Call for Entry Jan Vrijman Fund 2011

Dear documentary filmmaker,

IDFA's Jan Vrijman Fund supports documentary filmmakers and documentary events in and from developing countries. The fund is looking for proposals for creative documentaries and events that offer a platform for documentaries and filmmakers.

Read more about IDFA's Jan Vrijman Fund.

New regulations

The deadline to submit a project for the first selection round of 2011 is 15 January 2011. Please note that the Fund has changed the regulations starting from 2011. For the new regulations, the online entry form, the project form and frequently asked questions please visit our website. There are different regulations and project forms required for every category. The entry form can be submitted online and the project form can be sent attached in an e-mail to janvrijmanfund@idfa.nl.

Submit with MyIDFA

In order to submit a project to the Jan Vrijman Fund, you need a MyIDFA user account. On the IDFA website you can register for a MyIDFA account. With this account you can submit entry forms to the Jan Vrijman Fund, as well as to IDFA, Docs for Sale and the FORUM.

For more information feel free to contact Jan Vrijman Fund producer Mélanie de Vocht at janvrijmanfund@idfa.nl.

Jan Vrijman Fund

Frederiksplein 52

1017 XN Amsterdam

the Netherlands

phone +31 (0)20 6273329

fax +31 (0)20 6385388

janvrijmanfund@idfa.nl

www.idfa.nl/janvrijmanfund

One City, Many Cultures 'Embracing Africa, Embracing Cape Town' Concert postponed

Dear Member of the Media

Following the newsflash below sent earlier this week, Tuesday, 14 December 2010, to advise of the postponement of the One City, Many Cultures 'Embracing Africa, Embracing Cape Town' Concert that was scheduled to take place tomorrow, Saturday, 18 December 2010, this communication serves to re-iterate that the concert has indeed been postponed contrary to an article published in a major national newspaper today.

The concert will now form part of the 12th annual Cape Town Festival (CTF), taking place from the 14th to the 21st of March 2011.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for any further information.

Regards

Esther Henderson

074 232 7969

NEWSFLASH: MONDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2010

ONE CITY, MANY CULTURES "EMBRACING AFRICA, EMBRACING CAPE TOWN" CONCERT POSTPONED TO FORM PART OF FLAGSHIP CAPE TOWN FESTIVAL IN MARCH 2011

The One City, Many Cultures (1CMC) 'Embracing Africa, Embracing Cape Town' Concert is postponed to form part of the 12th annual Cape Town Festival (CTF), taking place from the 14th to the 21st of March 2011. The concert lineup, which includes some of the best in African, South African and Cape Town talent - Judith Sephuma; The Moreira Project; Gang of Instrumentals; The Rockets; Chad Saaiman; and the Performing Arts Network of South Africa (PANSA) - will grace the city-wide stages of the 2011 CTF. The 1CMC Project, incorporating the CTF, is supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF).

The 1CMC Project incorporating the CTF, presents an annual programme of integrated arts and culture activities designed to carry the message of 'Tolerance, Embracing, Integration and Unity' to the people of Cape Town throughout the year. Launching with the CTF in March, the rest of the year-long programme rolls out in the form of community workshops; senior citizens day; discussion forums; tolerance awards ceremony; exhibitions and community festivals until December.

For more information, visit www.capetownfestival.co.za or email info@capetownfestival.co.za

Waste Land wins at IDA Awards

Apartheid doccie wins at IDA Awards

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 09:53

The Distinguished Limited Series Award documentary at the International Documentary Assn.'s 2010 IDA Awards, which was held on Friday 3 December, went to Connie Field for her 7-film series Have You Heard from Johannesburg, about the campaign to end apartheid.

Lucy Walker's Waste Land was named best feature documentary at the International Documentary Assn.'s 2010 IDA Awards held at the DGA Theatre in Los Angeles.

The documentary looks at a giant Rio de Janeiro trash dump through the eyes of artist Vik Muniz.

Waste Landis also on the list of 15 documentaries that are being considered for an Academy Award in the feature documentary category.

Kiran Deol's Woman Rebel, the account of a female soldier in the Nepal's People's Liberation Army, took home the Distinguished Short Film Award.

DFA member, David Forbes shot on Have you Heard from Johannesburg.

