas. As they collaborate in creating stunning and memorable portraits from the garbage, Waste Land emerges as a poignant and redemptive story of marginalized people whose dignity and resilience inspires us. In a narrative which seamlessly traverses the environment, the social, political and personal, the filmmakers capture the real people behind these unforgettable portraits with care and affection, at times simply, at times complex, but always touching and wonderfully humane."

Waste Land was also voted Audience Choice Best Film by the DIFF audiences and in addition was awarded the Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award, which is awarded to the documentary film that best reflects human rights issues. The award carries a cash prize of 2500 euros.

The Best South African Documentary was awarded to The Cradock Four by David Forbes. The jury praised Forbes for "crafting a remarkable and engaging documentary about The Cradock Four with great emotional depth.
In the telling of this heart wrenching story, the filmmaker makes us aware of the importance of confronting a painful past and to uphold and advocate the dignity, respect and human rights of all people."

The Short Film Jury awarded Best Short Film to The Same Old Story (Spain), directed by Jose Luis Monte sinos. The jury praised the director for capturing the reality of human struggles, acceptance and love in a creative and witty manner. The Best South African Short Film was awarded to In A Time Without Love by Mark Strydom. The jury called the film electric, true and convincing.

The rest of the awards include:

Best Actor: Sebastian Hiort af Ornäs as Sebbe in Sebbe (Sweden)  "...for a sustained portrayal that sensitively captures the vulnerability and growing maturity of a young man."

Best Cinematography: Odyssey Flores for Lola (The Philippines) "Masterly shot under difficult conditions, the cinematography in Lola uses a captivating documentary style that frees the camera to assume unusual positions, allowing it to open and explore the spaces of everyday life of the characters. The camera-work places the viewer in the middle of the film's world and makes it a physical experience for the audience."

Best Screenplay: Efthymis Filippou and Giorgos Lanthimos for Dogtooth
(Greece)
 "...for creating a unique and bizarre universe with its own language and morals that questions and challenges the viewers own sense of their real world. The script sustains its radical vision and dark humour throughout, making it not easily accessible or likeable."

Special Jury Mention:
Imani (Uganda) directed by Caroline Kamya "...for its innovative use of multiple-narrative structure to explore serious social issues in an enlightening and entertaining manner."

Special Mention Documentary: Mugabe and the White African (UK), directed by Lucy Bailey and Andrew Thompson.

Special Mention Short Film: The Abyss Boys (South Africa), directed by Jan-Hendrik Beetge



FILM JURIES

BEST SOUTH AFRICAN FEATURE FILM JURY
Peter Machen, Journalist and film critic; Darren Murray, Collective Film and Video; Madoda Ncayiyana, Filmmaker, Vuleka Productions

Documentaries Jury
Val Adamson, Photographer; Junaid Ahmed, Filmmaker, Fineline Productions; Mwelela Cele, Historian and Librarian, Campbell Collections

Short Film Jury
Sizakele Moloko, Lincolnwood; Andile Ntimbane, Collective Film and Video; Marco Torrens, Actor



AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL DURBAN HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD JURY Nonhlanhla Mkhize, Director, Durban Gay and Lesbian Centre; Poonitha Naidoo, Amnesty International Durban; Lindy Stiebel, Head, School of English University of Kwa-Zulu Natal; Coral Vinsen, Amnesty International Durban

LIST OF WINNERS

Best Feature Film
The White Meadows (Iran) by Mohammad Rasoulof

Best Director
Debra Granik for Winter's Bone (USA)

Best South African Feature Film
Life, Above All by Oliver Schmitz

Best Documentary
Waste Land (UK/Brazil) by Lucy Walker, Joao Jardim and Karen Harley

Best South African Documentary
The Cradock Four by David Forbes

Best Screenplay
Efthymis Filippou and Giorgos Lanthimos for Dogtooth (Greece)

Best Cinematography
Odyssey Flores for Lola (The Philippines)


Best First Feature
Peepli Live (India) by Anusha Rizvi

Best Actress
Khomotso Manyaka in Life, Above All

Best Actor
Sebastian Hiort af Ornäs in Sebbe (Sweden)

Best Short Film
The Same Old Story (Spain) by Jose Luis Montesinos

Best South African Short Film
In A Time Without Love by Mark Strydom

Audience Choice Best Film
Waste Land (UK/Brazil) by Lucy Walker, Joao Jardim and Karen Harley

Audience Choice Best Wavescapes Film
Sea of Darkness (Australia/Indonesia) by Michael Oblowitz

Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award Waste Land (UK/Brazil) by Lucy Walker, Joao Jardim and Karen Harley

Special Jury Mention
Imani (Uganda) by Caroline Kamya

Special Mention Documentary
Mugabe and the White African (UK) by Lucy Bailey and Andrew Thompson.

Special Mention Short Film
The Abyss Boys (South Africa) by Jan-Hendrik Beetge

The Durban International Film Festival is organised by the Centre For Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal) with support by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (principal funder), National Film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal  Department of Economic Development and Tourism, HIVOS, City Of Durban, German Embassy of South Africa, Goethe-Institut South Africa, Industrial Development Corporation, Commonwealth Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture, and a range of other valued partners.

General queries: Durban International Film Festival - diff@ukzn.ac.za or call 031 260 2506.

VIDEOVISION ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES DURBAN PRODUCED ATTACK OF THE INDIAN WEREWOLF

VIDEOVISION ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES DURBAN PRODUCED
ATTACK OF THE INDIAN WEREWOLF  

Sanjeev Singh, Director of Acquisition and Distribution of Videovision Entertainment announced today the acquisition of Attack of The Indian Werewolf which was shot in Durban by local filmmaker, Masood Boomgaard.  The film which will have its World Premiere at the Durban International Festival on Sunday, 25 July 2010, marks the feature directorial debut of Boomgaard.

 

Attack of The Indian Werewolf  is a cheerfully irreverent spoof on the werewolf and horror genres.  It follows an electronics store clerk who transforms into a werewolf after eating the mystical jadoo bean.  The cops are stumped as the brutalised corpses mount up and it is left to an intrepid journalist to try and cure the hapless werewolf.  The film has a uniquely Durban flavour and stars popular radio jock, Neville Pillay. Boomgaard also wrote and co-produced the film.

 

Commenting on the acquisition of the film by Videovision Entertainment, Boomgaard said, "It is a privilege to be associated with Videovision Entertainment.  They have a great track record as a production and distribution company.  For us it is even more significant as they are a Durban-based company that is backing our film which was produced entirely in Durban with local actors and crew."

 

Sanjeev Singh commented, "We are delighted to have acquired Attack of The Indian Werewolf and to be supporting locally produced films.  Despite the limited budget of the film, Masood Boomgaard has created a really funny spoof on the werewolf genre films which shows his talent and resourcefulness as a director."

 

Attack of The Indian Werewolf  stars Neville Pillay, Sanjeev Singh, Kajal Maharaj, Mahmood Docrat, Avashnee Vandiar and AK Khan.  It is co-produced by Ashan Rampal and is produced, written and directed by Masood Boomgaard.

 

Attack of The Indian Werewolf  is scheduled to be released later this year.

SABC REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) JUNE 2010 – BOOK 7

Download SABC Request for Proposal Document

LEADING INDUSTRY EXPERTS CONFIRMED FOR INAUGURAL DURBAN FILMMART

LEADING INDUSTRY EXPERTS CONFIRMED FOR INAUGURAL DURBAN FILMMART

Delegate registration for the inaugural Durban FilmMart (DFM) (23-26 July) opened this week and organisers took the opportunity to confirm the participation of two leading industry facilitators on the programme.  British Film finance expert, Mike Kelly and Swiss-Italian Luciano Gloor, an experienced film producer and consultant, both bring a wealth of expertise and knowledge to the forum.

On the financing side, Mike Kelly was part of the management team that turned the monolithic former ITV franchise holder Thames Television PLC into a leading independent producer.  He subsequently worked as Finance Director of Majestic films & TV, a leading sales agency and British Screen, the public-private partnership owned by Channel 4, Granada, Rank and United Artists that helped finance and produce around 15-20 British and European films per annum.

As its inaugural head of Finance, Mike helped establish the UK Film Council.  He was  recruited by Warner Bros to help expand their local language production activity in Europe and then extend it to Asia.  In 2006 Mike established Northern Alliance Ltd, a Chartered Accountancy practice specialising in providing accounting and consulting services and business advice to public and private sector clients operating in the entertainment and media industries.

Luciano Gloor, has produced and co-produced a large slate of feature films working with prolific directors such as Daniel Schmid, Markus Imhoof, Lea Pool, Otar Iosseliani, Jacques Rivette, Jaco van Dormael and George Sluizer, and with actors such as Donald Sutherland, Geraldine Chaplin, John Hurt, Armin Mueller-Stahl and Alice Krige.  He also led the creation of the Swiss Film Centre and has been a trainer in numerous producer training and project development programmes, such as EAVE for Europe, AVEA for Southern Africa, and IFA-SC for the South Caucasus, and TrainEastFilm in East Europe.

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DFMEXPERTS/page 2

 “We look forward to welcoming industry professionals, producers, funders and financiers to an event jam-packed with workshops and networking opportunities,” says Toni Monty, head of the Durban Film Office (DFO).  “The line-up of speakers and topics promises delegates a focussed look at the world of film-making in Africa from varied perspectives and we encourage early registration,” Monty adds.

