Realness is a pioneering residency
initiative conceived by Elias Ribeiro and Cait Pansegrouw of Urucu Media that
affords a new generation of filmmakers the opportunity to cultivate their
talent as authentic voices in African cinema.
Since its inception, Realness has nurtured
five African auteurs each year, growing into a prestigious incubator of
emerging talent that is recognized throughout the global film community. Now in
its third year, the residency has fostered cinematic voices from 12 countries
on the continent, including Angola (Fradique Mario Bastos), Senegal (Rama
Thiaw) and Kenya (Amirah Tajdin).
“There is a reason residencies such as the
Sundance Labs and the MacDowell Colony are so sought-after. They offer the
opportunity to withdraw from the world to create without distractions while
exchanging ideas with other exciting artists and receiving expert feedback at
carefully considered intervals. Realness brings that opportunity to Africa.
With a pan-African focus, the diversity of Africans is celebrated yet the
particular concerns that we have in common come to the fore,” said
international script consultant Selina Ukwuoma.
Selina will join Realness for the third
consecutive year, alongside top South African-based consultant Mmabatho Kau who
began her relationship with the residency in 2017 and who was recently selected
for the esteemed Torino Film Lab’s Story Editing programme. The two will work
in tandem, cross-consulting on all five of the selected projects for 2018.
“Both Selina and I are rooted in the African narrative but have an
international outlook on story. Selina's extensive work internationally and my
work locally gives the residents a holistic experience towards developing a
world-class script.” added Kau.
On May 12, the five selected projects were
announced at the Cannes Film Festival by Realness co-founder Elias Ribeiro.
“After an extensive evaluation of more than 130 projects from 24 countries, it
is my greatest pleasure to introduce you to the Realness Residents of 2018;
Kantarama Gahigiri from Rwanda, Matthys Boshoff from South Africa, Ng’endo
Mukii from Kenya and Reem Morsi and Mohammed Siam, both from Egypt.”
The five projects were chosen by an
international panel of 16 prolific world cinema stakeholders, including sales
agents Thembe Bhebhe and Efuru Flowers (Flourishing Films), Todd Brown (head of
international acquisitions for XYZ films) and literary agent David Kayser
(Casarotto Ramsay & Associates). “These filmmakers herald an important and
exciting new wave of African storytelling by Africans for Africans and the
world. The strength of the projects and the talent driving them will benefit
hugely from the expertise exposure and incubation that Realness offers and I
look forward to see how they mature. I’ve been introduced to some truly special
emerging talent who have the potential to compete on the international stage
and shine.” said Kayser.
The 2018 Realness residents will move into
the Nirox Foundation’s beautiful residence and sculpture park in the Cradle of
Humankind on June 11.
They will work on their projects over the
course of six weeks before participating in Africa’s largest co-production
market, the Durban FilmMart.
The most promising projects to emerge will
be invited to participate in Locarno Filmmakers Academy, EAVE Producers
Workshop, La Fabrique Cinéma de l’Institut Français, Torino Film Lab Meeting
Event and TIFF Talent Lab, allowing them to progress closer to being realised.
“Realness continues to carve important
relationships with other labs and partners which allow for its residents’
projects to benefit from further growth and exposure. We would like to thank
all of our partners, panelists and volunteers, without whom Realness would not
be possible.” said co-founder Cait Pansegrouw.
This year the residency welcomes new
partnerships with Robert Bosch Stiftung and Organisation internationale de la
Francophonie, as funders of the programme and Toronto International Film
Festival has come on board offering a scholarship to their TIFF Talent Lab.
TIFF Programmer for Continental Africa and the Middle East Kiva Reardon
commented on the partnership; “TIFF is very happy to support Realness and its
aim of developing and supporting the next generation of screenwriting talent
across the continent. We're looking forward to welcoming a Realness resident to
take part in TIFF Talent Lab, where they can develop their artistic practice and
meet with key industry professionals over the course of the Festival.”
Realness is an initiative by Urucu Media in
partnership with Nirox Foundation, Berlinale Talents, Durban FilmMart, The
Durban International Film Festival, Durban Talents, The French Institute of
South Africa and Institute Français, Torino Film Lab, EAVE Producer’s Workshop,
Locarno Filmmaker’s Academy, Produire Au Sud, Fairbridges Wertheim Becker, CNC
(Le Centre National du Cinéma et de L’image Animée), Organisation
internationale de la Francophonie, Toronto International Film Festival, TIFF
Talent Lab, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Cocoon Productions and Deuxieme Ligne Films.
For more information about the 2018
residents and their projects visit www.urucumedia.com/realness
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