An Opportunity for Black Filmmakers and Other Colours, too

I'm not sure where this message originated, but here it is:

Dear Filmmaker,

I recently met Michiel Berkel at a reception of NBF (the Dutch Filmmakers Union). Michiel Berkel mainly lives and works from Cape Town, South Africa and has an office in the Netherlands. In South Africa he is the owner of a six screen independent cinema as well as a film & TV distribution company: “Comart Films”

Michiel is a freelance buying consultant for a number of African Pay and Free TV channels, specializing in black cast films, either shot and produced in Africa or by black urban filmmakers in the Diaspora.

Michiel is permanently seeking Africa related documentaries and black cast drama productions and feature films with a minimum length of at least 40 minutes. He finds that many filmmakers also in the Diaspora do not have had their content shown on African TV

Here’s a chance to dust off your work – not older than ten years please – or present your latest feature and submit it for the African channels’ consideration. Michiel acts as a middle-man and will introduce your work to his vast network of the people who are in charge of the TV acquisition process.

If you have rights of content which may be of interest to African TV, please contact Michiel directly through his email address: michiel@comartfilms.com

African Cinema and Audio Visual Fund

Press ReleaseRef. : CP/COM/AB/33/10

Tunis, 28th October 2010
On the sidelines of the Carthage Film Festival
A new step towards the creation of the African cinema and audiovisual Fund
The Tunisian Producers’ Union Chamber, the International Organisation of la Francophonie (IOF) and the Federation of African Filmmakers (FEPACI) presented the results of a study on the feasibility and the method of implementation of an African cinema and audiovisual Fund at the 23rd Carthage Film Festival.
IOF organised a press conference on 28 October 2010 at the 23rd Carthage Film Festival (23 to 30 October 2010) on the feasibility and method of implementation of an African cinema and audiovisual Fund, known temporarily as “cineA”.
This press conference follows the joint announcement by IOF and FEPACI at the World Cinema Pavillion at the last Cannes Film Festival, of their plan to set up a new instrument for the promotion and funding of African cinema and audiovisual production. At the time, IOF agreed to respond to FEPACI’s request by contributing its acknowledged expertise in defining projects of this kind and by financing a feasibility study.
By supporting this ambitious African initiative, IOF continues to fulfil its constantly asserted objective of providing concrete responses to African professionals’ regular requests to boost cinema production capacity in Africa and in the long term to establish an African policy for the development of the cinema and audiovisual arts. In this way, IOF will help fulfil one of the African Union’s key recommendations which asserts Africa’s legitimate desire to acquire the means for its own cinematographic expression and which highlights the need to manage these resources by focusing on inter-African complementarity and cooperation.
This new structure could mark a turning point in aid to cinema in the South. Indeed, its objective is to mobilize a large-scale public private partnership that would unite efforts so that cinematographic creation meets the needs and aspirations of the African public. The Fund’s objective is to offer close to one billion Africans the means to reclaim their histories, consolidate their identity and share their visions with the rest of the world.
During the press conference, Mr. Frédéric Bouilleux, IOF’s Director of French Language and Cultural and Linguistic Diversity, highlighted the reasons why IOF responded enthusiastically to FEPACI’s request for assistance in setting up this scheme. IOF has 22 years experience of managing the Francophone Fund for audiovisual production in the South, which has enabled the production of over one thousand films since its creation. Over half IOF’s members are African countries and it is one of the main organisations capable of uniting momentum around this innovative project which is already supported by many countries and professional groups.
The presentation of the main findings of the feasibility study for this new Fund, which was carried out by Media consulting group, was followed by a productive exchange between professionals. Several operational proposals were made. As well as the festival guests, the conference was attended by the Chairman of FEPACI, Mr Charles Mensah, the Vice President of the Tunisian Producers’ Union Chamber, the Chairman of the African Guild of Directors and Producers living in France, the Director of South Africa’s National Film and Video Foundation, the Director of the African Film Festival of New York, as well as the directors of the National Cinematography Centres of Gabon and Egypt, the Moroccan Ministry of Culture’s Regional Director for Grand Casablanca, the Chairman of the Algerian Producers’ Union, and a representative from Canal Horizon. The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) has already pledged its support for this initiative.

