{"id":7014,"date":"2018-06-26T17:45:27","date_gmt":"2018-06-26T15:45:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/?p=7014"},"modified":"2018-06-26T17:45:27","modified_gmt":"2018-06-26T15:45:27","slug":"9th-durban-filmmart-open-for-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/blog\/2018\/06\/26\/9th-durban-filmmart-open-for-business\/","title":{"rendered":"9th Durban FilmMart “Open For Business”"},"content":{"rendered":"

20 \u2013 23 July 2018 during the Durban International Film Festival<\/strong><\/p>\n

Echoing government\u2019s reassurance to investors into South Africa\u2019s economy, the Durban FilmMart, one of Africa\u2019s premier film industry events will be \u201copen for business\u201d when it begins its four day event on July 20 during the 39th\u00a0Durban International Film Festival (DIFF).<\/p>\n

The DIFF in partnership with the eThekwini Municipality\u2019s Durban Film Office, the City\u2019s film industry development arm under the Economic and Development cluster, has, for nine years, presented this important gathering for filmmakers from across the continent and further afield with the specific aim at growing the African industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe DFM attracts an array of film-makers including directors, producers, scriptwriters, investors and financiers, distributors and broadcasters as well as curators for festivals and other markets, and is globally renowned for providing an important springboard for African stories and ideas, collaborations and investment into film projects,\u201d explains Toni Monty, Head of the DFO and DFM. \u201cEssentially this is how film projects are given a leg up to help them on their way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking on behalf of the DFO, Monty says, \u201cAs a government entity, in partnership with the DIFF, we take our role very seriously in working on a highly professional level with filmmakers to ensure we provide an environment that is enabling for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Mart brings in over 400 experts, people and organisations interested in potential film projects for further development. Here they are able to meet film-makers from Africa, discuss and engage and then it\u2019s over to them to conclude their business independently. The event ultimately seeks to build Durban as an important hub for doing film and television business in Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n

The DFM includes a series of masterclasses, seminars and panel discussions to help filmmakers keep up to date on trends, innovations and policies. There are also many networking opportunities for them to build strong business connections on both a continental and international level.<\/p>\n

New for DFM is the appointment of local arts and culture administrator, Russel Hlongwane as the curator of both the DFM and DIFF\u2019s industry programme, which has enabled a consolidation that speaks to the DIFF\u2019s theme \u201cleave no filmmaker behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hlongwane explains, \u201cWe have sought a programme that provides delegates with innovation and new thinking, and thought-leadership that we believe will provide insightful and meaningful engagements that can be taken forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Key speakers this year include Dayo Ogunyemi a\u00a0Lagos-based\u00a0creative entrepreneur and investor who will give presentation that foregrounds African markets as lucrative territories. Stephen Follows, from the UK, is a leading trainer and thought-leader in how storytelling can be used to change hearts and minds. Follows, who is also a data researcher in the film industry,\u00a0will present a high level session\u00a0which unpacks\u00a0key shifts and trends shaping the market from an international perspective. LA-based\u00a0Peter Russell\u00a0is a screenwriter and story doctor in Hollywood who will present a session in which he will\u00a0share the secrets of how film storytelling can be adapted into the red hot television storytelling market.<\/p>\n

Another major highlight, which is sure to have filmmakers interests piqued, is that Richard Ray Perez,\u00a0Director: Creative Partnerships at the Sundance Institute\u2019s Documentary Film Programme will address a gathering for delegates entitled\u00a0Stories of Change: A Collaborative Model for Impactful Storytelling.<\/p>\n

Sessions at DFM will look at the aesthetical and fundamental values that will define films from the African continent;\u00a0insights into ways African filmmakers can source and work the often hard and tricky world of financing structures on the continent; how to work towards a more \u2018\u2019entrepreneurial approach\u2019\u2019 to filmmaking without compromising creative content;\u00a0distribution, and what makes a successful\u00a0documentary.<\/p>\n

