South Africa’s Department of Arts and Culture (DAC), led by the Honorable Minister Lulu Xingwana, will be finalising and signing a South African/French co-production treaty at the Cannes International Film Festival, which takes place in Cannes, France from 12 to 23 May. The treaty will enable productions from both territories to qualify for the different incentives associated with home-grown content. A Programme of Cooperation, which covers all areas of arts and culture, will also be signed at the event.
The South African pavilion at Cannes will be hosted by South Africa’s National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) in association with the Department of Trade and Industry (the DTI) and the International Marketing Council (IMC), who will promote the country as a premier filmmaking destination. In addition, the focus will also be on promoting South Africa as the host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
On Friday, 14 May the NFVF will host a Line-Up event, where South African projects will be presented to international sales agents, financiers, distributors, co-production partners, buyers, and festival programmers. The Line-Up includes: STATE OF VIOLENCE, A TIN OF PAINT, LION WOMEN, RETRIBUTION, CHEMO CLUB, THE TUNNEL, THE ABYSS BOYS, TELEGRAPH TO THE SKY, FATHER CHRISTMAS DOES NOT COME HERE, IF ONLY YOU KNEW, DAWN OF A NEW DAY, ARK OF MERCY, REWIND, SURFING SOWETO, STOCKHOLM, ZULULAND, FOUR CORNERS, JIMMY IN PINK, JOZI, HOW TO STEAL 2 MILLION and THE SHADES. For more information on the projects visit www.nfvf.co.za/cannes-projects.
The NFVF and the DTI are sponsoring four local filmmakers who will be conducting business, and featuring their films in Cannes. They are: Hanneke Schutte, Junaid Ahmed, Zaheer Bhyat and Greig Buckle, the South African producer of Oliver Schmitz’ Life, Above All, which has been selected for Un Certain Regard – the festival’s World Cinema Showcase.
On 15 May the NFVF, DTI and IMC will host a South African networking event. This event has steadily become one of the most sought after invites at Cannes. The networking event provides an opportunity for South African delegates to network with key international decision makers. South Africa’s DJ Switch will provide the guests with the best of home-brewed music.
The South Africa pavilion is situated at the Village International. It will provide a business environment for all South African delegates to host meetings, and also provides screening facilities for those who wish to showcase their films during their meetings.
For more information on the South African films at Cannes read the May issue of Screen Africa.