In addition, a partnership has been established with International Film Festival Rotterdam’s Cinemart, with Cinemart head of Industry, Marit van den Elshout, actively involved as international liaison and in project selection processes for DFM.  Further strengthening the Dutch connection, one of the world’s foremost documentary festivals and markets, the International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam (IDFA), has confirmed that they will co-ordinate a number of DFM sessions devoted to preparing documentaries for international markets, for selected projects as well those participating in the Producers Forum. 

“IDFA believes its participation will be a good step towards a longer collaboration,” says Adriek van Nieuwenhuyzen, IDFA’s Head of Industry Office. The manager of IDFA's Jan Vrijman Fund, which supports filmmaking in a developing world, will also be present at the DFM and it is anticipated that such partnerships will allow DFM to act as a feeder of African product to other festivals and markets such as Cinemart, IDFA and others. 

The selected projects, 12 in all, from as far afield as Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zambia and Burkina Faso, in both Feature Film and Documentary genres, will pitch their projects to film financiers within the Finance Forum and also participate in the Producers Forum. The four-day Producers Forum is open to filmmakers who should apply online. The Durban FilmMart (DFM) is a joint programme of the Durban Film Office (DFO) and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), and registration for the Producers Forum includes access to DIFF screenings. For full details visit www.thoughtfire.co.za/filmmart+registration.aspx

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DFMEXPERTS/page 3

For more information or to register as a delegate for the Durban FilmMart visit www.durbanfilmoffice.com or contact Musonda Chimba by e-mail on chimbam@durban.gov.za or Kamille Padaychee on info@thoughtfire.co.za

                                                                                                                                    ends

PREPARED FOR:  DFO / Durban FilmMart

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

DFM - Joanne Hayes, Tumbleweed Communications

           cell: +2783 627 7249               e-mail:  weeds@iafrica.com

DIFF - Sharlene Versfeld, Sharlene Versfeld & Associates

          cell : + 27 83 326 3235             e-mail : Sharlene@Versfeld.co.za

NOTES :

The Durban Film Office (DFO) is the film-industry development arm of the City of Durban, 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.   The organization is also actively seeking and creating opportunities for setting the benchmark as the leading authority in the field in South Africa.

Australia and South Africa to sign film co-production agreement.

AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION, PRETORIA MEDIA RELEASE, 17 June 2010
Australia and South Africa to sign film co-production agreement

Australian and South African film-makers will have more opportunities
to
work together following the finalisation of a bilateral film
co-production
agreement between the two countries.

The treaty-level agreement will be signed at 11am on Friday 18 June
2010 by
the Australian Minister for Sport, Youth, Early Childhood Education
and
Childcare, the Hon Kate Ellis MP, and the South African Minister for
Arts
and Culture, the Hon Lulama Xingwana.


The treaty aims to encourage film co-productions between Australian
and
South African film-makers by streamlining some of the administrative
and
funding issues around cooperation in film-making.


Practical benefits for film-makers are that projects approved as
official
co-productions under the treaty will be granted œnational treatment¹
by
both countries meaning co-producers can access a range of funding and
tax
benefits; simplified immigration requirements for the entry of skilled
personnel; and duty free importation of equipment for use in
co-productions. Official co-productions will also be treated as œlocal
content¹ under domestic television broadcast quotas.


The agreement, once approved through each country¹s respective
parliamentary processes, will provide opportunities for Australian and
South African film-makers to pool their creative and financial
resources,
facilitate cultural and creative exchange between the countries and
increase the output of high-quality productions.


Minister Kate Ellis said ³This film co-production agreement is a
further
example of the growing bilateral relationship between Australia and
South
Africa.  Our two countries have long competed and cooperated in the
sporting arena and I am delighted to see our connections are expanding
in the cultural sphere as well.²


Australian and South African film-makers already are working together
to
great effect.  An example of this is the Australian - South African
joint
production, The Team that Never Played - a film about apartheid era
football players that never participated in the FIFA World Cup owing
to
sporting sanctions.


The Team that Never Played will premiere in South Africa at the
official
opening of the Africa on Screen and Soccer Film festivals on Thursday
24
June.





#     Signing of Film Co-Production Treaty


Venue: Office of the Minister of Arts and Culture, Level 10, Kingsley
Centre


Corner Church and Beatrix Streets, Pretoria


Time: 11am on Friday 18 June


Please RSVP to Tsakani Sithole on 012 441 3606


or tsakani.sithole@dac.gov.za


#     Premiere of The Team that Never Played


Venue:  Sci Bono Discovery Centre


Newtown, Johannesburg


Time:  6.30pm on Thursday 24 June


Please RSVP to Lara Preston on lara@redflag.co.za





For more information about the potential of the agreement for
film-makers,
please see the Screen Australia website -
www.screenaustralia.gov.au/coproductions.


For further information, please contact Public Affairs Officer, Mr
William
Blomfield on +27 83 409 3619 or william.blomfield@dfat.gov.au.

PROJECTS SELECTED FOR INAUGURAL DURBAN FILMMART

As delegate registration for the inaugural Durban FilmMart (23-26 July) opens this week, 12 selected projects for its Finance Forum were announced. 

“With 12 projects accepted for this first Durban FilmMart, we are certain that this event will mark the beginning of an exciting new addition to the international film industry calendar,” says Durban Film Office’s (DFO) Toni Monty.  “The high standard of the entries and the international support we have received leading up to the event has been gratifying,” adds Monty.

The selection includes projects from as far afield as Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zambia and Burkina Faso, with contributions in both Feature Film and Documentary genres. 

Producers and directors presenting feature projects in the Finance Forum are Mohamed Junaid Ahmed, (Fineline Productions / ‘Stockholm Zululand’), Jenna Bass (Fox Fire Films/ ‘Tok Tokkie’), Nicolas Cand and Idrissa Ouedraogo (ARP/CK Productions / ‘The Stone of the Mango’), Guillaume De Seille and Abraham Haile Biru (Arizona Films / ‘Queleh’), Ibrahim El Batout (Ein Shams Film /‘Hawi’), Julie Frederikse and Madoda Ncayiyana (Vuleka Productions / ‘Mobile Muti’), Jeremy Nathan and Oliver Hermanus (DV8 / ‘The Struggle’) and Tom Rowlands-Rees and Kenneth Gyang (‘Confusion NaWa’);    Tahir Aliyev and Jessie Chisi (Helmi Films Ltd. / ‘Women on Hold’), James Tayler and Julia Raynham (Switch Media /‘Continent in Flux’), Sulette van Jaarsveld and Robyn Rorke (Mesa Films & Nightswimming Films / ‘New Mountains in the Desert’) and Francois Verster (Fireworx Media and Undercurrent Film & Television / ‘The Dream of Shahrazad), will present in the documentary film category.                                                    

“Confirmation of the news that the Hubert Bals Fund Netherlands has selected the Durban FilmMart as one of 29 recipients from around the world, to receive a ‘Hubert Bals Fund’ Award of € 5.000, in the ‘Specialist Projects’ category, is a significant development in terms of building strategic partnerships for the Durban FilmMart in the future,” emphasises Monty.

“The Hubert Bals Fund is honoured and pleased to hand out a special Award during the first edition of the Durban FilmMart in July 2010,” says the Fund’s spokesperson.

 “The Award of for script and project development will be awarded to the most promising African project that is presented at this event. We greatly support the Durban FilmMart and are convinced that it will be an inspiring networking platform for and a major contribution to the African independent film industry in the years to come.”

“A diverse and stimulating programme is being planned, both for selected projects and for registered delegates,” says Peter Rorvik, director of the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), co-organisers of the Durban FilmMart.

 “We look forward to welcoming industry professionals, producers, funders and financiers to an event jam-packed with workshops and networking opportunities.  The line-up of speakers and topics promises delegates a focussed look at the world of film-making in Africa from varied perspectives.”

The programme includes UK film finance expert Mike Kelly, who will facilitate the Financing and Co-Production Programme. With over 20 years of first-hand experience in international financing, packaging and distribution, Kelly has worked around the world and regularly consults to organisations and companies in this specialised field. 

To register as a delegate for the Durban FilmMart visit www.durbanfilmoffice.com. For more information, contact Musonda Chimba by e-mail on chimbam@durban.gov.za or Kamille Padayachee at info@thoughtfire.co.za

CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE LOCATIONS OF THE MONTH AND DEVELOPING IMAGE DATA BASE OF PUBLIC SPACES

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNIT         28/06/2010

 DURBAN FILM OFFICE

 CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE LOCATIONS OF THE MONTH AND DEVELOPING IMAGE DATA BASE OF PUBLIC SPACES

The Durban Film Office is calling for proposals for the locations of the month and developing an image data base of public spaces. The consultant should have at least:

·         (5) five years of location management experience and skills.

·         Must be able to teach basic location scouting and management skills.

·         Have extensive knowledge of Durban locations, both public and private.

