Videovision Entertainment to sponsor distribution prize at Durban FilmMart

Videovision Entertainment returns to the 2014 DFM

In this day and age South Africa is becoming a talented and well esteemed place for up and coming production companies, it is now South Africa’s time to shine.

Videovision Entertainment, South Africa’s premier film and Distribution Company is set to attend the Durban FilmMart, on the 18 – 21 July 2014 at the Elangeni Tsogo Sun Hotel in Durban, to present their esteemed R75 000 distribution prize to the Best South African Film Project.

Videovision Entertainment, headed by well-known producer Anant Singh, is a Durban based company which is celebrating 25 successful years in the film industry. Specializing in a variety of operations, Videovision Entertainment is renowned for their work in South Africa as a leading film and television production distributing to media, live entertainment and film studios.

With each passing year that flies by, the ties strengthen between Videovision Entertainment and DFM; Africa’s leading co-production and finance markets for filmmakers in Africa. This year not only marks the 5^th edition of the DFM, but it also commemorates this loyal four year partnership; “Our association with DFM aligns itself to our company’s vision of providing a platform for the South African film industry both locally and abroad,” says Videovision Entertainment’s Head of Communication and Media Nilesh Singh.

Attending the 2014 Durban FilmMart, is CEO Anant Singh, Director of distribution and acquisition Sanjeev Singh, Financial Manager Robert Naidoo, Head of Communications and Media Nilesh Singh and Editor Sigeshan Reddy.

Each year, Videovision Entertainment sponsor’s a prize known as the “Five Fingers for Marseilles” produced by Sean Drummond and Michael Matthews, who were last year’s recipients of the Videovision Entertainment distribution prize. This award will assist them in ensuring release and distribution throughout South Africa once the ‘Five Fingers’ film is completed early next year. Producer Michael Matthews will use the Videovision Entertainment prize money to develop top notch marketing material, including behind the scenes, featurettes, artwork and online social marketing.

What makes this year’s DFM special, Videovision Entertainment intends to sponsor the same opportunity to a film project with R75 000 worth of distribution assistance. “We are delighted to continue our sponsorship of the Best South African Film Project. The objective of our sponsorship is to help nurture upcoming filmmakers and support them in having their films distributed in South Africa,” says Nilesh Singh.

“Partnerships are crucial to achieving DFM’s goals and objectives. The Videovision award presents these filmmakers with an incredible opportunity to break into the market place with the backing and support of one of South Africa’s longest running distribution companies. We are truly appreciative of Videovision’s consistent and generous support in promoting African cinema,” says Durban Film Office’s Toni Monty.

For more information on the DFM go to www.durbanfilmmart.co.za, to register for DFM visit the delegate registration desk at the Elangeni Tsogo Sun Hotel  from today until Monday 21 July at 08h00 to 16h00.

Article by +Lauren Immelman  

Free workshops for writers, producers and directors at Durban International Film Festival

Free Workshops For Writers, Producers and Directors At Durban International Film Festival

There are loads of free workshops for cast and crew and also free movies for you to see at The Elangeni Hotel, The Hub of the Durban International Film Festival 2014.

Here are some of the weekend highlights:

Saturday 19 July 2014

• African Initiatives - Suite 5 - 9am - Update from various organisations on film initiatives set to contribute to growth and development of African film.
• Tele-Dialogue - Suite 3 - 9am - An initiative created to outline and develop the television industry in KZN and Africa.
• The Films That Made Me - Suite 2 - 9h30 - Rear Window
• NFVF Engagement with the industry - Suite 5 - 10am - Hear about developments from the National Film and Video Foundation.
• The changing landscape of distribution in Africa - Suite 5 - 2pm - Opportunities for distribution in Africa.
• Writer's Tools: From Concept to Pitch - Suite 3 - 2pm - Join Janet van Eeden for an entry-level workshop looking at formats and conventions as well as pitching scripts. 
• Co-Production Lessons - Suite 5 - 3pm - Case studies from African producers in relation to co-production in and out of Africa.
• African Initiatives - Suite 5 - 4pm - Various organisations show film initiatives set to contribute to growth and development of African film.

Sunday 20 July

• Co-production Forum with Italy - Suite 5 - 2pm
• NFVF In Conversation - Suite 5 - 10am - Opportunities for locations and service industry.
• Updates from Provinces - Suite 5 - 2pm - Panel discussion from provincial state agencies involved in the development of film in SA.
• NFVF New Programmes - Suite 3 - 2pm - Upcoming programmes aimed at SA Filmmakers.
• Window to the World with Global Markets and Festivals - Suite 5 - 4pm - Opportunities for showcasing films at other film festivals.
• SAGE Industry Discussion - Suite 3 - 4pm - Discussion between SA editors around post production.

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News on a Film and Politics Conference, A Meeting for Writers in Durban and some poetry for You

African Film and Politics Conference

Conference organised by the
Africa Media Centre, University of Westminster

Date: Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 November 2013

Venue: University of Westminster, London

This is the first call for papers for a two-day conference on African film and politics in changing local and global contexts. Film in Africa, just like popular music, theatre and literature, has reflected and affected past and present political realities. African filmmakers have developed effective and powerful film stories infused with political ideologies, values and everyday politics. Global, national, regional and personal political themes are evident in some of the most popular African films. Some of the films become popular because audiences easily recognize the political portrayals and subtle themes reflected on the screens.

