(Durban
City Hall - example of colonial architecture)
The Durban FilmMart, the continent’s
leading film industry event, will host the inaugural Locations Africa Expo and
Conference, an exciting and innovative new addition to this year’s 10th edition
which takes place from July 19 to 22, 2019, during the 40th Durban
International Film Festival (July 18 to 28) in South Africa.
Locations Africa is a platform conceived in
2015 by Zesan Films and Events and Martin Cuff Consulting as a marketing tool
with an aim to increase the number of films shot in Africa, and to develop an
economy around filming locations on the continent by creating employment
opportunities and exposing these locations to the rest of the world.
(Florida
Road, Durban)
This first Expo and Conference at the DFM and
DIFF will focus on re-igniting efforts to position Africa and key filming
destinations as being “open for business” and where relevant, equipped with the
various elements a filmmaker needs to consider before production. The Expo will
showcase African filming locations, crew, various facilities and opportunities
for co-producing, while the Conference will provide opportunities for
filmmakers to unpack and discuss production and locations needs, opportunities
and the possibilities that exist for filmmakers from within and without the
continent.
“We are really delighted to welcome
Locations Africa to the ever-growing industry offerings in our DFM programme,
as we provide more opportunities for filmmakers to develop content, create
films and drive a very lucrative economy around film,” says Toni Monty, Head of
the DFM. “This is a perfect opportunity for really network the continent across
borders and inter-continentally as well.”
The four-day Expo will include
representation and exhibition showcases from national and regional film
commissions, government departments including South Africa’s Arts and Culture,
Tourism, Trade and Industry as well as private sector film studios, locations
management companies, set designs, crew and talent agencies, production teams,
equipment businesses, music, SFX and post-production services.
(Inanda
Dam - spectacular views, expansive waterway and bush in rural Africa setting)
The Conference will run over four days,
with two to three engagement sessions a day. Sessions are titled Where We Are – Setting The Scene which
is an introduction to the concept of a Locations Africa event, focusing on why
this segment of the film industry is important; Sell The Dream which will look into the realities Locations Africa
faces when promoting locations and services to international producers; Getting Involved, which will unpack
training and awareness for new entrants into servicing and facilities
management and Africa is Ready, which
showcases through case studies, just how ready the industry is.
(Durban
beachfront - beautiful sea and beach locations)
"Locations Africa has been over four
years in the making with research from across the continent on the
practicalities of physical production to ensure that our information through
this expo, conference and web portal are as relevant and practical as
possible,” says Azania Muendane, Director of Locations Africa.
“Africa is ready for business and we
believe that through Locations Africa, this will grow. We are very excited to
be in partnership with the DIFF and the DFM, as this is the perfect setting to
introduce a focused engagement of physical production, Locations and facilities
on our continent. We encourage more inter-country productions and inbound
international productions to interface with us at Locations Africa online or at
the expo for their location shoot needs.”
Locations Africa will take place at the
Tsogo Sun, Elangeni Hotel in Durban from July 19 to 22, 2019, and is open to
all Durban FilmMart delegates. To register go to www.durbanfilmmart.co.za
For more information on Locations Africa
visit www.locationsafrica.com or email info@locationsafrica.com
Posts