For enquiries and to receive the proposal guidelines in this regard, please contact the Economic Development Dept; Durban Film Office; Contact Person: Gugu Zungu: telephone on 27 31 3114243 OR ZunguG@durban.gov.za

Deadline for submitting proposals is the 30 June 2010 at 12:00

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNIT

11^th Floor Rennies House

41 Margaret Mncadi Ave.

Durban

South Africa

Talents announced 3rd TALENT CAMPUS DURBAN 23 - 27 July 2010 at the 31st Durban International Film Festival (22 July - 1 August 2010)

The Durban International Film Festival has announced that the selection for this year's edition of Talent Campus Durban has been finalised. Over 40 young filmmakers representing nearly 20 African countries, including Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and of course South Africa, will participate in an intensive five-day programme of workshops and masterclasses. The Talents, who were selected through a rigorous application process, will also have the opportunity to attend screenings and events at the 31st Durban International Film Festival.

The 3rd Talent Campus Durban, themed "Focusing on Africa: Unleashing Talent in 2010", will centre activities on the development and strengthening of partnerships between African filmmakers. Talent Campus Durban is held in cooperation with the Berlinale Talent Campus, the eighth edition of which formed part of the 60th Berlin International Film Festival in February this year. Talent Campus is a global partnership and apart from the main event in Berlin, Talent Campus partnerships take place at selected festivals in Buenos Aires, Guadalajara and Sarajevo. It is a considerable privilege and sign of success of the first two editions that DIFF has again been invited to host a Talent Campus.

Monica Rorvik, Assistant manager of the DIFF, comments: "This year's influx of Talent brings an exciting skills set to Campus, with their range of expertise covering acting, editing, directing, producing, and script writing. The Campus will facilitate opportunities to bring Africa's stories to life through the creative vision of these filmmaking talents. While we welcome the new talents with pride we also received the sad news that one of Talent Campus Durban 2009 alumni, El Hadji Samba Sarr (Senegal), died from malaria this month. Samba had also been selected for the Berlinale Talent Campus 2010 and had a project entered into the inaugural Durban FilmMart. The Durban FilmMart, which specifically targets African projects, launches at the festival and runs parallel to Talent Campus."

Another positive sign is that Durban Talent Campus alumni films appear in all sections of this year's festival, including the feature film category. Ugandan Talent Caroline Kamya will attend DIFF to present her debut feature, Imani, which also appeared at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year. The festival will present two first feature length documentaries by previous participants in Talent Campus.  Koundi and the National Thursday by Cameroonian Ingrid Atodji is a gorgeous and heartfelt look at life inside a communal society that is negotiating the demands of globalization and the search for uniquely African solutions. South African Carlos Franciso's American Foulbrood looks at the global environmental crisis through the crippling effects of a deadly disease on African honey bees and its possible impact on food production. Short fiction films and documentaries are also in the festival from a number of other Durban and Berlinale Film Festival Talents.

The 3rd Talent Campus Durban is a partnership project between the Durban International Film Festival in cooperation with the Berlinale Talent Campus, Berlin International Film Festival, and is supported by the German Embassy in South Africa, the Goethe-Institut, and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, KwaZulu-Natal.

Phone: +27 (0)31 260 2506/1367

Fax: +27 (0)31 260 3074

Email: talent@ukzn.ac.za<mailto:talent@ukzn.ac.za> or talent.durban@gmail.com<mailto:talent.durban@gmail.com>

The Durban International Film Festival is organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN) with principle funding and support from the National Film & Video Foundation, HIVOS and the City of Durban.

The Durban Short Film Challenge

The Durban Youth in film Society presents The Durban Short Film Challenge
In association with the Durban International Film Festival

The Durban Short Film Challenge is an exhilarating filmmaking competition organized by the Durban Youth in Film Society.

The Premise: Participating teams have three weeks to write, shoot and edit a short film or video around a specific theme. The top 12 films submitted will be selected for screening during the Durban International Film Festival.

The theme for the challenge will be announced on the 'Film Tower' group on the social networking site *www.facebook.com* <http://www.facebook.com/>.
Alternatively, you can send an email to
*durbanfilmsociety@gmail.com*<durbanfilmsociety@gmail.com>on 24 May to get the theme emailed to you.

The challenge starts on 24 May 2010 and runs up until and including 14 June 2010. The films entered have to be exactly 5 minutes excluding opening and end titles and can be in any genre. The final films have to be delivered on or before 15 June 2010.

*The Rules *

The following rules apply to each participating group/production team:

1. Time Period: The Durban Short Film Challenge will run from Monday 24 May to midnight Monday 14 June inclusive.

2. Participating groups must complete their film work in time to submit by midnight on the closing date. On the final day of the challenge, participants need to upload their films to Vimeo
(*www.vimeo.com*<http://www.vimeo.com/>)
and send the link of the completed film to *durbanfilmsociety@gmail.com  *<durbanfilmsociety@gmail.com>

3. The Durban Film Challenge is open to filmmakers across South Africa.
Submitting teams must send an email to
*durbanfilmsociety@gmail.com*<durbanfilmsociety@gmail.com>to indicate their intention to submit.

4. During the official competition period, all creativity will take place, including but not limited to:

● Writing the script

● Rehearsing

● Costume/Set Design

● Shooting

● Editing

● Rendering

● Sound Design

5. The only work to begin prior to the official competition period is:

● Organizing Crew

● Organizing Cast

● Securing Equipment

● Scouting/securing Locations

6. All footage must be shot within the challenge's time period. No stock footage or footage shot or created at another time may be used.
Animation
and special effects are permitted, but must be created during the challenge time period. Still photographs are permitted, provided that the team has the rights to them. The photos do not need to be created during the competition time period.

7. All cast and crew must be volunteers.

8. The finished film must be a exactly five (5) minutes in duration, with credits duration limited to 60 seconds for both the opening and end sequences.

9. Any type of video or film camera may be used, however, a maximum of two cameras may be used. Cellphone cameras and stills cameras may also be used.

10. The finished film must be submitted on a DVD on or before 15 June 2010 and formatted to play on a DVD player. Please note that other file formats (eg .avi, .mov etc) on DVD will not be accepted. For DVD submission details, please send an email to *durbanfilmsociety@gmail.com*<durbanfilmsociety@gmail.com>

11. Tape preparation: Finished film should have a minimum of 5 seconds of bars and tone and 5 seconds of black, then the following slate should have the Team Name and Film Title before the film begins.

12. Music: Participating groups must have the rights to any music used in its film. Groups are encouraged to work with local composers and/or musicians to write and record music for the films. It is permissible for a participating group to use pre-recorded music (e.g. royalty-free music, a friend's band's music) but the group must have a signed release.

13. Credits at the end of each film are limite d to a maximum of 60 seconds.
This is in excluding the 5 minute time limit. (For example, you may have a 5 minute film plus 1 minute of credits for a total running time of
6:00:00.)
Films longer than 6:00:00 are not eligible.

14. Films must include the following credit: "This film made as part of the Durban Short Film Challenge 2010 in association with the 31st Durban International Film Festival".

15. A panel of independent judges will select twelve films which will be screened at a special event during the Durban International Film Festival
(22 July - 1 August 2010).

The Durban Short Film Challenge is a project of the Durban Film Society in partnership the Durban International Film Festival. The Durban Short Film Challenge is thankful for the support of the Durban Film Office.

The Canadian Black Film Festival

The Canadian Black Film Festival (CBFF) is dedicated to promoting both African-Canadian and media/film content from around the Diaspora and overseas communities. Established in 2009, CBFF serves the African-Canadian film community through educational and youth development activities, artistic collaboration, sharing of resources, screenings and professional development and seeks continuously to welcome and host filmmakers, distributors and production companies from Canada and overseas to its annual festival. CBFF is currently welcoming submissions from new, aspiring and established filmmakers, companies and artists from across the globe to participate in its 2010 festival. Submissions will be accepted until July 16, 2010 and further details can be found by visiting http://www.cbff.ca/film-festival-schedule/submissions/ Please can you also kindly distribute this e-mail to any organizations, filmmakers or parties you feel would be interested in participating in our 2010 event. Kind regards, Andrew Mahorn  Program Assistant  The Canadian Black Film Festival  www.cbff.ca  andrew@cbff.ca

Hubert Bals Fund selects 29 projects

*International Film Festival Rotterdam* PRESS RELEASE May 12, 2010
*Hubert Bals Fund selects 29 projects*
*The Hubert Bals Fund of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR)
has selected twenty-nine projects that receive grants for script development, digital production, postproduction, distribution or workshops.
In its Spring 2010 selection, the Fund gives 450,000 Euro to projects from twenty-two countries. The selection includes new films by Vimukthi Jayasundara, John Torres, Celina Murga, by many first time filmmakers and, selected for the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs, A alegria (The Joy) by Felipe Bragança & Marina Meliande (see full list below).*

Supported by the Fund for postproduction and final financing, Brazilian filmmaking couple Bragança & Meliande joins the other nine filmmakers that present their Hubert Bals Fund or CineMart linked new films in various Cannes sections this year. Their A Alegria (The Joy) is an allegorical tale interspersed with political and mythical aspects about the hopes and fears of four sixteen-year olds in present-day Rio de Janeiro.
Two further films supported for final financing - from a total of eight this selection round - are Serbian feature film début Tilva Roš (Tilva Rosh) by Nikola Lezaic, a coming-of-age story about two boys from the local skating subculture and Chinese revelation Han jia (Winter Vacation) by Li Hongqi, portraying Inner Mongolian village life in a visually stunning and slightly absurdist way.

