The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is calling for applications for its second cycle of the Sediba International Financing Programme for Producers. The closing date for applications is 8 April.
The programme is aimed at experienced producers in television drama and feature film products. It is geared at offering focused training in international financing, packaging, sales and distribution. The programme is delivered over eight months, comprising of three workshops with deliverables in-between.
Launched by the NFVF in 2009, the first cycle was deemed a success as it proved to be the solution to providing the high-profile group of participating producers with the knowledge and skills on how to source international financing through co-production partnerships and other permutations, in an effort to raising sufficient funds to make films of the highest quality.
By drawing on the knowledge, training experience and educational resources offered by the UK’s Film Business Academy, the South African programme defined the challenges local producers faced in their quest to source and secure international financiers, sales and distribution agents for their locally produced products.
At the end of the eight months of an intensive yet highly informative and exciting programme, four producers qualified for an all expenses paid trip to the Film London Production Finance Market (PFM) in October 2009, where they were afforded the opportunity to pitch their projects to international financiers, distributors and sales agents.
Commenting on the programme, producer David Max Brown says: “The sessions have always been lively and interesting and even where we have been covering issues that I thought I knew about, there have been new insights that have made things much clearer to me and which I couldn’t have got only from reading a book.’
Diana Keam adds: “I was stimulated by the international perspective and input which served me to expand my view point of both the local and the international film market.’
“The course taught me the value of having a business plan,’ says Lynne Widgerow. “This demonstrates strategy, direction and discipline, as well as focus.’
Sara Blecher comments: “It has made me comfortable with the language – and no longer intimidated by terms like “equity financing’ and “recoupment chart’. But mostly it has made it very clear to me that film is a business.’
In conjunction with the Advanced Programme, the NFVF will also offer a less advanced programme tailor-made for Emerging Producers to prepare them for the Advanced Programme as well as their current job environment. All workshops will be hosted at NFVF’s offices in Houghton, Johannesburg.
To be eligible to apply, all producers, emerging and experienced, need to have completed a feature film script that is most likely to have international appeal.
Workshop Details Are As Follows:
1. Sediba International Financing Programme for Emerging Producers
– 19 – 20 April 2010
– 19 – 20 July 2010
– 06 – 07 September 2010
Cost: R1,000 per person (payment due upon acceptance)
Deadline for Applications is 08 APRIL 2010
2. Sediba Advanced International Financing Programme for Experienced Producers
– 21 – 23 April 2010
– 21 – 23 July 2010
– 08 – 09 September 2010
Cost: R10, 00 per person. (Payable in 6 installments)
For more details on the programme and to download the application visit www.nfvf.co.za. For any queries, contact Pretty Mthiyane on 011 483 0880 or email her on prettym@nfvf.co.za.