Over the next few weeks, IOF will work hard at encouraging cooperation, uniting partners around this scheme and finalising the Fund’s governance structure with its partners. The governance structure must be strong, have sufficient resources and be able to ensure impartial choices, transparency and the Fund’s durability.
The 22nd edition of the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO), which will be held from 25 February to 5 March 2011 could serve as a venue for the presentation of the Fund’s virtually definitive profile, notably its first partners, the schedule for its creation, its management and governance structures, and its operating rules.
This IOF activity coincides with the organisation’s 40th anniversary and confirms its commitment to serving diversity and solidarity in a world where individual cultural expression is sometimes threatened.

The International Organisation of La Francophonie has 56 member States and governments and 19 observers. www.francophonie.org
Contact:
Department for French Language and Cultural and Linguistic DiversityMrs Souad Houssein, Cinema Project ManagerTel. : (+33) 1 44 37 33 20 - souad.houssein@francophonie.org
PRESS CONTACTAnissa Barrak, Communication Director, Commissioner for IOF’s 40th anniversary anissa.barrak@francophonie.org - (+33) 1 44 37 33 65

The additional document on funding information and requirements will be sent to DFA members only.

DFA Jumble Sale

The Jumble Sale is an initiative by DFA member, Carlos Francisco, that we hope you will all be happy to be a part of. Anyone may purchase films via the Jumble Sale, but only DFA members are allowed to sell their films through the Jumble Sale. See below:

The DFA presents our members with the opportunity to exchange their Documentary work between one another. We have initiated the DFA Jumble Sale, a platform to sell and buy each other's documentaries in bulk and at a very reasonable price. It hopes to encourage an experience of professional self distribution, stimulate the buying of local independent films and it will also allow us to apply what we learn from this toward our DFA online documentary store in the future.

A website has been developed to showcase a collection of the best DFA members have to offer. The opportunity is open to all DFA members. Members who have works over 45 minutes and feel confident in their product being viable for DVD distribution.

Requirements for submitting are:

 Declared ownership of your film and the right to sell it publicly.

 At least 10 x copies of each eligible film. Professionally packaged i.e. DVD box, sleeve and printed DVD.

 The completed submission form

 Jpeg of the DVD front cover graphic.

The contact details and further information is available to DFA members only.

Cape Film Commission and DFA attend IDFA

Below is Jacky Lourens' report of the CFC / DFA trip to IDFA in November 2010:

FILM TRADE TO GLOBAL MARKETS REPORT

IDFA (International Documentary Festival Amsterdam) – November 2010

What is IDFA

IDFA is the biggest documentary film festival in the world and the sixth biggest film festival with a market (docs for sale) and a forum attached (they pioneered the forum). This year there were an estimated 180,000 tickets sold for the screenings on 13 screens over 11 days. IDFA is one of the only documentary film festival that accepts 1 hour (broadcast hour) films for the competition. IDFA mainly caters for artistic and human cultural type films and is considered non-commercial.

Docs for Sale is a market where potential buyers can view films accepted into the catalogue either in a viewing station where they book slots or online. These comprise of distributors and sales agents, as well as broadcasters and film festivals. It is really important to be there in person as the first day starts off with everyone hussling to get their posters up in the best position and lots of networking goes on, both coincidental and set up by the Docs for Sale team.

The FORUM is IDFA's international co-financing market for documentaries and Europe's largest gathering of filmmakers, television commissioning editors, and independent documentary producers.

Why IDFA

Over the past three years, the CFC has build a strong relationship with the DFA (Documentary Filmmakers Association) which is one of the largest and active industry associations. In the Western Cape there are vibrant and influential documentary

filmmakers present and products which are of great interest to the international market. Most of the local film festivals e.g. Encounters, Tri-Continental, Wild Talk and Cape Winelands festival in Cape Town have a focus on documentaries and draw large audiences comparing to other provinces.

The marketing objectives of the CFC is to:

market the Western Cape Film industry internationally, nationally and locally by showcasing product and talent

facilitate investment, develop the film industry and content in the Western Cape

provide logistical support, guidance and advice to the local and international film industry regarding production in the region.

actively promote transformation and provision of opportunities for persons, especially from previously disadvantaged communities, to partake in the film sector

position Cape Film Commission as the leading film industry agency in the world.

Who, when and where

On behalf of the Western Cape Documentary filmmakers, Jacky Lourens, interim marketing manager at the CFC and Dylan Valley, young black filmmaker and executive member of the DFA attended IDFA in Amsterdam from 11-22 November 2010. Jacky has a huge network of existing contacts in the Netherlands and Dylan had a documentary called Afrikaaps which was at Docs for Sale. His documentary has a particular relevance to the Netherlands as it was a co-production between Plexus Films (South Africa) and Glasshouse (Netherlands).