Four projects receive Hubert Bals Fund grants for digital production.
Sri
Lankan film Through the Windshield by Vimukthi Jayasundara, who competed in Venice last year with his Between Two Worlds; Lukas Nino by young Philippine filmmaking talent John Torres; Nigerian tragicomical collage film Confusion Na Wa by Kenneth Gyang and Marimbas del infierno, a portrait by Julio Hernandez Cordon of Guatamala’s first marimba-heavy metal band.

Traditionally the largest group within the Fund’s selection rounds, the twelve projects selected in the script development category support upcoming as well as experienced talents. Alongside new projects by reputed filmmakers like Peng Tao (China), Celina Murga (Argentina), Tariq Teguia (Algeria) and Ruben Imaz Castro (Mexico), this category contains three remarkable début feature films: Uzbek film Aral by Ella Vakkasova, about a boy growing up on the shores of a dried-up lake; Thai film Past Love by Lee Chatametikool, editor of Tiger Award-winners Mundane History and Wonderful Town and Paraguayan film La última tierra by Pablo Lamar, a subtle portrait of an older man mourning his recently deceased wife.

In its special projects category, the Hubert Bals Fund supports local film industry development by giving out a Hubert Bals Fund Award to one of the African projects presented this summer at the inaugural Durban FilmMart and by a donation to organize the first East Timor Production Workshop, aimed at starting an independent film culture.

*The line up of the IFFR’s Hubert Bals Fund Spring 2010 Selection Round in
full:*

*Postproduction & final financing*
A alegria (The Joy) - Felipe Bragança & Marina Meliande, Brazil Agonistes, The Myth of Nation - Lav Diaz, Philippines Cornelia At Her Mirror - Daniel Rosenfeld, Argentina Harud - Aamir Bashir, India Hawi - Ibrahim El Batout, Egypt Ocaso - Théo Court, Chile Tilva Roš - Nikola Lezaic, Serbia Winter Vacation - Li Hongqi, China

*Digital Production*
Confusion Na Wa - Kenneth Gyang, Nigeria Lukas nino - John Torres, Philippines Marimbas del infierno - Julio Hernandez Cordon, Guatemala Through the Windshield - Vimukthi Jayasundara, Sri Lanka

*Script & Project development*
Aral - Ella Vakkasova, Uzbekistan
Betok - Sherman Ong, Malaysia
Bull Down! - Gabriel Mascaro, Brazil
Germania - Maxim
iliano Schonfeld, Argentina
Ibn Battuta - Tariq Teguia, Algeria
Karma Police - Visra Vichit-Vadakan, Thailand Melaza - Carlos Lechuga, Cuba Past Love - Lee Chatametikool, Thailand Straw Man - Peng Tao, China La tercera orilla - Celina Murga, Argentina Tormentero - Ruben Imaz Castro, Mexico La última tierra - Pablo Lamar, Paraguay

*Distribution*
Chaque jour est une fête - Dima El-Horr, Lebanon, distribution in Lebanon by MC Distribution Manuel De Ribera - Christopher Murray & Pablo Carrera, distribution in Chile by Jirafa

*Special Projects*
Directors Across Borders Script and Project Development Workshop - Yerevan Golden Apricot Film Festival, Armenia Hubert Bals Fund Award - Durban FilmMart, Durban International Film Festival, South Africa East Timor Film Production Workshop - East Timor


(End of list)


*Profile of the Hubert Bals Fund*

Along with CineMart, the Hubert Bals Fund (HBF) is part of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). The 40th IFFR will take place January
26 -
February 6, 2011. Year-round news on IFFR, HBF and CineMart can be found on the festival website www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com.

The Hubert Bals Fund is designed to bring remarkable or urgent feature films and feature-length creative documentaries by innovative and talented filmmakers from developing countries closer to completion. The Hubert Bals Fund provides grants that often turn out to play a crucial role in enabling these filmmakers to realize their projects. Although the Fund looks closely at the financial aspects of a project, the decisive factors remain its content and artistic value. Since the Fund started in 1988, close to 850 projects from independent filmmakers in Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America have received support. Approximately 80% of these projects have been realised or are currently in production.
Every
year, the IFFR screens completed films supported by the Fund. The audience favorite among the HBF supported films screening in the festival receives the Dioraphte Award of 10,000 Euro.

The Hubert Bals Fund is supported by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dutch non-governmental development organisations Hivos-NCDO Culture Foundation, the DOEN Foundation, Dioraphte Foundation and Dutch public broadcasting network NPS.

Grants and selection rounds
Annually, the Hubert Bals Fund has close to Euro 1 million at its disposal and is able to make individual grants of up to Euro 10,000 for script and project development, Euro 20,000 for digital production, Euro 30,000 for post-production, Euro 15,000 towards distribution costs in the country of origin or Euro 10,000 for special projects such as training workshops.
Selection rounds take place twice a year and have application deadlines on March 1 and August 1.

Training, workshops, the Hubert Bals Fund Awards The Fund supports training initiatives for filmmakers in co-production meetings around the world. Occasionally, the Hubert Bals Fund grants Awards to the most promising film project at these co-production meetings.

In case you did not receive the IFFR's Press Release, please find it below.
It can also be found here:
http://www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/professionals/programme/news/hubert-bals-fund-selects-29-projects/


As well as the full list on the HBF's web page:
http://www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/professionals/hubert_bals_fund/hbf-march-2010-selection-round/

The Gauteng Government will save Millions

The Gauteng government will save over R100 million in operation costs after merging all agencies within the provincial economic department into three, premier Nomvula Mokonyane says.

The agencies that fell under the department included the Gauteng Economic Development Agency, the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller, the Gauteng Tourism Authority, the Gauteng Film Commission, Blue IQ and the Gambling Board.

Speaking after the provincial council meeting in Parktown, Johannesburg, Mokonyane said the council had considered a report on the review of all government agencies within the economic department.

"The findings of the review pointed out that while the agency model in itself has proven to be successful and is recommended as the best practice mechanism for economic development, there were strategic, structural and human weaknesses across the agencies," she said.

Mokonyane said it was found that some of the agencies performed functions which were similar in nature, while others were not fully aligned to "strategic objectives" of the department.

The review recommended that the agencies be retained, but with major changes to address the weaknesses and challenges.

Mokonyane said the number of agencies would be reduced to three, namely Growth and Development, Tourism Promotion, and Industry Regulation.

She said this new model would still fall under the department of economic development and the department would have the responsibility for strategy, policy and oversight.

Source: wwww.filmmaker.co.za

VIDEOVISION ENTERTAINMENT SCOOPS SA RIGHTS

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL WORLD PREMIERES

 

Sanjeev Singh, Director of Acquisition and Distribution of Videovision Entertainment announced today that the company acquired Woody Allen's You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger as well as Ken Loach's Route Irish on the opening day of the Cannes International Film Festival.  The acquisitions came prior to the World Premieres of You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger on Saturday, 15 May 2010 as part of the Official Selection and Route Irish on 20 May 2010 which is screening 'in competition' at the Festival.  

 

Woody Allen's You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger follows a pair of married couples, Alfie and Helena, and their daughter Sally and husband Roy, as their passions, ambitions, and anxieties lead them into trouble and out of their minds. After Alfie leaves Helena to pursue his lost youth and a free-spirited call girl named Charmaine, Helena abandons rationality and surrenders her life to the loopy advice of a charlatan fortune teller. The film, written and directed by Woody Allen, stars Anthony Hopkins, Gemma Jones, Freida Pinto, Naomi Watts, Lucy Punch, Josh Brolin and Antonio Banderas.

 

A late entry into the Cannes Film Festival, Route Irish is an Iraq themed
film.   It details the story of two men who work as private security
contractors in Iraq who risk their lives in a city awash with violence and greed. When Frankie is killed on "Route Irish" - the road linking Baghdad airport with the Green Zone - Fergus, wracked with grief and guilt, rejects the official explanation and determines to investigate the truth of his friend's death.  The film stars Mark Womack and Andrea Lowe and comedian John Bishop.

 

"We are thrilled to have acquired the rights Woody Allen's You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger and Ken Loach's Route Irish," said Sanjeev Singh. "Like most Woody Allen films, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger  has a star-studded cast, including Freida Pinto who enchanted audiences in SlumDog Millionaire.  Acquiring Route Irish  is certainly a coup due to its late entry into the Official Competition and follows our acquisition of Ken Loach's ode to football star, Eric Cantona last year.  We will be releasing the films in South Africa later this year through United International Pictures and we anticipate that You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger and Route Irish will be as critically acclaimed and garner awards like Vicky Cristina Barcelona and The Hurt Locker did.

Belize Int'l Film Festival 2010 / CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Belize Film Festival

31st DURBAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

VIDEO PRODUCTION WORKSHOP FOR ASPIRANT FILMMAKERS

As part of the 31st Durban International Film Festival, the University of KwaZulu Natal's Centre for Creative Arts in association with the Audio Visual Centre, invites community organisations to apply for a free workshop on Basic Video Production which will take place from the 27 – 30 July 2010.

The workshop is open to entry-level applicants, preferably those who have not been working in the industry but have a strong desire to pursue video production as a career option. The course will involve practical skills on video camera operation, composition, scripting and video editing. Successful participants will be awarded a certificate of attendance at the completion of the workshop.

