Talent Campus Durban is looking for 40 of
the most innovative voices of African cinema to take part in the 6th edition of
this leading networking and developmental event held at the 34th Durban
International Film Festival.
Talent Campus Durban seeks to provide
selected participants with an opportunity to meet with international industry
professionals and experts in various aspects of the filmmaking business through
participations in a five-day programme of masterclasses, workshops and industry
networking events. The continent of Africa is a source of a myriad narratives
which offer possibilities to be re-imagined, re-told, overlapped and adapted
within numerous contexts.
Under this year’s theme of “Memetic Africa”, Talent Campus Durban
calls for African filmmakers to participate in this programme and be inspired
by stories shaped by varying innovative patterns, ideas, customs, traditions,
practices and skills that enforce the legacy of the African film context.
Talent Campus Durban also calls for
participants for Talent Press, a mentoring programme for three African film
critics in collaboration with FIPRESCI and Goethe Institut, which makes a
welcome return in its second year. Talent Press mentors will offer their
expertise to guide selected participants in the art of film criticism with
access to all the screenings of the 34th Durban International Film Festival.
The five-day programme also includes the
3rd edition of Doc Station, where three selected documentary projects submitted
by accepted talents will be finessed and packaged for presentation within the
DOC Circle pitching forum at the 6th Durban FilmMart.
Applications for Doc Station are open to
selected participants for Talent Campus. Mohamed El Amine Hattou of Algeria was
one of the three Doc Station participants in the 5th Talent Campus Durban who,
after presenting his project at Doc Circle, also had the invaluable opportunity
to meet one-on-one with potential investors. Describing his experience, Hattou
says, “Doc Station is a great opportunity to gain in maturity, networking, and
dive into a promiscuous and professional African market. After my pitch on Doc
Station, I had some positive and interesting feedback on my project. It was
also an easy way to know about new funding and co-production opportunities. Durban
Talent Campus is a unique way for African filmmakers to connect, meet and share
their stories.”
Held in co-operation with the Berlinale
Talent Campus, and with support from the German Embassy of South Africa, Goethe
Institut of South Africa, and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic
Development and Tourism, Talent Campus Durban runs from July 19 to 23, 2013.
Apart from the main event in Berlin, Talent
Campus partnerships also take place at selected festivals in Buenos Aires,
Guadalajara, Tokyo and Sarajevo. Opportunities for participating talents are
enhanced through Talent Campus networks and the Berlinale’s global information
platform.
Application is open to filmmakers and
critics who are resident in Africa. Applicants are encouraged to apply well
before the deadline in order to submit their work samples timeously.
Applications close on April 1 and can be done online on www.cca.ukzn.ac.za
More information on DIFF and Talent Campus contact
031 260 1650 / 2506 or email: talentcampusdurban@gmail.com
or talent@ukzn.ac.za