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19/07/2022

28/06/2022

28/06/2022

Animation is a unique storytelling platform that deserves to be celebrated alongside the other fantastic ways African cinema has evolved and revolutionised the industry. We're looking forward to hearing from these animation experts:

• Diana Maria Rosu: Founder of Accra Animation Film Festival, an organisation based in Ghana that helps African animators access the international industry through workshops, talent exchanges and a film festival.

• Francis Y. Brown: Award-winning animator from Ghana, Francis is also the founder and creative director of Animaxfyb Studios. He has worked on many prestigious projects, notably ROOM 5, a 3D short, which earned numerous nominations.

• Jérome Soffo Simo: With a passion for art history and visual arts, Jérôme Soffo Simo leveraged his understanding of digital media to create the Tous'Anime association. This lead to initiating several large-scale projects such as the CANIMAF festival and the EMANFILM device, which have helped develop the animation industry in Cameroon.

• Mounia Aram: Mounia started her career with a focus on Japanese animation, but, 16 years later when she launched her own company, turned her focus to Africa. With her extensive network and broad experience, she wanted to bridge the gap between African creators and the global market.

• Tendayi Nyeke: Tendayi works as a developmental executive for the international Emmy Award-winning animation firm, Triggerfish Animation Studios, where she looks after the development of a diverse slate of shorts, series and feature films. Tendayi is also involved in some upcoming projects for both Netflix and Disney Plus.

Register for DFM today: https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/dfm-event-2022/

28/06/2022

𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲
Durban FilmMart Announces 2022 Jumpstart Projects

The Durban FilmMart Institute in partnership with Produire au Sud of the Festival des 3 Continents Nantes, Institut Francais-South Africa and CNC announces the 2022 Jumpstart projects included in this year's Durban FilmMart.

Established by the DFM over a decade ago, Jumpstart is an incubator programme that looks at the tools and key techniques for scriptwriting. This year sees an extension to the Jumpstart programme as CNC’s Deental-ACP programme co-organise and finance an additional workshop to assist projects with the niche skills of packaging projects for an international market. This extension will form part of DFMI’s year round programme.

The 2022 Jumpstart programme takes place during the Durban FilmMart, from 22-25 July.

Jumpstart Projects 2022:

A Dream To Die For (Director: David Masterwille) - is a narrative looking at illegal mining and the destruction it leaves behind. It sets the vivid portrayal of the assault on humanity and the environment while exploring the portrayal of friendship and redemption. It's in the spirit of this cause that this film will set itself apart from others.

Blackass (Director: Tolulope Ajayi) - the topics of Neo-Colonialism, conflict and colourism are explored through the eyes of a down-on-his-luck thirty-year-old man living in Lagos. Blackass intends to explore daily Nigerian life and the realities inherent - poverty and economic struggle and how these contribute to and hone a penchant for deception.

An Endless Night! (Director: Mohamed Kassaby) - Delving into topics like meditation on modern existence, and the complexities and idiosyncrasies of modern contemporary life in great cities, this project looks at the life of a man who faced a crisis and connected with the emptiness of the world around him. It also focuses on humans searching for the meaning of spirituality.

The Path of Ruganzu Part 1 (Director: Zachariah Lloyd Sesay) - This film explores the movement of young people from one territory to another for a range of reasons and advocates for their wellbeing and raises awareness about the dangers they face. It also hones in on the fact that travel is good but there is a better way to do it. The project is about a journey of discovery that will give Africans the power to believe in themselves.

"We" (Director: Sihle Hlophe) - an adaptation of Lidudumalingani Mqombothi’s short story, “Memories We Lost”, the short story won the 2016 Caine Prize for African Writing. The story
explores how traditional beliefs in a rural community are used to tackle mental
Illness and how a mother learns to accept her daughter’s special powers.

This year’s mentors are Guillaume Mainguet, head of Produire au Sud whose workshops are across 7 countries (France, Brazil, India, Israel, Morocco, South Africa, Taiwan,) ; Tracey-Lee Rainers whose most recent works include being Seriously Single currently showing on Netflix and the SAFTA award winning film Address Unknown; and Jérémie Dubois who has written over a dozen short stories, two of which were selected at the Cannes Film Festival.

