Media Release
6th Durban FilmMart Delegate Registration opens
Delegate registration for the Durban FilmMart (DFM), Africa’s premier film finance and co-production forum is now open.
Now in its 6th edition, the DFM, which takes place from July 17 to 20, is a joint project of Durban Film Office, the City’s industry development unit, and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) as an endeavour to raise the visibility of African cinema, stimulate production on the continent, and facilitate project collaboration between African filmmakers.
“The overall objective of the FilmMart is to support, facilitate and develop the growth of African film content and create viable opportunities for business within the sector to flourish.” says Durban Film Office’s Toni Monty. “The Mart, promises delegates access to influential experts, broadcasters and financiers in the film industry and creates a space for industry professionals to forge strategic relationships.”
DFM is presented in three strategic pillars: the Finance Forum, Master Classes and Africa in Focus – a programme of workshops, and also offers a series of networking and social sessions with like-minded industry representatives.
Delegates have access to Master classes held with leading industry experts in the areas of concept development, project packaging, co-production development, new media, finance, marketing, distribution, and other themes.
This year’s Master Class in Film Packaging and Finance, is entitled New Film-Making Strategies; from South Africa to Pan-Africa and towards the Global Market. Sponsored by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission (KZNFC), the master class will be presented by leading international film and creative industry specialist and published writer Angus Finney. Finney, comes to the Mart having actively been involved as executive producer on many films including Neil Armfield’sCandy with Heath Ledger, Roger Michell’s The Mother with Anne Reid and Peter Vaughan and Rose Troche’s The Safety of Objectswith Glenn Close, and others.
"We are really pleased to be able to offer the delegates an opportunity to interact with and learn from someone of the caliber of Finney,” says Vuyo Sokupa, NFVF’s Head of production and Development. “Finney comes with years of academic and field experience in film packaging and finance, the cornerstone of developing a film project, and we believe his session will be incredibly valuable to those attending.”
“Having such hands on experience adds real value to the experience of the delegates at the DFM, as they will be able to really come to grips with issues involving financing and packaging their projects for wider distribution,” elaborates Jackie Motsepe, Chief Operating Officer of KZNFC.
Finney has spent the past three years working as a risk manager and media advisor for Octopus Media, a division of Octopus Investments, a City of London Fund Manager, and is also Course Director for the Exeter University/London Film School MA in International Film Business. He holds a PHD in Business Strategy from Cass Business School in London, an MA in Film and Journalism from New York University and a BA from Sussex University in International Relations. His training includes working with Creative Skillset, Creative London and the Film Distributors Association, to mention a few. His professional work extends to South Africa, UAE, Ireland and New Zealand in the past five years.
The DFM’s co-production market, for selected film projects from submissions made, sees roughly ten feature films and ten documentary films selected for mentorship, and presentation to industry experts during this time. Following rigorous meetings and sessions with these experts, projects are awarded a number of relevant grants for further development.
Partners and supporters of the Durban FilmMart 2015 that will be represented in Durban, include International Film Festival Rotterdam's (IFFR) CineMart, the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), the Berlinale Film Festival, HotDocs - Blue Ice Documentary Film Fund, New Cinema Network Rome, Produire au Sud, Restless Talent Management, French Embassy South Africa, Afrinolly, NFVF, KZNFC, VideoVision Entertainment , Goethe Institute, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie the City of Durban and many others.
For registration or for more information view the delegate registration process online at the official website: www.durbanfilmmart.com. There is an Early Bird registration discount for those booking before June 27, 2015. Fees are R1485 (ZAR) for the 4 day event which includes access to allocated sessions, lunch, access to DFM networking events, entrance into the Durban International Film Festival screenings (subject to ticket availability), listing in the DFM Industry Manual and access to Masterclasses and Africa in Focus programme. After June 27, fees are R2035. Daily passes are R605 (but does not include tickets to the DIFF screenings or access into the opening and closing events.)
-ends
14 May 2015
Caption to photo : Angus Finney
[see attached file: AngusFinney.Photo.jpg] [see attached file: DFM colour image.jpg]
Note to Editors:
The Durban FilmMart (DFM) is a co-production and finance market and is a joint programme of the Durban Film Office (DFO) and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF). DFM provides filmmakers from across Africa with a valuable opportunity to pitch projects to financiers, distributors, sales agents and potential co-producers, and to participate in meetings, project presentations and a series of master classes and workshops on the latest industry trends. www.durbanfilmmart.com
The Durban Film Office (DFO) is the film industry development arm of the eThekwini Municipality, mandated to position Durban as a world-class film production destination and facilitator for the development of the local film industry. The DFO drives activity and development in the sector in order to boost tourism, job creation and the development of core skills and SMMEs in the region. www.durbanfilmoffice.com
The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) presents over 250 screenings from different countries and cultures with a special focus on Africa. The festival includes development programmes such as Talent Campus Durban and a rich schedule of workshops. DIFF is a flagship project of the Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal, which facilitates creative platforms and economic opportunities for artists and related industries, intercultural exchange and network development, training, audience development and strategic Pan-African and international cooperation in the cultural sectors. www.cca.ukzn.ac.za
Issued on behalf of DFM by:
Sharlene Versfeld / Ayanda Mabanga
Versfeld & Associates
Sharlene@versfeld.co.za / info@versfeld.co.za
031-8115628
083 326 3235