(Representatives of the winning films)
After a packed
four day programme of project pitching, industry masterclasses, seminars and workshops,
and networking, the 6th Durban FilmMart (DFM) came to a close with
the announcing of the market awards and grants at the awards and closing
function sponsored by Videovision Entertainment.
The DFM saw
around 550 guests from 26 countries, 32 workshop and panel discussion sessions
presented by various local and international industry experts and
professionals.
“It has been an
extremely productive and pleasing market this year, with over 900 official
business meetings documented in the Finance Forum.” says Toni Monty, Head of
the Durban Film Office, which partners with the DIFF to present the DFM. “The
Durban FilmMart is considered one of Africa’s most important film finance
platforms: this is borne out of the fact that we have been able to track the
progress of many of the projects which had their beginnings at the market which
have successfully made it to the screen. This year the Durban International
Film Festival was able to screen six DFM alumni films, a concrete indication
that this model is working well.”
“Once again we
are honoured to have hosted this important film event, which brings together
industry representatives from around the globe.” adds Monty. “Besides the many
levels of business that is conducted at this market, we are also proud to be
able to showcase the City as a film destination on a global level to the
hundreds of delegates attending.”
The closing night
awards dinner saw key local and international partners of the annual
co-production market, award a number of projects with development support
through cash grants, invitations to partner markets or business support, to
take the projects through the next stages of development.
This year eight
awards were made by an evaluation panel made up of local and international film
industry experts. Recipients of the 2015 DFM awards are as follows:
The Sundance
Institute Documentary Film Program award for a documentary film project that
demonstrates potential for strong storytelling craft, artistic use of visual
language, originality, feasibility, and relevance went to The Other Half of
The African Sky directed and produced by Tapiwa Chipfupa which receives a
cash award of $7,000 for further development.
Afridocs, the
broadcast stream that sees African and other international documentaries
screened across 49 countries of sub-Saharan Africa on a weekly basis, awarded a
€3,000 grant for an outstanding documentary project to Truck Mama
directed and produced by Zipporah Nyaruri and co-directed by Peggy Mbiyu.
The CineMart Award,
sponsored by the co-production market of the International Film Festival
Rotterdam, awarded the fiction project Sunflowers Behind a Dirty Fence
directed by Simon Mukali and produced by Nathan Magoola, with an opportunity to
attend the Rotterdam Lab, a five-day training and networking event bringing
together producers from all over the world.
The International
Documentary Film Festival of Amsterdam (IDFA) awarded the most promising
documentary project at the DFM, Truck Mama directed and produced by
Zipporah Nyaruri and co-directed by Peggy Mbiyu, with an opportunity to attend
the IDFA Forum, the largest and most influential meeting place for documentary
filmmakers, producers, commissioning editors, funds, private financiers and
other documentary stakeholders in Europe, from November 23 to 25.
The New Cinema
Network awarded Riot Waif directed by Zinaid Meeran and produced by Jean
Meeran an opportunity to attend the 10th edition NCN in Rome, where the
producer/director will be able to present the project to film companies at an
international level.
Produire au Sud of
Festival des 3 Continents (Nantes), awarded the fiction project Inkabi
"The Hitman" directed by Norman Maake and produced by Peter
Pohorsky with an opportunity to attend its developmental workshop program, PAS,
where they will be given tools, expertise, and opportunities to develop
European networks.
The Restless Pitch
awarded a one-on-one consultation with Restless Talent Management co-founder
Tendeka Matatu to two projects: Brace Yourself by Thati Peele, and
Lucky by Jacobus van Heerden. The company will provide development services
such as image-building and positioning, project packaging, PR, and advice on
film sales, distribution and promotion. Restless Talent Management also made a
special mention of Mark Waambui for Heterophobe for an edgy and
challenging concept.
Durban’s
Videovision Entertainment awarded the “Best South African Film Project” Inkabi
“The Hit Man” directed by Norman Maake and produced by Peter Pohorsky a
prize which guarantees the film’s release once it is completed. The prize
includes marketing and distribution support from Videovision Entertainment and
is valued at R75,000.
Five of these
projects have emanated from film-makers who are either Durban- or Berlin
Talents alumni – the industry development programme of the Berlin International
Film Festival, with which DIFF is a partner. These are Tapiwa Chipfupa (The
Other Half of the African Sky) - Talents Durban (2013) and Talents Berlin
(2015); Truck Mama filmmakers - Zipporah Nyaruri – Talents Berlin and
Talents Durban (2011) and Peggy Mbiyu Talents Durban (2011) and Talents Berlin
(2012), Nathan Magoola (Sunflowers Behind a Dirty Fence) Talents Durban
(2013) and Talents Berlin (2012) and Jacobus van Heerden (Lucky) Talents
Durban (2013).
“We had a very
strong line up of projects this year,” says Monty. “We were pleased with the
diverse topics and themes that have been explored in both the fiction and
documentary sections, and with strong representation of filmmakers
collaborating across the continent. The DFM has been placing emphasis on the
telling of African narratives, and in doing so hope to continue to discover new
African projects. “We have seen numerous filmmakers pitching projects at the
DFM over the past six years go from strength to strength. They are engaging
more confidently with the many financiers, funders, sales and distribution
agents, showing a maturing of the market.”
Monty added: “We
would like to thank our new and old sponsors and partners who have supported
the DFM. It is through their continued interest and support that we are able to
assist African filmmakers develop the industry and access the local and
international market.”
For more information
on the Durban FimMart visit www.durbanfilmmart.com
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