Speaking to current issues, the South African Screen Federation will lead a discussion entitled,\u00a0Are there any Sacred Cows in Filmmaking?\u00a0following the recent public debates around handling of sensitive social and cultural issues within film, and Sisters Working in Film and Television (SWIFT) will lead discussions on issues of sexual harassment, race and transformation in the industry.\u00a0Other important discussions taking place include\u00a0The practicalities and importance of Co-Production Treaties\u00a0and\u00a0Copyright vs Copyleft \u2013 where to from here?\u00a0The National Film and Video Foundation will also present a series of workshops and discussions on policies and local industry trends.<\/p>\n

Additional insightful sessions will include the Department of Trade and Industry\u2019s launch of the\u00a0Industries\u00a0Film Incentives Guidelines\u00a0and\u00a0Emerging Black Filmmakers\u2019 Fund Guidelines.\u00a0The programme will include a set of discussions, led by the Department of Arts and Culture, on current and future collaborations within the BRICS member countries. Filmmakers will have the opportunity to network with member country filmmaker delegations in attendance.<\/p>\n

The official pitching forums will include representatives\u00a0from sixteen pre-selected African film projects that will be pitching film projects to leading financiers, broadcasters and other potential funders and investors at the DFM\u2019s finance forum.<\/p>\n

Running parallel to the DFM, and supported by the experts and visiting speakers, is the Durban International Film Festival\u2019s open industry programme,\u00a0Isiphethu,\u00a0aimed at introducing entry level, emerging filmmakers, micro-budget film-makers as well as interested members of the public to the inner-workings of the world of cinema.<\/p>\n

Manager of the DIFF, Chipo Zhou says, \u201cOur strategy for\u00a0Isiphethu, is to support filmmakers in developing quality content. We want to be able to offer these filmmakers opportunities to incubate projects, be mentored by experts, network with seasoned and experienced peers, and be included in the overall vision of the DIFF and DFM, to grow quality African content. In short to include this sector of the industry into the greater industry fold, \u201cleaving no filmmaker behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe \u201ceconomy\u201d of film, is central to the objectives of the Durban FilmMart to encourage African filmmakers to look within to collaborate, finance and develop content,\u201d says Toni Monty. \u201cWe are very excited to see so many DFM alumni projects that have come to fruition, doing very well on local and international festival and cinema circuits and many with good distribution deals: these include films like\u00a0DIFF\u2019s closing film\u00a0Rafiki,\u00a0Inxeba: The Wound\u00a0and,\u00a0Five Fingers for Marseilles,\u00a0as well as\u00a0Silas\u00a0which is also screening at DIFF\u00a0to name a few. This is exactly the strategy created by the DFO and DIFF nine years ago, and it is heartening to see the long-term value it provides for the African film industry. This year\u2019s programme is rich in diversity and complexity, and we are looking forward to seeing Durban come alive with a real buzz of the business of filmmaking.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 9th Durban FilmMart takes place in Durban, at the Tsogo Sun Elangeni from 20 to 23 July 2018, during the 39th edition of the Durban International Film Festival (19 to 29 July 2018).<\/p>\n

Online registration closes on 29 June, 2018, but there is still opportunity to register from July 19 from 2pm manually at the event. For more information on the Durban FilmMart and to register as a delegate visit\u00a0www.durbanfilmmart.com<\/a>\u00a0 or for Durban International Film Festival\u00a0www.durbanfilmfest. co.za<\/a><\/p>\n

Facebook: Durban FilmMart SA<\/p>\n

Twitter: @durbanfilmmart<\/p>\n

#DFM2018<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

20 \u2013 23 July 2018 during the Durban International Film Festival Echoing government\u2019s reassurance to investors into South Africa\u2019s economy, the Durban FilmMart, one of Africa\u2019s premier film industry events will be \u201copen for business\u201d when it begins its four day event on July 20 during the 39th\u00a0Durban International Film Festival (DIFF). The DIFF in… Continue reading 9th Durban FilmMart “Open For Business”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[173,183],"class_list":["post-7014","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-festival","tag-dfm","tag-diff","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7014","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7014"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7014\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7014"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7014"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7014"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}