Jacky and Dylan also met up with Pascal Schmitz (Executive DFA member Jhb) and Rehad Desai (Festival Director: Tri-Continental Festival), in Amsterdam.

How

The CFC and DFA put out a call to Western Cape documentary filmmakers to send a summary of their projects in development and finished products (DVD's) with a biography and contact details. An overwhelming response was received with over 52 projects from about 31 companies. This was compiled in a catalogue and the CFC presented it to interested parties.

The visit focused on showcasing local filmmakers and product, exploring funding, building relations to encourage co-productions and create awareness of the opportunities that the Western Cape is offering to the international market.

Besides setting up appointments, we attended master classes, talks and every day there is a cocktail at Docs for Sale from 5-6pm and Guests meets Guests from 6-7h30 pm. At these functions we met a lot of people and they are very important for networking. It is very easy and accessible to meet people.

Who we met:

DISTRIBUTORS

Off the Fence: Completely commercial documentary only distributor with over 4000 hours in their catalogue. They deal mostly in wildlife and history/mystery, but do also cover the 5 main categories.(History; Nature & Wildlife; People, Places & Culture; Science & Technology;Travel & Adventure;Lifestyle).

They will be coming to South Africa in February to give a workshop on commercial documentary distribution and financing for the international market. They did not even attend IDFA as it is too artistic for them and they mostly do their business at MIPTV and MIPCOM. They have local offices in Cape Town, but only for production services.

(http://www.offthefence.com/content/content.php)

Contact: Bo Stehmeier bo@offthefence.com

In Cape Town: Sherene Kingma sherene@offthefencesa.com Tel: 021 468 8050

Journeyman: They specialise in investigative type stories and do documentaries as well as news inserts, so they take anything from 5 minutes upwards. They like material that is topical and relevant. They usually need material very fast when the story is relevant and delays can mean the story does not make the sale. The owner (not Kimberley) is from SA origin and has a soft spot for SA

(http://www.journeyman.tv/)

Contact: Kimberley Anwen Warner films@journeyman.tv

Spier Films: Based in London and headed up by Mike Auret who used to run the Sithengi Festival. Spier film sell and distribute internationally and produce in South Africa predominantly and have offices in Cape Town. They will be interested to co-produce with South African filmmakers.

(http://www.spierfilms.com/who_we_are.php)

Contact: Michael Auret mike@spierfilms.com

First Hand Films: International sales and service of ambitious and accessible stories: documentaries, series and multiplatform media. First Hand Films acts as executive producer for selected projects and travel to all major festivals.

Www.firsthandfilms.com

Contact: Sara Born info@firsthandfilms.com

Films Transit International: One of the longest running, renowned and respected international sales agency of quality documentaries in Montreal and New York. They specialize in the worldwide release and marketing of high profile, theatrical and television documentaries in two specific genres: Arts, Sports & Culture, and Society, History & Politics.

www.filmstransit.com

Contact: Jan Rofekamp janrofekamp@filmtransit.com

FUNDERS

Hubert Bals Fund: Fiction Feature film and documentaries fund for developing nations that runs under the Film Festival Rotterdam and has a very specific post production fund for feature length and style documentaries. They work closely together with the Jan Vrijman Fund.

Contact: Iwana Chronis hbf@filmfestivalrotterdam.com

Jan Vrijman fund: Dutch fund that runs under IDFA and funds documentaries from developing nations. They did state that they prefer to fund films from countries outside of South Africa on the continent at this stage, as so many successful applications have come from SA in the past and they needed to spread it out a bit.

(http://www.idfa.nl/industry/markets-funding/vrijman-fund.aspx)

Contact Isabel Fernandez janvrijmanfund@idfa.nl

The Netherlands Film Fund: The film fund is the national agency responsible for supporting film production and cinema in the Netherlands. The discussion was about the cultural climate which is changing in The Netherlands and in future it will become more important for them and South Africa to have co-productions for documentaries. Currently there is MOU between The Netherlands and South Africa and we were looking at ways to encourage the establishment of a coproduction treaty between the two countries in order to tap into the different funding models.

