This is the 7th Durban FilmMart (DFM), Africa’s premier film finance and co-production forum, full programme for this year’s edition, which takes place at the Tsogo Sun Elangeni Hotel from 17 to 20 June during the Durban International Film Festival.
An industry programme has been scheduled for this year’s DFM, with an objective to stimulate the development of project collaboration between African filmmakers in order to kindle the creation of film on the continent and increase the visibility of African cinema on a global platform.
This year’s DFM industry development programme has a strong focus on story development and a number of sessions will delve into topics that will address the subject of “What is an African story and how to sell these African stories?’ South African filmmakers Junaid Ahmed and Akin Omotoso will share their experiences of developing their latest films: Happiness is a Four Letter Word and Tell Me Sweet Something respectively.
UK-based Selina Ukwuoma, a script consultant who has worked on projects ranging from BAFTA winning Boy A to the more recent Teddy, and FIPRESCI prize-winning Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho, will be presenting a master class on storytelling. South African author and entrepreneur, GG Alcock, will present an unusual master class under the banner of “Authenticity is key – building credibility with audiences,’ where he will talk about the vital necessity of engaging with an audience on their own terms through an authentic understanding of local narratives. Then the Business Model Canvas Programme based on Alex Osterwalder’s book, Business Model Generation, will demystify the business model design for film in order to help businesses to get their first principles right.
Another key highlight of this year’s industry programme is “Packaging for the US market’ with Hollywood producer/director Jeff Byrd – a protege of Spike Lee (Byrd has worked on films including Jungle Fever and Malcolm X with Lee). Byrd is joined by SA producer Themba Sibeko, managing director of Ziya Pictures who has more than 25 years of experience in film, television and video, and has worked with the likes of Bill Duke (Deep Cover, Sister Act 2), Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon, The Color Purple), Ruby Dee (American Gangster, Do The Right Thing), and Isaac Hayes (Shaft) to name a few.
A hot topic at the moment for filmmakers is the subject of virtual reality and how it will play out in the film space going forward. Leading a workshop on this topic is Ingrid Kopp, director of Digital Initiatives at the Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) in New York City where she oversees the TFI New Media Fund and leads the institute’s digital and interactive programmes.
Todd Brown, founder of the international film website Twitch and director of international programming at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, will present a master class titled “Using short films to build brand and audience.’
Other workshops and master classes include: “Video on demand – How filmmakers can access this new distribution stream,’ “Where social media and marketing meet,’ “New strategies for financing independent film,’ “Presales agreements: creating value for your investors,’ “Talking through completion bonds with film finances SA,’ “Building relationships, building stories: What to expect and what you get in the editor/director collaboration’ with SA Guild of Editors and “How to pitch and not fall flat on your face’ with Restless Talent. Round table discussions will include: “Finding the right partner for film’ with industry professionals, and “Window to the world’ with international festivals and markets to enable delegates to grow, and establish their networks across the continent and further afield.
The National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa, will present a number of sessions including “Financing film through distribution’ and “Marketing and co-production with Netherlands.’
For registration or for more information visit the Durban FilmMart website.
