(Marit
Van Den Elshout (IFFR), Anne Lai (Sundance Institute), Elias Ribeiro
(Realness), Bongiwe Selane (Realness) announce Realness participants at Cannes
this week)
Realness is an initiative that aims to
uncover the depth of cinematic talent that the African continent has to offer.
Realness provides a space for filmmakers to develop their authentic voices
within an African context. Thus, creating an environment of diversity, but also
finding familiarity in different layers of each writer's experiences.
Realness is an initiative by Urucu Media in
partnership with Nirox Foundation, Berlinale Talents, Durban FilmMart, The
Durban International Film Festival, Durban Talents, Institute Français, The
French Institute of South Africa, TorinoFilmLab, EAVE Producer’s Workshop,
Locarno Filmmaker’s Academy, CNC (Le Centre National du Cinéma et de L’image
Animée), Toronto International Film Festival, TIFF Filmmaker Lab, Robert Bosch
Stiftung, Cocoon Productions and Deuxieme Ligne Films.
Now in its 4th edition, Realness has hosted
writer/directors from 13 different countries in Africa including Senegal (Rama
Thiaw), Rwanda (Kantarama Gahigiri), Angola (Mario Fradique Bastos) and Kenya
(Ng’endo Mukii).
Realness alumni have gone on to be selected
to take part in the Sundance Directors and Screenwriters Labs, Biennale College
Cinema and La Fabrique in Cannes. Two of
the Realness projects have already been produced: Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese
(Lesotho) recently wrapped production on his film This Is Not A Burial, It’s A Resurrection, and will have its world
premiere at the Venice International Film Festival this coming September; and
Hiwot Admasu’s A Fool God is currently in post-production.
"2019 has affirmed the core values of
what Realness seeks to achieve – to unearth the wealth of African stories -
real stories from the continent, told with an honest and unapologetic point of
view by African talent." says Bongiwe Selane, a partner at Realness for
the last three years. Selane announced the six residents participating in
Realness 2019 on Monday 20th May in Cannes:
●
Athi-Patra Ruga - The Lunar
Songbook - South Africa
●
Beza Hailu Lemma - The Last Tears
of The Deceased - Ethiopia
●
Fanyana Hlabangane - The Spirit Guest - South Africa
●
Hajooj Kuka - African Titanics
- Sudan
●
Iman Djionne - Coura+Ouleye -
Senegal
●
Silas Miami – Miles - Kenya
The six projects were chosen by an
international panel of 16 world cinema stakeholders including Efuru Flowers
(Flourishing Films), agent Anthony Mestriner (Cassarato Ramsay &
Associates), Dominique Welinksi from DW and Production and Development
executive for Indigenous Films, Thandeka Zwana.
"The 2019 group for Realness crosses
Africa from East to West. I can hear new strong voices, loud ones. A couple of
directors already did a 1st feature which did travel across the world and I’m
sure their international experience will really benefit the residency. I would
like to thank Realness for allowing me to discover new talents, stories and
voices.” says Welinski.
The 4th Edition’s participants will begin
their journey at the idyllic Nirox Foundation residence and sculpture park in
the Cradle of Humankind on June 11, 2019. Over the course of six weeks, the
residents will be furnished with the resources and mentorship that will empower
them to create their best work. They will also attend this year’s 10th Durban FilmMart
(July 19 – 22, 2019)) during the 40th Durban International Film Festival to
publicly present their projects to the industry
Elias Ribeiro, founder of Realness, had a
big announcement to make at Cannes on May 19: Creative Producer Indaba.
"Indaba has been met with great enthusiasm by our Industry peers. We have
big dreams, we are unfolding Realness into an institute inspired by Sundance
Institute within the African context, which not only caters to writers,
directors and producers, but in future also nurtures professionals in other
disciplines of film, such as curation, production design, sound and
cinematography, moreover, we intend to structure a film fund to help finance
the filmmakers and projects we support.” says Ribeiro.
More information about the 2019 Residents
and their projects can be found on the Realness Website:
https://www.realness.institute/
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