The Association for Transformation in Film and Television (ATFT) would like to
congratulate South African production teams whose films have been selected for
this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
South African films are no strangers to audiences in Toronto with TIFF 2013 hosting
three world premieres: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Of Good
Report and iNumber Number. In 2014, Impunity,
the only South African film selected for TIFF had a sold out premiere.
TIFF has become one of the most important festival and market spaces on the
international film calendar, and boasts easy access to important players from many
North American studios and beyond, as well as an impressive array of films on
show.
This year, TIFF promises to be an exciting festival with four “Made in South Africa’
films being showcased at the festival. The Call directed by Zamo
Mkhwanazi,
River and YOLO, a short experimental film shot in South Africa
by American artist Ben Russell, in collaboration with Soweto’s Eat my Dust Youth
Collective from Kliptown.
The ATFT, as part of its on-going activities to promote transformation in the film
and TV industries, will embark on a trade mission to TIFF and will host a delegation
of 20 emerging South African filmmakers. The team, operating under the “South
African Indies’ banner, will arrive in Toronto on the 9 September 2015 and will be
based at the South African stand at the market.
The SA Indies delegation has also been invited to attend a networking function, and
will also take part in programs such as the SA/Canadian co-production sessions, and
other panels and workshops at the market.
The ATFT arranges these delegations with the strategic purpose of enabling South
African producers to showcase and sell their films, to forge co-production
partnerships, and also to participate in a global market and develop new audiences
for South African content.
Attending major events such as TIFF provides the opportunity to interact with other
industry players and to establish professional relationships with key players in the
industry. The delegation will also market South Africa as one of the world’s top
production destinations.
The South African delegation is made possible by the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI)’s EMIA scheme.