The African film industry is itself ridden with tension, power and politics. Funding, training opportunities, language use, story structures and roles with films are often distributed according to existing political priorities. It is arguable that power relations have followed political thinking. Conditions and the environment of filmmaking in Africa have been political since colonial times. After independence film politics is more evident in front of and behind the camera. African film audiences are now using social media in ways that have complicated the political dimensions.
However, there are questions about how power and politics has been included in African film. Which African political story is told through films? Whose voice is represented? Who speaks on behalf of whom? To what extent have films expanded identities, power and political relations? In what way has politics influenced film production, distribution, exhibition and consumption in Africa? If political stability and political socialization are the answers in the African film industry, what then are the questions?

This conference seeks to debate issues of politics, ideology, power and diversity in African film industry. It seeks to examine, amongst other issues, how broadly-defined politics relates to generational, gender, ethnic, racial, traditional/modernity and language issues in African films. The conference welcomes contributions that will debate these issues from different theoretical and methodological orientations.
Papers may focus on, among other topics, the following:

• Political history, myth and identity in African film; • Racial, class, religious and ethnic politics in African film; • Audiences and the reception of politics in African films • Indigenous language films and everyday politics • Gender and sexual politics in African cinema; • Politics of exhibition, financing and distribution of African film; • Power politics and crises in African Cinema • Film festivals and the development of national cinemas in Africa; • Auteur politics, Political film genres and form • Collaborative filmmaking in the global north/trans-national collaborations • Liberation and emancipation in African film philosophy • Filmmakers exiled or imprisoned for their work.
• Institutions, policies and film agencies

DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACTS
The deadline for submission of abstracts is Friday 9 August, 2013. Successful applicants will be notified by Friday 30 August, 2013. Abstracts should not be more than 300 words long. They must include the title of the conference, presenter's name, affiliation, email and postal address, together with the title of the paper.
Please ensure when saving your abstract that your name is part of the file name.
Please email your abstract to Helen Cohen, Events Administrator at:
(journalism@westminster.ac.uk).

PROGRAMME AND REGISTRATION
This two day conference will take place on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 November, 2013. The fee for registration (which applies to all participants, including presenters) will be £175, with a concessionary rate of £95 for students, to cover all conference documentation, refreshments lunches and administration costs. Registration will open in September 2013.

(Source - Versfeld & Assoc.) 


Writer's Guild of South Africa Meeting - Durban - 5 August 2013 - 6pm - Ike's Bookshop 
48A Florida Road, Morningside, Durban 

Topic:  How To Publish Your Work

Business Development Manager of Adams Book Store, Cedric Sissing will share the process of publishing, give tips on the best publishing methods and explore self-publishing.  He will endeavour on the journey of publishing, ensuring that performance writers not only produce their work but also publish in order to reach a wider audience and to obtain copyright of the published work.

Bookings essential admin@writersguildsa.org.

Entrance is free for this meeting. 

(Source - Writer's Guild of SA) 

Some Poetry For You 

Winter Song

The mindless things we did in Winter

To the sound of trains in the night,

While the white swallows are bitter

As words coming into the light.

Paragraphs have nothing left of the sea

In them but her mouth wades

As a lagoon was a tumult of soliloquy

Over the bridges and glades.

Upon these confines of death moonlight

Pulls the shelf

Of rowers, old sea captain’s right.

The reef lures him away sleeping to self

Of a dream outside the mirror.

Timothy Sparks   July 2013

Edition by +Fred Felton 

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Read about the African Metropolis Short Film Project at DIFF

African Metropolis Short Film Project Premieres at DIFF

This year’s Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) will host the premiere of the African Metropolis Short Film Project - seven short films from seven African directors shot in seven African cities. There will be Question and Answer sessions with directors and producers after the screenings on 20 and 21 July, as well as a panel discussion on 21 July.

The African Metropolis Short Film Project is an initiative of the Goethe-Institut South Africa and South African executive producer Steven Markovitz, with support from Guaranty Trust Bank and the Hubert Bals Fund of International Film Festival Rotterdam.

“African Metropolis held its first workshop at DIFF last year,” says Markovitz. “The festival is a great incubator for creative ideas, and a great platform for networking and sharing ideas. We are all delighted to be able to present seven finished short films at the same time just one year later.”

The short films are set in Lagos (Director: Folasakin Iwajomo), Abidjan (Philippe Lacôte), Kinshasa (Carole Maloba), Dakar (Marie KA), Johannesburg (Vincent Moloi), Cairo (Ahmed Ghoneimy) and Nairobi (Jim Chuchu). The filmmakers’ work shows the face of a modern and cosmopolitan Africa and challenges longstanding clichés about the continent.

Peter Machen, Manager of DIFF, says: “We are delighted to host the world premiere of the African Metropolis Short Film Project, which explores and promotes young directing talent from different capitals of the continent. This idea fits perfectly with our own goal of highlighting the emerging African film industry.”

Dates & Venues: 

Film screenings, followed by Q&A:

20 July / Musgrave Sterkinekor / 17H00

21 July / Blue Waters Hotel / 16H00

23 July / Ohlange School Hall, Inanda / 16H00

Panel discussion:

21 July / South Deck Room, 11th floor, Blue Waters Hotel / 09H00

Sundowner:

21 July / Tsogo Sun Elangeni Hotel, Pooldeck / 18H00

 (Source - DIFF) 

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