A 2013 winning Durban FilmMart project, Unearthed
directed by Jolynn Minnaar, was awarded the Sheffield Green Award at the
Sheffield Doc/Fest that took place at Yorkshire, United Kingdom, in June.
Having celebrated its 21st year running,
The Sheffield Doc/Fest is one of the world’s most renowned documentary
festivals. Much like the Durban FilmMart, this festival offers filmmakers the
chance to network, attend master classes and, most of all, to be inspired.
Former DFM selected project and recipient of the
WorldView grant awarded at DFM 2013 director Jolynn Minnaar, producers from
Stage 5 Films, Dylan Voogt, Saskia Schiel, and Stacey Keppler from Zootee
Studios, world premiered Unearthed at
the Sheffield Doc/Fest. The film
showcases the 18 months of intense work and the ends to which they had to
travel in covering the issues of fracking practices and implementation. Its
message, storytelling and ability to engage audiences gave Minnaar’s Unearthed
the upper hand in a pool of six other documentaries nominated for the Sheffield
Green Award.
“This is a moment I will always treasure. It went
beyond the award though - the feedback from the recognised members of the jury
was the greatest gift. They not only recognised the hard work that went into
the documentary but praised the story telling and the film's ability to inspire
change across the world. The jury were unanimous in their decision in
highlighting Unearthed as a film with critical, international relevance.
This kind of recognition has not only placed an international spotlight on an
independent South African documentary but on the issue it uncovers and the
important discussions it calls for,” says Unearthed Director Jolynn
Minnaar.
“The Sheffield Green Award has placed Unearthed
on the map, he reflects further. “We have an unprecedented global interest in
the film with screening requests from Pennsylvania to Tasmania. We hope to meet
as many people as possible - starting in the rural Karoo towns - with
screenings and presentations. Outside of the film and the audiences we are
committed to reaching, it is my hope that Unearthed inspires people
across the world, in whatever capacity, to rethink their place in the world and
be a part of a better tomorrow.”
Unearthed is
not only a recent international success, it is also a Durban FilmMart project
triumph; revealing itself as a product and perfect example of the type of
opportunities Africa’s premier film finance and co-production forum can offer
filmmakers in Africa. Winning the WorldView grant of €2,500 in 2013 offered
Minnaar the chance to continue and complete investigations for this South
African independent documentary, as well as provide a platform to network and
develop her skills.
“We could not be more proud of
Jolynn Minnaar’s production Unearthed,” says Durban Film Office’s Toni
Monty. “This Award winning project is a true reflection of the international
standards of filmmaking the Durban FilmMart aims to assist filmmakers to
achieve. Minnaar’s story is an inspiration to other African filmmakers and is a
product of perseverance; never giving up on telling stories and believing in
how far that story can take you.”
Having worked hard on establishing international
ties in the film industry, affording filmmakers the chance to develop their
content and storytelling skills; African filmmakers are encouraged to come to
this year’s 5th Durban FilmMart, set to take place from July 18 to
21 at the Elangeni Tsogo Sun Hotel in Durban; alongside the
35th Durban International Film Festival which runs from July 17 to 27, 2014.
The Durban FilmMart (DFM) is a co-production and
finance market, funded by the City and is a joint programme of the Durban Film
Office (DFO) and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF)
For more information on the Durban FilmMart and how
to register as a delegate visit www.durbanfilmmart.com
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