African Films in the UK

An absolutely fascinating Guardian article entitled When Will We Start Taking African Films Seriously? tackles the thorny issue of African films breaking (or not) into the UK market:



Simply reinforces my increasing belief that building local audiences is the way to go....

Movie made for R600 gets Cinema release

A zombie movie made using a camcorder for less then the price of a DVD box set is set to be distributed in cinemas across the UK.....

"Colin," made by budding British director, Marc Price, will now get its own DVD as well as hitting the big screen in time for Halloween.



Price wrote, directed, shot and edited "Colin" over 18 months while working nights at a taxi company. The 30-year-old first-time director says he managed to make the film for so little by advertising for volunteer zombies on social networking site, Facebook. He also borrowed make-up and taught himself special effects by endlessly re-watching making-of featurettes and director's commentaries from his personal DVD collection. The full story at CNN.

So the question is: why not you next?

Eastern Cape Filmmakers Association on Facebook

Did you know, there's already a Facebook group for people working in, and/or passionate about, the film and tv industry in the Eastern Cape? it's called the Eastern Cape Filmmakers Association and it serves to connect Producers, Writers, Directors and other skilled people (e.g. camera, sound, light, art design, production etc.) from the region.



Go on, join the conversation......

PS and in case your wondering - here are a couple of similar hubs run by the sector in the UK. When we're big, we could have online communities like this:

• Who needs the Sea?
• Digital Dockyard
• Whippet on the Wire
• 38 Minutes

Cape Winelands Film Festival Call for Entires

Since the first edition the Cape Winelands Film Festival (CWFF) has significantly grown in size and international participation. More than 70 features, documentaries and short films from over 35 countries were in competition during 2009. More than130 productions formed part of the festival programme, in total 62 featues, 27 documentaries and 44 shorts from more than 35 countries. The 2nd edition of the festival had 32 international guests. The festival had more than 300 screenings in March 2009.



Now the 3rd edition of what's become one of South Africa's largest film festivals has announced its call for entries. Entry forms are available on the official website of the festival: http://films-for-africa.co.za/ The festival will take place from 17 - 27 March 2010 in Cape Town and Stellenbosch.

And incidentally, if you want to see Facebook in action as a marketing and promotional tool, then join the festival's Facebook group; these guys are really leading the way in profiling their films and their festival using this totally free medium.

SAFTAs - Entry Deadline July 30th

The 4th South African Film and Television Awards will be held in February 2010. The closing date for entry submission is July 30 2009 and productions are reminded to submit their entries. Entry forms and more information is available at the NFVF site.



Incidentally, thanks to a proactive industry lobby lead by SASFED (the South African Screen Federation), entry fees for this Awards have been waived this year. So even more reason to enter.....

Lisbon Docs 2009

Calling all Documentary Makers - Lisbon Docs 2009 is calling for proposals

Lisbon Docs is a documentary pitching session consisting of:

- a pitching session and workshop
- screenings of new films
- master classes on international aspects of documentary making



The workshop takes place on October 20-22. In the intense working atmosphere of the pitching workshop, 21 documentary projects are discussed, developed and turned upside down by colleagues and a tutor team of six internationally experienced professionals. Then on October 23 and 24 all projects are pitched to a panel of 10-12 Commissioning Editors from leading international co-production TV-channels.

For further information on how to apply, participation fees and other details please take a look at the EDN site about Lisbon Docs or contact EDN Network Manager Hanne Skjødt at hanne@edn.dk

Deadline for applying is September 4.

International Black DocuFest 2009

Saturday 25th July is the last day for submissions to the International Black DocuFest (IBDF)in Atlanta, Georgia.



IBDF's mission is to showcase the most innovative and compelling documentary films on the lives of people of African descent. Through a series of screenings, workshops and facilitated panel discussions, the International Black DocuFest explores the creative ways in which documentaries capture and chronicle the diverse experiences of black life from around the globe.