DFM 2022 will be presented as both an online and physical programme during the period 22-31 July. Registrations are open for both online and physical participation at Durban FilmMart. Visit https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/dfm-event-2022/ to review the participation options, and to explore the full programme of activities and opportunities on offer.

The Durban FilmMart Institute receives principal funding from the Durban Film Office and the EThekwini Municipality. The DFM 2022 event is kindly supported by the National Film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission and Wesgro.
The Jumpstart programme is funded by French Institute of South Africa and CNC.

28/06/2022

We have a star-studded lineup of film professionals joining us for DFM Conversations this year! We can't wait to give a welcome to:

• Mo Abudu, CEO of EbonyLife Group. Sharing valuable insights from her involvement in blockbuster projects, Mo will help us kick off our online programme on Friday 22 July.

• Tendeka Matatu (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tendekamatatu), Netflix's Head of Film for Sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to joining Netflix, Tendeka produces films under Ten10 Films, a production and distribution company known for its commitment to delivering authentic African stories. Tendeka will be joining DFM in person on Saturday, 23 July.

• Mike de Seve, Emmy-nominated director and screenwriter. Mike has major credits to his name, such as working on well-known animation films like Madagascar and Shrek 2. Join the online conversation on Monday, 25 July.

• Dana Sims, MP Talent Agent at Creative Artists Agency. Dana represents some of the biggest names in entertainment, such as Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Wesley Snipes and Pearl Thusi. Meet Dana online on Saturday 23 July.

• Nicola Ofoego, EAVE (European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs) member. Nicola successfully transitioned from the world of investments into the audiovisual side of filmmaking. Attend the online masterclass on Monday, 25 July.

Register now: https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/dfm-event-2022/

28/06/2022

𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲
Durban FilmMart Institute announces Talents Durban project selection

The Durban FilmMart Institute is pleased to announce the participants of the 15th edition of Talents Durban, which takes place virtually during the Durban FilmMart from 22-31 July.

Initiated by the Berlin International Film Festival and Berlinale Talents, Talents Durban is an important partner programme of the Durban FilmMart Institute. This training and development platform offers the selected Talent participants a 6-week mentorship by experienced film professionals and an opportunity to present their film projects to an international market.

“We are excited to once again work with our international partners to provide a platform for African filmmakers to access the global market,” Magdalene Reddy, General Manager of the Durban FilmMart Institute said.
“Now in its 15th year, the 2022 edition of Talents Durban will bring together creatives from across the continent whose work not only inspires but challenges industry norms, these bold young voices are the future of film in Africa” Reddy added.
Following a thorough adjudication process, 27 projects, and 4 film critics, representing 16 countries made the final selection.

Feature Film Selection:
Kwibuka or How We Remember the Ending of Time (Kenya) Director: Arnold Mwanjila
Eliane (Benin/Togo) Director: Beola Touggourt
The Ambitious (Les Ambitieux) (Togo) Director: Gilbert Bararmna-Boukpessi
And me too (وانا كمان ) (Egypt) Director: Sondos Shabayek
The Dark Cloud (Ifu Elimnyama) (South Africa) Director: Hallie Haller
One More Night in Lagos (Côte d'Ivoire) Director: Marina Audrey Imboua-Niava Sangowawa

Documentary Film Selection:
Kamina, The Forgotten City (Kamina, La Cité Oubliée) (Togo) Director: Yelebo Amanou
Nidhal (نِضال) (Tunisia) Animation Director: Bassem Ben Brahim
Genetic Dissonance (South Africa) Director: Gabriella Blumberg
Fragile (هش) (Egypt) Director: Sally Abo Basha

The Darker Side of Afrobeats (Nigeria) Director: Aderonke Adeola
Born Between The Cracks/Follow The Sun (Izingane Zodlame) (South Africa) Director: Nontobeko YamaNungwa Sibisi
Revenge P**n (Uganda) Director: Ruth Nazzinda

