Produire au Sud of
Festival des 3 Continents, in Nantes, France together with the French Embassy
in South Africa. have once again partnered with Africa’s premier film finance
and co-production forum, the Durban FilmMart (DFM), which takes place during
the 36th Durban International Film Festival from July 16 to 26, 2015.
This is the third
year that this prestigious film developmental programme has partnered with the
DFM, a film industry development initiative funded by the City of Durban and
founded by the Durban Film Office and the Durban International Film Festival.
Produire au Sud
focuses on developing film co-productions and supports potentially talented
producers with techniques to develop their skills in line with international
trends and standards. It partners with the DFM in an endeavour to develop
African content through a programme around story development, and creating
networking opportunities for African filmmakers on an international platform.
Now in its sixth
year, The FilmMart includes a Finance Forum, Master Classes and Africa in Focus
– a programme of workshops, and also offers a series of networking and social
sessions with like-minded industry representatives. For this year’s DFM,
Produire au Sud and the French Embassy, SA, will be bringing in three leading
international experts: Italy-based documentary director/producer Stefano Tealdi;
Cannes-born scriptwriter expert Sari Turgeman and France-based strategy and
development consultant Dominique Welinski, who will mentor 19 selected film
projects in the finance forum and conduct masterclasses for all attending film
industry delegates.
“One of our key
objectives is to provide a platform for African filmmakers to promote their
stories,” explains Toni Monty of the Durban Film Office. “Over the year’s we
have recognised story development as a key area requiring the most support. So
we continue to focus on this area in an endeavour to support the promotion of our
continent’s narratives. The partnership is underscored by a mutual goal to
elevate African storytelling, we acknowledge and appreciate the valuable input
through this partnership with Produire au Sud and the French Embassy, South
Africa.”
Produire au Sud’s
Head, Guillaume Mainguet, says: “We have similar objectives, although we are on
two different continents. Our programme is set within the Festival des 3
Continents which features films from Africa, Latin America and Asia, and it is
with this interest in this relationship with the DFM that we are able to
support the development of film in Africa. Working together we are able to
identify and guide projects that have potential to be developed and
strengthened through the finance forum programme, as well as provide valuable
practical insights through the masterclasses to delegates. We will also award
one project ; an opportunity to go to the festival in France and work among
others, with internationally experience script experts in a week-long programme
in our Produire au Sud (PAS) workshop.”
The partnership is
further anchored by financial assistance from the French Embassy in South
Africa.
“We are pleased to
once again support the DFM through Produire au Sud’s partnership with the DFM,
to bring the experts to Durban and support projects going to France for further
development.” says Frédéric Chambon, regional head of Media and Film at the
French Embassy. “Our mission is to strengthen the film industry links between
France and South Africa and to stimulate growth through creating opportunities
for film-makers from both continents to collaborate. In the context of Africa,
the DFM is the perfect vehicle for expertise exchange and capacity building.”
Over the past two years,
a number of projects have been awarded an opportunity to participate in the
Produire au Sud (PAS) Script Studio through this partnership. In 2013, the
award was given to The Bill directed
by Nosipho Dumisa, (co-produced by Travis Taute and Junaid Ahmed - South
Africa) and Whiplash, directed by Meg
Rickards (produced by Jacky Lourens - South Africa). As part of the France South
Africa Seasons that year, Hhola, Hhola
directed by Madoda Ncayiyana (produced by Julie Frederikse- South Africa) was
also selected. Last year, it went to Hawa
Hawaii (Kenya / South Africa Co-production) directed by Amirah Tajdin and
produced by Wafa Mohamed Tajdin, Bongiwe Selane, Helena Spring and Junaid
Ahmed, and Mrs Popplestone (South
Africa) directed by Sarah Ping Nie Jones and produced by Jean Meeran.
“The award creates
opportunities for the film-makers to have critical input by experts from fresh
perspectives.” says Guillaume Mainguet. “It shifts the film-makers out of their
local context into an international programme enabling to extend their networks
and knowledge. We have seen that in the short space of this partnership strong
ties been forged by the recipients of the awards and the international
scriptwriters and professionals at the workshop.”
The 6th edition of
the Durban FilmMart takes place from July 17 to 20 during the Durban
International Film Festival (July 16 to 26). For more information and to
register as a delegate visit www.durbanfilmmart.com
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