In other words, they want YOUR stories. The 3rd annual International Black DocuFest ™ will be hosted at Atlanta’s celebrated High Museum of Art on September 17 th – 19th, 2009. So jump to it.

Two Seas TV

Two Seas TV, a production company in Cape Town, has set up an online social network dedicated to film and TV production in South Africa.



It offers a number of tools to help you to stay in touch with other members and increase your online presence:

· Advertise your company
· Promote your film
· Drive traffic to your site
· Share ideas
· Brainstorm concepts
· Meet potential partners
· Read news & reviews
· Watch clips

It’s also FREE and easy to sign up, so go to: http://twoseas.socialgo.com/ and try it out, see if this kind of thing can work for us in the Eastern Cape too..... Maybe someone could start with a Facebook site?

Cape Film Workshops??

Cape Film Workshops has been designed by veteran educator John Hill to prepare emerging professionals for a career in the film industry.

With nearly 40 years experience in the industry and many years in film education and training in the academic sector, John felt that most current filmmaking courses are far too academic and do not cater for the needs of the profession. As a result he devised The Cape Film Workshops as a series of programme competency levels designed to overcome problems and propel participants to emerging professional status much earlier than usual.



Currently the Cape Film Workshops are scheduled mostly for Cape Town (as usual) but the content looks interesting enough to lobby him to run similar programmes in NMB, no? Email John to find out more: support@capefilmworkshops.org

Mmino second call for applications 2009

Since we're also looking at music in the NMB area, I thought you might be interested in this: Mmino, the South African - Norwegian music cooperation programme, has announced a second call for applications for 2009.

Housed at the National Arts Council in Johannesburg, Mmino provides funding to music education and exchange projects (between Norway & SA and SA & SADC countries). The organisation attempts to establish and strengthen mutually beneficial relationships between Norway and South Africa.

Official application forms can be downloaded from the website www.mmino.org.za. The closing date for this funding session is 12 August 2009 at 12h00.

IndieVillage SA Short Film Competition

Independent filmmakers from across South Africa are invited to submit their work for entry into The IndieVillage South African Short Film Competition.



The goal of this festival is to support independent South African filmmakers by bringing their names, faces and artistic works to new audiences.

Films announced as part of the finals will be selected by panel and screened at the IndieVillage South African Film Festival scheduled to take place 27th May to 30th May 2010 in Toronto. All finalists will also become eligible to win one of the following prizes:

Grand Prize- R 10 000
1st Runner Up- R 3 000
2nd Runner Up- R2 000

So what can I say? This is a festival about you, and for you. Best you get applying. For more information and submission requirements, click here

Making the Movie

Making an independent film is a lot like having a kid. The sexy part is coming up with the idea and the money. Actually making the film is a lot like giving birth – both exciting and painful. Then you have your bouncing baby movie - and you have to raise the little bastard.

I love coming across blog sites by filmmakers who have actually made films. The information is usually practical, helpful and refreshingly candid. Making the Movie offers filmmaking tips, resources, reviews of Film Production books (useful!), news and links.

Here's some good stuff on the kinds of "special features" to add to your dvd.......

Survey about the NFVF

The NFVF is currently conducting a research for the South African entertainment industry and would be very appreciative if you would participate in the survey – link below, which should take no longer than 5 minutes. Your response will be kept strictly confidential and will be used solely for this project.



The objectives of the survey are to determine the perception of the public regarding the NFVF and also gauge the level of understanding of the NFVF activities from beneficiaries, while at the same time it should help us in assessing if there is need for a film publication. So here's your chance to tell them what you think.....

The survey will be opened to receive your response up until Friday the 24th of July 2009 at 12h00.Click on the below to take part in the survey.

South African Entertainment Industry Survey

Stop Motion Animation Workshops - Cape Town

Calling all filmmakers, puppeteers, sculptors, artists, animators, actors, designers, sound designers, performance artists, painters, musicians: UNIMA SA and ANIMATION SA have announced an exciting workshop series on Stop-Frame Animation to be held in Cape Town this September and October The course is designed to extend professionals' skills into a world of 3-dimensional moving pictures and will be facilitated by top animators.