It is important that participants be attached to community organisations as this will provide them with an organisational environment where they can make use of and impart their newly-acquired skills.

Application Process:
Community organisations are invited to nominate up to 2 candidates.
Applicants are required to submit a one-page motivation on why they wish to attend the course and how it will benefit their organisation.
An official endorsement by the director of the organisation must accompany the application and should contain a description of the organisation and its full contact details.
Applications must contain full contact details of the applicant.
Applications may be emailed, faxed, delivered or posted to:
Centre for Creative Arts – Video Production Workshop Application, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, Durban,  4041 or emailed to: diff@ukzn.ac.za<mailto:diff@ukzn.ac.za> or faxed to: (031) 260 3074.

Queries may be addressed to: (031) 260 1817 or (031) 260 2506. The closing date for submissions is 17 June 2010. A selection of provisional candidates may be contacted to attend interviews. The final list of successful applicants will be confirmed by the 15 July 2010

All the tuition will be in English.
Participants must attend all the workshop sessions (08h00- 16h00).
Lunch will be provided.
In addition, participants will be obliged to attend 3 film seminars of
2 hours each, involving festival filmmakers. These seminars will be held during the 31st Durban International Film Festival which runs from 22 July to 1 August 2010.

For further information contact.
Sakhile Gumede
Centre for Creative Arts
Tel: +27 31 260 1817 or +27 31 260 2506
www.cca.ukzn.ac.za

Call out for Participation in Producers Lab Incubator and Skills Development Programme

Call for Submissions for participation in Producers Lab Incubator and Skills Development Programme The Durban Film Office in partnership with the SmartXchange Innovation and Technology Hub is calling for applications from local Film producers to participate in the Producers Lab Incubator Programme. The Producers Lab is an opportunity for small film businesses to establish themselves with guidance and support from professionals including business, financing, and distribution workshops and sessions whilst they operate their businesses. Requirements:  A registered business  A minimum of 2 years experience in film/ television;  Involvement in 1 completed documentary/feature/short film as a producer/ director/writer and  A project (script) to develop. For more information contact Musonda Chimba at chimbam@durban.gov.za or Tel: 031 311 4248 Fax: 031 311 4092 Application forms (including all required documentation) are to be collected and delivered to the Durban Film Office, 11th Floor Rennies House, 41 Margaret Mncadi Av. Durban, 4001 by 12h00,19 April 2010. All envelopes must be clearly marked “Producers Lab Application”. No late submissions will be accepted.

Producers Lab Digital Content Development Programme

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNIT DURBAN FILM OFFICE PRODUCERS LAB Call for Proposals for a consultant to facilitate the Producers Lab Digital Development Programme The Durban Film Office calls for proposals and detailed cost estimates for the Designing, packaging and implementing of a Digital Content workshop programme covering:  Digital Content Production & Production Tools  Digital Content Distribution Channels & Services  Advertising & New Media;  Mobile Solutions and Applications. The consultant/consortium appointed should have at least five years individual or combined experience in Digital Content, New Media & Mobile Solutions programmes and must individually or as part of a consortium be competent in the following key knowledge areas in the Digital Content Industry: • Skills and Enterprise development • Product Development & Packaging • Exploiting Intellectual Property & Managing Contracts • Marketing, Sales and Distribution A complete Terms of reference outlining the scope of work can be obtained from the Durban Film Office 11th Floor Rennies House, 41 Margeret Mncadi Av. Durban or for more information, please contact Musonda Chimba at chimbam@durban.gov.za Tel: 031 311 4248 Fax: 031 311 4092. Submission deadline is 23 April 2010.

Producers Lab Producer Skills and Project Development Training Programme

DURBAN FILM OFFICE PRODUCERS LAB: Producer Skills and Project Development Training Call for Proposals for a consultant to facilitate the Producers Lab Producer Skills and Project Development workshops The Durban Film Office calls for proposals and detailed cost estimates for the provision of the following services:  Designing ,packaging and implementing Producer Skills and Project development workshops  Appointing and coordinating suitably qualified and reputable industry professionals to facilitate workshops  Setting Project development milestones and supporting participants to achieve same. The consultant/consortium should have at least five years individual or combined experience in film industry skills & enterprise development programmes and must individually or as part of a consortium be competent in the following key knowledge areas in the Film & Television Industry: • Skills and Enterprise development • Project Pitching Packaging • Exploiting Intellectual Property & Managing Contracts • Marketing, Sales and Distribution A complete Terms of reference outlining the scope of work can be obtained from the Durban Film Office 11th Floor Rennies House, 41 Margeret Mncadi Av. Durban or for more information, please contact Musonda Chimba at chimbam@durban.gov.za Tel: 031 311 4248 Fax: 031 311 4092. Submission deadline is 23 April 2010.

Durban FilmMart Project Management Consultancy

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNIT Durban FilmMart Project Manager Consultant Terms of Reference Call for Proposals for Durban FilmMart Project Manager Consultant The Durban Film Office is calling for proposals for a project management consultancy to manage, coordinate and implement the operational plans of the 2010 Durban FilmMart project. The consultant should have at least three (3) years of individual or combined experience and must individually or as part of a consortium be competent in the following key knowledge areas: • Project and events management; • Film industry role-players and organizations, an understanding and a grasp of salient film-related issues; • Good communication skills Technical enquiries in regard to this contract should be made to Economic Development; Durban Film Office; Contact Person: Toni Monty: telephone on 27 31 3114243 OR montya@durban.gov.za ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNIT 11th Floor Rennies House 41 Margaret Mncadi Ave. Durban South Africa 4001

SUBMISSION PROCESS WRAPS AFTER STRONG RESPONSE TO DURBAN FILMMART

“We are absolutely thrilled with the wonderful response we received to our call for the submission of projects for the inaugural Durban FilmMart,” says Toni Monty, acting CEO of the Durban Film Office (DFO). “Now that the submission process is closed, we send a big vote of thanks out to everybody that entered. As this is Durban’s inaugural FilmMart we were eager to get the event off to a strong start.” “The calibre of entries that came in, is impressive and we are greatly encouraged at the prospects the FilmMart will uncover,” says Peter Rorvik, director of the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF). “An additional aspect of the Durban FilmMart is the ‘Producers Forum’,” continues Monty. “This conference programme is tailored to the needs of industry professionals and will cover industry trends and developments, film production (including financing, marketing and distribution) and new media technologies.” In order to participate in the ‘Producers Forum’, you must be accredited through the payment of a fee. The Forum provides additional opportunities for participation in the Durban FiImMart as well as the chance to meet various industry stakeholders and role-players. The accreditation period opens in June. .../more PRODFORUM/page 2 The Durban FilmMart is a joint project of the DFO and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), set to take place during the 31st Durban International Film Festival which runs from 22 July to 1 August 2010. For more information on the Durban FilmMart visit www.durbanfilmoffice.com or contact Musonda Chimba at the DFO on +27 31 3114248 or by e-mail on chimbam@durban.gov.za ends PREPARED FOR: The Durban Film Office FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES: DFM - Joanne Hayes, Tumbleweed Communications cell: +2783 627 7249 e-mail: weeds@iafrica.com DIFF - Sharlene Versfeld, Sharlene Versfeld & Associates cell : + 27 83 326 3235 e-mail : Sharlene@Versfeld.co.za NOTES : The Durban Film Office (DFO) is the film-industry development arm of the City of Durban, 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. The organization is also actively seeking and creating opportunities for setting the benchmark as the leading authority in the field in South Africa. The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) is a flagship project of the Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN). The CCA 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. The CCA also produces three other major annual festivals - Time of the Writer, Jomba! Contemporary Dance Experience and Poetry Africa.

