Over 400 delegates from around the African continent attended the Durban FilmMart Co-Production & Finance Market which drew to a close on 23 July. A joint programme between the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) and the Durban Film Office (DFO), Durban FilmMart highlighted training and funding opportunities, facilitated skills development and comprehensive industry engagements and promoted interaction between African filmmakers and international key experts.
The event took place at the Blue Waters Hotel in Durban, South Africa and with an awards ceremony which recognised and honoured outstanding feature film and documentary film projects emanating from the African continent. (See story headlined Durban FilmMart winners announced.)
“It has been our labour of love to promote and develop the African Film Industry which is both our livelihood and passion,’ said DIFF director Peter Rorvik at the close of the event. “We have walked away from this event remaining true to our African roots and local story-telling in the face of global and commercial film industry trends; this is what our primary message to our delegates has been.’
DFO head Toni Monty expressed satisfaction with representation at the event. “Our large contingent of delegates have shown and expressed their support and appreciation to the Durban FilmMart. This is a major indication that we are addressing the needs and challenges relevant to African Cinema.
The Durban Film Mart programme was undertaken in threefold; the development platform Finance Forum which is open to selected documentary and feature film projects and the Master classes and Africa in Focus range of panel discussions and seminars which are both open to all participants and delegates of the event.
DIFF’s range of Africa in Focus panel discussion sessions highlighted the nitty-gritty of film production in Africa from sourcing international coproduction, access to global funding and training opportunities, film packaging, marketing and distribution to developing authentic African stories and digital and new media technology.
Master classes were held with acclaimed local and international experts in the fields. These included: Getting to Greenlight for independent producing with acclaimed South African producer Helena Spring; Co-production and Finance between Africa and Europe with Roshanak Behesht Nedjad and Developing African Stories for Global Markets with Scriptwriting expert Jacques Akchoti, both of the European Audio Visual Entrepreneurs (EAVE); and visual film experts Stefan Puschendorf and Steve Macpherson as part of the COA partnership leading discussions on the Art of 3D Dimension and Pre-visualisation to Virtual Production Technologies respectively.
The Africa in Focus programme also includes presentations by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) which present its annual comprehensive industry engagement under the guidance of newly-appointed CEO Zama Mkosi. This session provided a platform for industry dialogue between executive management of the national body and the South African film industry and the public.
In addition the NFVF facilitated the high level scriptwriting training and development programme Sediba Spark Masterclass targeted at providing foundational principles of scriptwriting. Also on the programme was the NFVF’s “In Conversation with Filmmakers on International Platforms’ series.
The NFVF has been a long-time funder and partner of the Durban International Film Festival and this year also committed its support to the Durban FilmMart.
Driving the agenda of African Film Industry was the presence of a dozen African broadcasters for the first time at the Durban FilmMart as part of sponsors Canal France International’s contribution to the France South Africa Season 2012 & 2013.
The “Meet the funders’ panel discussion, another event highlight on the schedule of events, introduced a group of international funders and co-producers who informed delegates of the many funding opportunities available with a vested interest in African Cinema.
Delegates and participants also had the opportunity hear the first-hand accounts of filmmakers who had participated in film funding, mentorship and residency programmes as well meeting with local and international television broadcasters who are currently seeking proposals for authentic African stories. The programme also delved into case studies unpacking the challenges and experiences of African distributors as well as Documentary Filmmakers Association case studies of transmedia projects.
Also high on the agenda was the significant launch on the KZN Film Commission, a project undertaken by the KZN Department of Economic Development and Tourism which will be mandated to develop, promote and market the province of KZN as a global destination for film production to a local, national and international audience as well as facilitate the investment in the film industry in the province of KZN.
For more information on the Durban FilmMart visit www.durbanfilmmart.com
