The Cape Film Commission (CFC) has signed an agreement with esp Afrika, organisers of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, to bring the renowned New York based Tribeca Film Festival to Cape Town in 2013 on a five year franchise.
On a visit by the directors of Tribeca to the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in March 2011, esp Afrika was approached to manage and produce the Tribeca Film Festival in South Africa in a way similar to how the franchise is managed at the Tribeca Film Festival in Doha.
COO of esp Afrika Billy Domingo attended the film festival in New York, followed by a meeting in New York by the executives of esp Afrika to sign a preliminary agreement to bring the Tribeca Film Festival to South Africa.
“We are pleased to announce that after discussions with Denis Lillie of the CFC, we have reached an agreement to work together to bring this project to reality for the benefit of the African film industry and South Africa,’ said Rashid Lombard, CEO of esp Afrika.
CFC CEO Denis Lillie comments, “Subsequent to the Tribeca visit to the Jazz Festival I met with the Tribeca organisers in New York last November where we had a series of in-depth discussions as to how the Cape Film Commission could work with Tribeca and develop some of their mentoring, enterprise development and training programmes which form part of their festival. These will form an integral part of the festival when it is hosted in Cape Town. These discussions will continue next week as part of our trade delegation to New York.
“The opportunity this creates for the local and African film industry is very important as the festival will create a much needed international platform for our local filmmakers and industry,’ notes Lillie.
The Tribeca Film Festival was established in New York by Robert De Niro and his partners following the twin towers tragedy, and was designed to regenerate the devastated Tribeca neighbourhood. It has been successful in its aims and objectives and has launched the careers of many filmmakers.
“The festival also has a very strong training and development component which will form an integral part of what we are planning,’ says Lillie.
“Should negotiations be successful, we will be working with our local festivals to ensure all benefit from this exciting proposition. The exact details and timing are still being developed and we will advise you further in due course.
I will be meeting with the organisers of Tribeca during the course of our mission there later this month,’ concludes Lillie.