SEDIBA INTERNATIONAL FINANCING PROGRAMME FOR PRODUCERS 2010

CALL FOR ENTRY Closing Date: 08 April 2010 In 2009, the NFVF launched the Sediba Advanced International Financing Programme aimed at experienced producers in television drama & feature film products. This programme was geared at offering focused training in international financing, packaging, sales and distribution. The programme was delivered over 8 months comprising of 3 workshops with deliverables in-between. The first cycle was deemed a success as it proved to be the solution to providing the high-profile group of Producers who attended the knowledge and skill on how to source international financing through co-production partnerships and other permutations in an effort to raising sufficient funds to make films of the highest quality. By drawing on the knowledge, training experience and educational resources offered by the UK's Film Business Academy, the South African Programme no doubt proved to be a prestigious, high quality and efficiently run event that truly defined the challenges local producers faced in their quest to source and secure international financiers, sales and distribution agents for their locally produced products. At the end of the 8 months of an intensive yet highly informative and exciting programme, four producers qualified for an all expenses paid trip to the Film London Production Finance Market (PFM) in October 2009, where they were afforded the opportunity to pitch their projects to international financiers, distributors and sales agents. The spotlight was truly on South African products! More// This is what fellow Producers had to say about the Programme: “The sessions have always been lively and interesting and even where we have been covering issues that I thought I knew about, there have been new insights that have made things much clearer to me and which I couldn’t have got only from reading a book.” David Max Brown “I was stimulated by the international perspective and input which served me to expand my view point of both the local and the international film market.” Diana Keam “The course taught me the value of having a business plan. This demonstrates strategy, direction and discipline, as well as focus.” Lynne Widgerow “It has made me comfortable with the language – and no longer intimidated by words like “equity financing” and “recoupment chart.” But mostly it has made it very clear to me that film is a business.” Sara Blecher “Having the privilege to attend the PFM gives the producer the opportunity and confidence to sell his/her project for all its worth. If I may say so, I honestly feel that the PFM is the ultimate prize for a producer looking for both finance and a sales agent. Attending the PFM affords the producer the 'focus' that the other markets don’t have. The other Markets primarily focus on selling films. Thus, the PFM is both unique in form and focus.” Lynne Widgerow The good news is that we have heard your requests and will now ALSO offer, in conjunction with the Advanced Programme, a less advanced programme tailor-made for Emerging Producers to prepare them for the Advanced Programme as well as their current job environment! All workshops will be hosted at NFVF’s offices in Houghton, Johannesburg. Kindly note that to be eligible to apply, all Producers, emerging and experienced, need to have completed a feature film script that is most likely to have international appeal. More// Workshop Details Are As Follows: 1. Sediba International Financing Programme for Emerging Producers - 19 – 20 April 2010 - 19 – 20 July 2010 - 06 – 07 September 2010 Cost: R1000 per person (payment due upon acceptance) Deadline for Applications is 08 APRIL 2010 2. Sediba Advanced International Financing Programme for Experienced Producers - 21 – 23 April 2010 - 21 – 23 July 2010 - 08 – 09 September 2010 Cost: R10 000 per person. (Payable in 6 installments) Deadline for Applications is 08 APRIL 2010 If you meet the above criteria, visit our website, www.nfvf.co.za, for more details and to download the application form. For any queries, contact Pretty Mthiyane on 011 483 0880 or email her on prettym@nfvf.co.za. Ends// Released on behalf of the National Film And Video Foundation Contact Person: Naomi Mokhele Communications & Public Affairs 011 714 6328 082 496 9324 naomim@nfvf.co.za www.nfvf.co.za

DATE FOR PROJECT SUBMISSIONS FOR DURBAN FILMMART EXTENDED

Plans for Durban’s inaugural FilmMart, jointly hosted by the Durban Film Office (DFO) and Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), go up a gear as the closing date for the submission of entries approaches. “We are heartened by the submissions we are receiving from entrants throughout Africa,” says Toni Monty, acting CEO of the Durban Film Office. “In addition, we received significant interest from organisations and individual producers on our recent trip to the International Film Festival Rotterdam, where we launched the Durban FilmMart to the international community of producers and also established a partnership with the world-renowned Cinemart. The support for a well-structured forum giving the rest of the world access to African content and projects, is really encouraging.” “We urge potential entrants to get their submissions in by the closing date of 29 March,” says Peter Rorvik, director of the Durban International Film Festival, “as the Durban FilmMart provides a perfect entry point for African film-makers to pitch film projects to leading financiers and network with international directors and producers.” Projects with an African citizen attached to any one of the three creative roles of writer, director or producer are eligible to participate in the Durban FilmMart. These include fiction features, animation features and documentaries suitable for international co-production and distribution. .../more FINALCALL/page 2 The Durban FilmMart is a joint project of the DFO and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) and will take place during the 31st Durban International Film Festival which runs from 22 July to 1 August. For more information on the Durban FilmMart and project submission visit www.durbanfilmoffice.com or contact Musonda Chimba at the DFO on +27 31 3114248 or by e-mail on chimbam@durban.gov.za ends PREPARED FOR: The Durban Film Office FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES: DFO - Joanne Hayes, Tumbleweed Communications cell: +2783 627 7249 e-mail: weeds@iafrica.com DIFF – Sharlene Versfeld, Sharlene Versfeld & Associates Cell : +2783 326 3235 e-mail : Sharlene@Versfeld.co.za NOTES : 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. The organization is also actively seeking and creating opportunities for setting the benchmark as the leading authority in the field in South Africa. The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) is a flagship project of the Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN). The CCA 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. The CCA also produces three other major annual festivals - Time of the Writer, Jomba! Contemporary Dance Experience and Poetry Africa.

SOUTH AFRICAN BUZZ AT THE OSCARS

Film producer Anant Singh who is currently in Los Angeles attending the Academy Awards said today that there was a positive buzz about South Africa and the South African film industry at the Awards Ceremony as a result of the South African themed films, District 9 and Invictus which received Oscar Nominations. The sci-fi thriller District 9 which was written and directed by South African born Neill Blomkamp and which was shot in South Africa received four nominations in the categories Best Picture, Achievement in Editing, Achievement in Visual Effects and Adapted Screenplay. Invictus, directed by Clint Eastwood and based on the book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation by John Carlin, received the Best Actor nomination for Morgan Freeman who played Nelson Mandela, and the Best Supporting Actor nomination for Matt Damon who played Francois Pienaar. Singh had the opportunity to meet a number of stars, including Oscar nominees at the Awards, among whom were Best Supporting Actor nominee, Christoph Waltz (Inglorius Basterds) who has done a few films in South Africa and specifically mentioned his fondness for Cape Town; Best Supporting Actress nominee, Mo'Nique (Precious); Ben Stiller who is one of the most prominent actors in the world who had just returned from South Africa after looking at shooting his new film in the country and was very excited about having visited South Africa. He also met Samuel L. Jackson and his wife LaTanya, Quinton Tarantino and Jamie Fox. Singh is a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and this year marks the tenth Academy Award ceremony that he attended. After the ceremony he was a guest of Elton John at his annual Oscar bash, and also attended the much coveted Vanity Fair Party. Singh company, Videovision Entertainment also acquired the Oscar nominated films An Education and The White Ribbon for distribution in South Africa. An Education was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Carey Mulligan) and Best Adapted Screenplay (by Nick Hornby). Singh's longtime producing partner, David Thompson (Sarafina!, Red Dust) also produced the Oscar nominated, An Education. The White Ribbon was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Achievement in Cinematography. Speaking from Los Angeles, Singh said, "It really is heartening to see the world's leading filmmakers speak so positively about South Africa. Whilst Invictus told the inspirational story of Madiba's influence on the Springbok rugby team that won the World Cup in 1995, it was District 9 that captured their attention. The production values that were clearly evident in District 9 was largely the hard work of talented South African film crews. It illustrated to the world that the South African film industry can hold its own against the top filmmaking countries of the world. We at Videovision Entertainment are also pleased to have acquired An Education and The White Ribbon for distribution in South Africa and to have released An Education prior to its Oscar nominations. The White Ribbon will be released in South Africa later this year."

VIDEOVISION ENTERTAINMENT UNVEILS PRODUCTION SLATE FOR 2010

Film Producer, Anant Singh announced today an exciting slate of films from the Videovision Entertainment stable for 2010.  Leading the slate is the comedy Jozi which is currently in release, followed by the stand-up film, Outrageous, the documentary feature, People of the Eland and the feature film, The First Grader which was recently shot in Kenya.

 

Jozi, which uses the city of Johannesburg as a backdrop for its narrative, is a fresh, innovative comedy.  Jozi is directed by Craig Freimond and produced by Anant Singh, Helena Spring and Robbie Thorpe.  It stars Carl Beukes, Lionel Newton, Lindiwe Matshikiza, Jena Dover, Moshidi Moshegwa and Nick Boraine with a guest appearance by Tobie Cronje.  The film has been critically acclaimed with  Leon Van Nierop (You / Huisgenoot / Drum) saying, “Finally a South African comedy without clichés and slapstick. Funny, absorbing and clever;” while Debashine Thangevelo  (The Star) said, “A traffic jam of converging witty lines in this slice of life comedy that leaves one veering between lanes that straddle tongue-in-cheek humour and surreal drama about surviving Jozi."

 

Stand up comedy fans will be in for a real treat with Outrageous which sees South Africa’s top stand up comics, John Vlismas, Barry Hilton, Mark Banks, Loyiso Gola, Joey Rasdien, Krijay Govender and Riaad Moosa come together for the first time ever, in a no-holds barred, adults only stand up comedy experience. Outrageous is a stand up feast from the cream of comedy, with the comics been chosen to represent the wide spectrum of comedy styles. The film, produced by Anant Singh and Helena Spring, is directed by Bevan Cullinan and is scheduled for release in April 2010 with the World Premiere scheduled to take place in Johannesburg on 20 March 2010.

 

Just completed with the award-winning documentary filmmaking team of Craig and Damon Foster, is People of the Eland.  The film explores the world’s oldest culture and how it is now at the brink of extinction.  It tracks the Khomani San of the Central Kalahari, the oldest living indigenous tribe in the world, and who are genetically linked to every human being on planet earth.  In modern times, their traditional nomadic way of life has changed and westernisation has severed their link to the land and the animals.  The children feel there is no future and the elders are faced with haunting reminders of their past.  People of the Eland is produced by Anant Singh and Helena Spring, is directed by Craig and Damon Foster and will have its World Premiere in Cannes this year.