Participants will move through the stages of creating a short stop-frame animation film over a period of 6 Saturdays, acquiring such skills as designing characters and sets, hands-on animation, creating sound effects and editing. Each step will be carefully monitored by top-of-their-game animation experts.

For information and to book a space, contact: Andrea Brittow on 021 4625811 (between 9 and 1 pm) or email: admin@unimasouthafrica.org

Cellphones and FIlm

In case you weren't completely convinced of the impact that cellphones will have in our lives - and in the way we promote and distribute Eastern Cape films in the not-too-distant future: according to a report from the GSMA, worldwide mobile phone connections have topped 4 billion, and are expected to reach 6 billion by 2013. Nearly 100 million of these connections are mobile broadband accounts.



The GSMA credited the integration of mobile into previously unconnected devices, and subscriber additions in emerging markets for the growth rate. And remember, according to the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Global Entertainment Media Outlook: 2008 - 2012.

“those that will see the most significant growth are those segments who take advantage of the opportunities in digital and mobile.”

Economic Impact Assessment

As we try to understand the feasibility of the Film Sector in NMB, we need to look at the Economic Impacts of Production. We've created an online survey which we'd like your assistance in completing - preferably one for each of your productions shot during 2006-7.

Click here to take the Online Survey

Thanks

A Million Views on You Tube??

Some interesting stuff at Slate.com on the difficulties of monetising digital media. So, what are your chances of achieving YouTube stardom? Chris Wilson crunched the numbers to find out what percentage of YouTube videos hit it big, cracking even 10,000 or 100,000 views......

The results: here


(believe it or not, the fourth most viewed on You Tube???)

Umalusi opens in the Eastern Cape

Umalusi, a local film shot in the Eastern Cape, has officially launched in East London. It opens at selected Ster-Kinekor and Nu-Metro cinemas from July 10.

Co-written by Jhamil Qubeka and Mlandu Sikwebu, and shot in the East London suburbs of Vincent, West Bank, Duncan Village and Mdantsane, Umalusi is the tale of a “privileged” young man living in an upmarket suburb who panics and goes on the run when a friend dies from a drug overdose.



The self-funded film was shot in the township with most of the small crew and extras drawn from around East London and Mdantsane. Qubeka says the film will teach South Africans to do things for themselves: "It will hopefully inspire people to tell their own stories."

KZN Sharks Board Commissioning Brief

The KZN Sharks Board has called for Expressions of Interest for the production of a 30 minute audio-visual film of its activities along the KZN coast. The bid reference number is: KZNSB5/07/2009.



So if you are really (really?) serious about getting into the water with the above, armed with nothing more than your camera, the deadline for submissions is 17th July. For more information contact Mrs. D. Hargreaves on 031 566 0431

Film Meeting in PE

Mark the date: a week on Monday......

Monday the 13th JULY!!!!
City Hall, Port Elizabth
11 am - 14 pm



We'll be hosting a lively meeting to discuss the feasibility of the film (and music) sector in Nelson Mandela Bay, and giving you ample opportunity to give input on the process.

Look forward to meeting with you then and hearing your ideas.....

PLURAL+ Festival Call for Entries

In collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other international partners, the UN Alliance Of Civilizations is launching a youth video festival exploring themes related to migration and diversity.

PLURAL+ is aimed at involving youth in addressing the key issues in their community related to migrant integration, inclusiveness, identity, diversity, human rights and social cohesiveness.



The project invites anyone aged 9-25 to submit short videos on their thoughts, experiences, opinions, questions and suggestions on how to promote harmonious yet diverse societies.

Submissions will be accepted from 1 June-30 September 2009. A prestigious international jury will announce the winners at an awards ceremony at New York's Paley Center for Media on 18 December 2009, coinciding with International Migrants Day. More from the NFVF