Shorts Selection:
The Lamb of Ha-'Matli (Nku ea Sehlabelo) (Lesotho) Director: Phillip Leteka
Fleas (Amazeze) (South Africa) Director: Jordy Sank
The Last Tears of Eissa (Egypt) Director: Morad Mostafa
On the Edge (Bord a Bord) (Tunisia) Director: Sahar El Echi
Lost Things (Mamelles) (Senegal) Director: Mamadou Socrate Diop
Still Night (South Africa) Screenwriter: Veron Vadivelu

Episodic Selection:
Queens! (Kenya) Screenwriter: Lawrence Murage
Sowing Wild Oats (South Africa) Director: Lwazi Duma
The School of Life (A Escola da Vida) (Angola) Screenwriter: Ariel Casimiro
Gloria (Nigeria) Director: Adesua Okosun

Animation Selection:
Circus Odd (Swaziland) Screenwriter: Gcinaphi Dlamini
Ubizo (The Calling) (South Africa) Animation Director: Zamokuhle Thusi
Soul Tie (Namibia) Screenwriter: Micheal Pulse
The Bird and The Tree (Kenya) Animation Director: Stanslaus Manthi

Talent Press (Film Critic / Journalist) Selection:
Fabiola Uwera (Rwanda)
Jerry Chiemeke (Nigeria)
Dieubrebie Annick Rachelle Kandolo (Burkina Faso)
Merryn Haller (South Africa)

“Sustainability is key to us and central to our partnership with the Durban FilmMart Institute. To spark change and establish a healthy, fair, and free-spirited environment for filmmakers and their stories takes time and the deepest passion of those involved. Seeing Talents Durban prosper and with again also more alumni returning as mentors and decision-makers proves to us its strength as an important talent developer on the African continent and beyond,” say Christine Tröstrum and Florian Weghorn, Heads of Berlinale Talents.

In addition, Talents Durban Talks, a series of conversations with some of the continent’s most successful writers, directors, and film critics will be presented at the DFM 2022 online programme. These panel discussions will highlight some of the most innovative young African creatives interrogating processes of authenticity in writing for cultures across the continent. Discussions will feature director Amil Shivji of Zanzibar festival hit Tug of War, Mamadou Dia of Sengalese Nafi’s Daughter, and writer director Jenna Cato Bass, who has followed her success with Flatland with a new horror film entitled Good Madam. In addition, the programme will probe the new spaces for film criticism, looking at the rise of podcasting and video essays amid a changing world where technology is increasingly entwining with film criticism. The discussion will feature Nikita Neo Mokgware and Yazz The Student from This Is Africa and Afriquan Film podcasts respectively.

DFM 2022 will be presented under the theme ‘Revolution Evolution: Changing the Narrative’ as both an online and physical programme during the period 22-31 July. Registrations are open for both online and physical participation at Durban FilmMart. Visit https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/dfm-event-2022/ to review the participation options, and to explore the full programme of activities and opportunities on offer.

The Durban FilmMart Institute receives principal funding from the Durban Film Office and the EThekwini Municipality. The DFM 2022 event is kindly supported by the National Film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission and Wesgro.

ENDS

17/06/2022

What a bucket list moment for us and the work we have been intentionally brewing. We are one of two documentary film projects selected from South Africa - part of a cohort of 27 filmmakers from across Africa. Talents Durban is an initiative of The Berlin International Film Festival and is part of six international initiatives of Berlinale Talents.

Super excited to be kicking off our professional filmmaking journey in this invaluable way, a dream realized. Thank you

14/06/2022

Here's to Talents 2022! 🥳🥳

Congratulations All-Round! We Made It! 🎥

What a bucket list moment for us and the work we have been intentionally brewing. We are one of two documentary film projects selected from South Africa out of a cohort of 27 filmmakers from across Africa. Talents Durban is an initiative of The Berlin International Film Festival and is part of six international initiatives of Berlinale Talents.

Super excited to be kicking off our professional filmmaking journey in this invaluable way, a dream realized. Thank you

14/06/2022

Here's to Talents 2022! 🥳🥳

Congratulations All-Round! We Made It! 🎥

What a bucket list moment for us and the work we have been intentionally brewing. We are one of two documentary film projects selected from South Africa out of a cohort of 27 filmmakers from across Africa. Super excited to be kicking off our professional filmmaking journey in this invaluable way, a dream realized. Thank you