 

Currently in post production is The First Grader which is inspired by a true story.  It is directed by Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl, Bleak House) and written by South African-born, Emmy winner Ann Peacock (The Chronicles Of Narnia, Nights In Rodanthe, Kit Kittridge), the film stars Naomie Harris (Ninja Assassin, Pirates Of The Caribbean) together with Oliver Letondo. Set in a small, remote mountain top primary school in the Kenyan bush, hundreds of children are jostling for a chance for the newly promised free education by the Kenyan government.  One new applicant causes astonishment when he knocks on the door of the school. He is Maruge (Oliver Litondo), an old Mau Mau veteran in his eighties who is desperate to learn to read at this last stage of his life. He fought for the liberation of his country and now feels he must have the chance of an education so long denied - even if it means sitting in a classroom alongside six year-olds.  The film is a Videovision Entertainment co-production with BBC Films, Sixth Sense Productions and Origin Pictures with support from the UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund and will have its World Premiere in Cannes this year.

 

Videovision Entertainment’s Mr Bones 2 produced with South Africa’s Number One Box Office Star, Leon Schuster, won three South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) last month in the categories, Best Editor in a Feature Film (Johan Lategan), Best Costume Designer in a Feature Film (Nerine Pienaar) and Best Make Up & Hair Stylist in a Feature Film (Debra Nicoll).

 

Commenting on the comprehensive production slate, Anant Singh said, “We at Videovision Entertainment pride ourselves in making films that will stand the test of time and also entertain diverse audiences. We thrilled with this exciting line up of upcoming films that have varied themes and tackle different genres.  We reiterate our commitment to making quality films and to providing a platform for emerging talents.  We are also delighted to have won three SAFTAs for Mr Bones 2 and we congratulate the recipients.”

 

Photo attached:  A scene from The First Grader with Jane Obinchu (Naomie Harris) and Maruge (Oliver Litondo).

 

 

For further information:

Nilesh Singh

Tel: 031 204-6050  E-mail: Nilesh@videovision.co.za

Web:  www.videovision.co.za

More Awards for Izulu Lami

Izulu Lami/My Secret Sky, directed by Madoda Ncayiyana, has won three more awards: the top local industry prize, the South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA). Tshepang Mohlomi, who was 14 years old when he played a street urchin named Chili-Bite, won Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film, competing against adult actors. Durban’s Simon Joyner won Best Production Designer in a Feature Film for his work with an all-Durban Art Department, including Jason Whyte and Morgan Mudhanadzo on Izulu Lami, and Stacey Dunn and Patrick Flynn won Best Costume Design in a Feature Film for Izulu Lami, with original dress designs by Durban designer of “One” Clothing, Michelle Woodruffe.

Izulu Lami/My Secret Sky, co-produced by Durban’s Vuleka Productions with Johannesburg’s Dv8 Films, was nominated for a total of seven SAFTAs, marking the first time that a film from KwaZulu Natal has been honoured with so many SAFTA nominations. These included Best Film, Best Director and Best Cinematography, while Sobahle Mkhabase, who was 10 years old when the film was shot, was nominated for Best Actress in a Feature Film., also with all the other nominees being adults.

Izulu Lami features a cast of mainly young children who had never acted professionally before being discovered by the director in the townships and informal settlements of Durban and rural KwaZulu-Natal. The film was shot entirely in the city and province, with a cast and crew largely from Durban. Two more international awards: the Best Debut Film prize at the 14th International Film Festival of Kerala in India, the Rajatha Chakoram Award, in December 2009, and the Audience Award for Best Film at the Verona International African Film Festival in Italy, also late last year.  

The latest international awards collected by director Ncayiyana in India and Italy bring to a total of six the international awards won by Izulu Lami/My Secret Sky: including the Cannes Pan-African Film Festival’s prestigious Dikalo Award for Best Feature Film, the Audience Award for Best Film and a Best Actress Award for child star Sobahle Mkhabase at the Tarifa International African Film in Spain. Director Madoda Ncayiyana, a resident of KwaMashu township, was recently awarded the Mayor’s Achievement Award by eThekwini Mayor Obed Mlaba for his decades of work not only in film and TV, but in theatre as well, as Ncayiyana has won awards for his productions at the Edinburgh and Grahamstown Arts Festivals.

Izulu Lami/My Secret Sky has received excellent critical reviews, described as an “extraordinary work of great power” by top film critic Barry Ronge and “the kind of family movie that you’ll want your kids to see” by award-winning author Don Mattera. The UK’s Guardian newspaper and the Africa-In-Motion Film Festival in Edinburgh have dubbed Izulu Lami "South Africa's Slumdog Millionaire", with Scottish film festival critic Iman Qureshi stating: “I cannot remember the last time I was so emotionally invested in a film.”

Izulu Lami/My Secret Sky is written by Julie Frederikse and director Ncayiyana, produced by Jeremy Nathan of Dv8 Films, and co-produced by Frederikse of Vuleka Productions. Izulu Lami/My Secret Sky is supported by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), the SABC, Ster-Kinekor Distribution, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Rebate, and the French film fund, Fonds Images Afrique. The eThekwini Municipality provided crucial support for the shooting of the film in Durban’s KwaMashu and Inanda townships.

During its theatrical release in 2009 Izulu Lami/My Secret Sky was embraced by cinema-goers throughout the country, staying on circuit for three months and exceeding all box office expectations of its distributor, Ster-Kinekor Pictures. Izulu Lami/My Secret Sky is now available on DVD from Ster Kinekor Entertainiment can be purchased in leading retail stores throughout South Africa and online from www.kalahari.net.

The Character Course

Sometimes it takes a shrink to work out what really makes a person tick – even if that person is a fictional character in the mind of a writer.. Psychologist Pierre Brouard thinks he is probably the first of his profession to be involved in running a writing course. He is co-convenor of a regular one-day course in character development with novelist Jo-Anne Richards and script writer, Richard Beynon, of allaboutwriting. The next Character Course, will be held in Parkview, Johannesburg on February 27 from 9am to 5pm. Cost: R1500. The first Cape Town Character Course will be held on 27 August 2010. Brouard thinks that psychologists and writers are similar in one important respect: “We are fascinated by human nature, and the attempt to understand what makes us who we are.” As a psychologist in his middle years, he has worked with people across the spectrum. “I have also lived a varied life, all of which has exposed me to human frailty. That, and my AIDS work, has left me with an empathy and a deep interest in what is essential about us; in our essence. “These are the same questions that plague writers.” Beynon thinks that characters are “the key to all fiction”. We remember books by their characters, he says, even when we praise their plots. “There is no formula for creating a good character. The most important thing a writer can do is to begin to develop a sense of the forces that make us the people we are.” Richards agrees. “As a writer, I’ve always been fascinated by the different ways people respond to the influences in their lives. In what ways are we all similar, and how is each of us unique?” The Character Course blends psychology and writing to create a one-day immersion in the process of creating memorable and larger-than-life characters. It looks at the skills needed to make these characters leap off the page. “Our aim is to help writers and would-be writers to create characters who will become as real – and in some cases perhaps more real – than our next-door neighbours,” says Richards. www.allaboutwritingcourses.com For more information please contact Trish on 0826524643 or trishurquhart@gmail.com

source Screen Africa

Announcing Imbongi Awards 2010

Announcing Imbongi Awards 2010 The Imbongi Awards' capitalises on Cape Towns strong reputation for production craft by recognising, rewarding and honouring individuals and companies for outstanding achievement in pre-production, production and post-production. With a high-profile independent judging panel and a stringent judging process audited by Galbraith/ Rushby Accounts the integrity of the awards, and therefore its winners, is paramount. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Do you think you or someone within your industry deserves recognition for dedication, professionalism and being a master of their craft? If so the nomination process for Imbongi 2010 is officially open! Visit www.imbongiawards.co.za for the full category listing and nomination forms Nominations close at 16h00 on the 5th February 2010. All successful nominees will be notified on the 9th February 2010 and the finalists for each of the categories will be announced on the 22nd February 2010. Winners will be announced at the Gala awards ceremony on the 6th March 2010. THE EVENT Date: 6th March 2010 Time: 19:00 for 19:30 Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre Dress: Black Tie MC: Nik Rabinowitz is back! Visit www.imbongiawards.co.za for full information and to book your table.

THERE’S A NEW ‘JOZI’ IN SOUTH AFRICA….AND IT’S NOT A CITY BE THE FIRST TO SEE IT

Jozi, the new age South African comedy from Videovision Entertainment and T.O.M. Pictures will be released at more than 40 cinemas across South Africa on 26 February 2010.  Audiences will also have the opportunity to watch the film prior to its release at sneak previews at 5.30 and 8.00pm on Saturday, 20 February 2010.  Jozi is written and directed by Craig Freimond and produced by Anant Singh with Helena Spring and Robbie Thorpe co-producing.
It stars Carl Beukes, Lionel Newton, Lindiwe Matshikiza, Jena Dover, Moshidi Moshegwa and Nick Boraine with a guest appearance by Tobie Cronje.

Critics have already lauded the film ahead of its release:  Leon Van Nierop (You / Huisgenoot / Drum) said, “Finally a South African comedy without clichés and slapstick. Funny, absorbing and clever;” while Debashine Thangevelo  (The Star) said, “A traffic jam of converging witty lines in this slice of life comedy that leaves one veering between lanes that straddle tongue-in-cheek humour and surreal drama about surviving Jozi”; Doreen Premdev (TV Plus) saying, “It was one of the best local films I have watched in a long time. I was especially impressed with the actors and the story line was unique and truly South African;” Paul Boekooi
(Rapport)
declaring, “The way in which an audience can relate to any film, is essential for its success. It is on this level that Jozi scores high.

Anyone
living in Joh’burg can fully associate themselves with what happens to the main characters - whether you like them or not….This is especially reflected in the wacky humour;” and Khetha Mkhize (Yeahbo.net) saying, Jozi paints a dappled picture of the pains and, thankfully, joys of our beloved city, in a hilarious manner."

Jozi follows James, a successful comedy writer who feels overwhelmed by crime, politics, pessimism and a feather duster salesman. When his girlfriend leaves him for a guy who he thinks is the most boring man in the world, he loses the very spark of humour which enables him to earn his living.  In a madcap journey, James travels through the highways and byways of South Africa from Daspoort Rehab to Johannesburg to try and recover his elusive sense of humour as well as his ability to love and laugh again.

Anant Singh commented, “Jozi is a funny, bittersweet comedy and we are delighted that the audience reactions to date have been exceptionally positive and we are very excited about this. It is a very original story and we look forward to the audience embracing the film and more positive reactions when the film opens nationally.”

“AN EDUCATION” ACQUIRED BY VIDEOVISION ENTERTAINMENT RECEIVES THREE OSCAR NOMINATIONS

Sanjeev Singh, Director of Acquisition and Distribution for Videovision Entertainment announced today that An Education, which was acquired for distribution in South Africa received three Academy Award Nominations in the categories: Best Picture, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Carey Mulligan) and Best Adapted Screenplay (by Nick Hornby). The film was released in South Africa last Friday, 29 January 2010 and has opened extremely well at the boxoffice.

Set in London in the early 60s, An Education charts the journey of the bright and ambitious, Jenny who is on her way to Oxford, but feels stifled by her conservative parents and strict school, and yearns for a life of culture and sophistication. When she meets the smart and funny David, who is considerably older than her, those passions are engaged – along with several others – but her grades soon start to slip.

Commenting on the nominations, Sanjeev Singh said, “We are delighted with the three Oscar Nominations received by An Education. This is further affirmation of the film which received eight BAFTA nominations in the United Kingdom last month. Whilst we premiered An Education at the Durban International Film Festival last year, we held the release of the film as we were confident that it would receive Oscar and BAFTA nominations.”

An Education is Videovision Entertainment releases through United International Pictures (South Africa).

VIDEOVISION ENTERTAINMENT MAKES EARLY SUNDANCE ACQUISITIONS

Sanjeev Singh, Videovision Entertainment's Director of Acquisition and Distribution, announced on the opening day of Sundance Film Festival, the acquisition of The Killer Inside Me and The Extra Man prior to their premiere screenings at the Festival. The Sundance Film Festival opened yesterday, 21 January and ends on Sunday 31 January 2010.
The Killer Inside Me which premieres on Sunday, 24 January at Sundance is based on the novel by legendary pulp writer Jim Thompson and is directed by acclaimed filmmaker, Michael Winterbottom and stars Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson and Jessica Alba. The Killer Inside Me tells the story of the handsome, charming and unassuming small town sheriff's deputy Lou Ford. Lou has a bunch of problems. Woman problems. Law enforcement problems. An ever-growing pile of murder victims in his West Texas jurisdiction, and the fact that he is a sadist, a psychopath and a killer. Suspicion begins to fall on Lou, and it is only a matter of time before he runs out of alibis. But in Thompson's savage, bleak, blacker than noir universe nothing is ever what it seems, and it turns out that the investigators pursuing him might have a secret of their own.
Premiering on Monday, 25 January, The Extra Man is written and directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini and stars Kevin Kline, Paul Dano, John C. Reilly and Katie Holmes. A sophisticated and moving comedy, The Extra Man follows Louis Ives, a lonely dreamer who fancies himself the hero of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. When a deeply embarrassing incident forces him to leave his job at an exclusive Princeton prep school, Louis heads to New York City to make a fresh start. Louis quickly finds a nine-to-five job at an environmental magazine, where he encounters an entrancing, green obsessed co-worker Mary. But it's Louis' new home life that really sparks his imagination. He rents a room in the ramshackle apartment of Henry Harrison (Kevin Kline), a penniless, wildly eccentric but brilliant playwright. When Henry's not dancing alone to obscure music or singing operettas, he's performing - with great panache - the duties of an "extra man" a social escort for the wealthy widows of Manhattan high society. These two men, separated in age by more than forty years, develop a volatile mentor / apprentice relationship. Through a series of urban adventures where they encounter everything from a leaping lion to a wildly jealous hirsute neighbour, from drunken nonagenarians to a shady Swiss hunchback, Louis and Henry form a memorable bond that bridges their differences.
Sanjeev Singh commented, "We are delighted to have scooped the much sought after South African distribution rights to The Killer Inside Me and The Extra Man prior to their premieres at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. We intend premiering these films at the Durban International Film Festival in July and thereafter we will release these films in South Africa."
The Killer Inside Me and The Extra Man will be released in South Africa by Videovision Entertainment through United International Pictures (South Africa).

Method Fest 2010

You are invited to the 12th annual "Method Fest", Independent Film Festival running from March 25-April 1, 2010 in Calabasas, CA. The 12th annual The Method Fest independent film festival is looking for character and story-driven films featuring strong acting performances. The Method Fest features American and foreign feature films and short films and is named after "The Method" school of acting, which revolutionized the approach in acting, particularly in film. Deadlines for submission for the 12th annual The Method Fest is on February 1. For film submission information call (310) 535-9230 or visit the festival web site at www.methodfest.com You can also register through www.withoutabox.com.

Izulu Lami/My Secret Sky Wins Yet Another International Award

Izulu Lami My Secret Sky, directed by Madoda Ncayiyana, has won yet another international award: the Best Debut Film prize at the 14th International Film Festival of Kerala in India, the Rajatha Chakoram Award. This follows the award it won late last year at the Verona International African Film Festival in Italy: the Audience Award for Best Film. This brings to a total of six international awards won by this proudly South African and proudly Durban feature film: including the Cannes Pan-African Film Festival’s prestigious Dikalo Award for Best Feature Film, the Audience Award for Best Film and a Best Actress Award for child star Sobahle Mkhabase at the Tarifa International African Film in Spain. Izulu Lami My Secret Sky features a cast of mainly young children who had never acted professionally before being discovered by the director in the townships and informal settlements of Durban and rural KwaZulu-Natal. The film was shot entirely in the city and province, with a cast and crew largely from Durban. Izulu Lami My Secret Sky has been nominated for seven South African Film & Television Awards (SAFTA) for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress for Mkhabase, who was 10 years old when the film was shot, Best Supporting Actor for Tshepang Mohlomi, who was 14 years old at the time, as well as for DOP, Production Design and Costumes.

Durban FilmMart

The announcement, at this years Durban International Film Festival, by the DFO and the Durban International Film Festival
of the intention to jointly host an international Film Finance Forum in 2010, sparked enormous interest in the industry.
The Durban FilmMart, it is anticipated, will act as a key driver in raising the visibility of film content from the African
continent and to provide African film-makers with the opportunity to pitch film projects to leading financiers and world sales
agents and obtain feedback from internationally reputed directors and producers in order to form alliances for future collaborations.
Projects with an African citizen attached to one of the three creative roles of writer, director or producer are eligible to participate in the FilmMart.

MULTI AWARD-WINNING IZULU LAMI GARNERS YET ANOTHER AWARD

It also won the prestigious Dikalo Award for Best Film at the Cannes Pan-African Film Festival earlier this year. The film won another Audience Award for Best Film at the Verona International African Film Festival in Italy in November and has been nominated for seven South African Film & TV Awards (SAFTA) / Golden Horn awards. The cherry on the top was a Mayoral Award for Excellency, presented to Ncayiyana by Durban mayor, Obed Mlaba in November 2009. It also won the prestigious Dikalo Award for Best Film at the Cannes Pan-African Film Festival earlier this year. The film won another Audience Award for Best Film at the Verona International African Film Festival in Italy in November and has been nominated for seven South African Film & TV Awards (SAFTA) / Golden Horn awards. The cherry on the top was a Mayoral Award for Excellency, presented to Ncayiyana by Durban mayor, Obed Mlaba in November 2009.

LOCAL HEROES

Every day we are overwhelmed by the amount of talent in Durban. From film-makers, to directors, producers and actors, the city is brimming with new and up-coming talent, as well as the experienced stalwarts who have paved the way and continue to set an example for the emerging talent. The Durban Film Office offers infrastructural and networking support to the industry at all levels. Philani Sithebe – Director & Film-maker "My love for film started when I was nine years old. Film-making as a subject was not offered in the township schools during my time, so I got involved with many other things that would bring me closer to the medium". As an electronics technician by profession, Philani worked for Sony South Africa as a video camera technician and acquired all the necessary skills of how to use a video camera professionally.

INCREASED VISITOR NUMBERS AT 30TH DURBAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Despitethere being 26 less screenings this year, attendance increased
significantly at the 30th edition of the Durban International Film
Festival (DIFF) with over 22 471 people at the 280 festival film
screenings, representing almost 5500 more than in 2008. Workshop and
seminar attendances were also up with 1650 film enthusiasts attending
38 seminars and workshops, indicating a great level of interest in the
creative and technical processes of filmmaking.