FESTIVALS

Movies that Matter: An Amnesty International initiative, exhibits films that draw our attention to human rights situations in which these are at stake. The festival is taking place from 24-30th March 2011 in Den Hague.

www.moviesthatmatterfestival.nl

Contact: Matthea de Jong m.dejong@moviesthatmatter.nl

Taco Ruighaver t.ruighaver@moviesthatmatter.nl

Africa in the Picture Film Festival: Dutch run film festival that specialises in African content and usually discovers a lot of the African talent that lands up screening at IDFA. They have an incredible selection of African titles and filmmakers at their festival.

(http://www.africainthepicture.nl/en/)

Contact: Heidi Lobato hlobato@aitp.nl

Cinekid: is the annual film, television and new media festival for children in Amsterdam. It is visited by more than 40 000 children but also includes a 2 day conference for professionals, a video library and co-production markets.

(http://www.cinekid.nl/)

Contact: Monique Ruinen m.ruined@cinekid.nl

TRAINING

Cinekid: Kids & Docs workshop: As part of the Cinekid Festival, they have developed a Kids & Docs workshop. At the workshop documentary filmmakers develop a film proposal for a 15 minute youth documentary for children aged between 8 and 12. The point of departure is that they choose a subject or theme that interests them, and then search for a child who wants to tell his or her story in the film. This concept could be very interesting for South Africa.

IDFA Academy: is a platform for documentary talents from all over the world. It takes place during IDFA where you can meet professionals willing to share their knowledge in master classes. The IDFAcademy functions as a bridge between film school training and practice.

(http://www.idfa.nl/industry/training-education/idfacademy.aspx)

Contact: Meike Statema meike@idfa.nl

Binger Doc Lab: This programme in Amsterdam offers talented documentary filmmakers coaching from fine-tuning the initial idea, through narrative development, the actual shooting, to the editing of their film and on towards festival platforming, marketing and release.

www.binger.nl

Contact: Esther van Driessum esther@binger.nl

Berlinale Talent campus: Monica Rorvik from Durban International Film Festival already has an existing relationship with the Berlinale Talent Campus. South African newcomers can apply to attend the campus in Durban and from there they will make a selection to attend the international campus in Berlin.

www.berlinale-talentcampus.de

Contact: Christine Trostrum troestrum@berlinale.de

DOCUMENTARY ASSOCIATION

DPN: Documentary Producers Network

We attended the launch of the documentary filmmakers association in The Netherlands and it was interesting to have a dialogue with them as we have completely different challenges. Their main issues of discussion was around the relationship between producers and directors. Apparently it seems that well-established writers/directors don't necessarily want to work with producers, however the funding bodies insists that you work with a producer to produce the films. They only had a small membership of around 30 people, but most of the producers are all established filmmakers.

INDEPENDENT FILMS AND FILMMAKERS

In between all the meetings and functions we watched several international documentaries of high quality and met with filmmakers afterwards. Filmmakers from other countries asked our advice on filming in South Africa and certain African stories that they have in development.

PEOPLE TO PEOPLE CONFERENCE

The People to People Documentary Conference is the biggest event of its kind in the Southern African region and is an invaluable opportunity for its documentary community to become active members of the global community. It is at IDFA that discussions were held to cement the content and participation for the conference that will take place in

Johannesburg in September 2011 and hopefully in Cape Town in 2013.

REMARKS AND SUGGESTIONS:

Although it was great to have so many projects represented from the Western Cape, it was very difficult to market an individual project. With the result that we kept the conversations general with the focus on what the Western Cape and South Africa has to offer from location, product to talent etc.

We felt that there is a definite need for South Africa to be represented as a group in future. Other countries like Chile and the Norwegian countries attended in a delegation of about 20-30 people and they have beautiful printed catalogues with their talent and products. For next year, the DFA in collaboration with the CFC should coordinate a delegation of

documentary filmmakers to attend IDFA possibly with the assistance from the DTI. However, in preparation we need to start the call for projects sooner, possibly around the Durban Film Festival and the People to People Conference in September next year. This will give us ample of time to ensure that we have quality projects for the international market. It is vital for documentary filmmakers to experience an international market such as IDFA and therefore we would also encourage young filmmakers to apply for the IDFAcademy.

The meeting with the distributor, Off the Fence went very well with the result that they have agreed to present a workshop in Johannesburg and Cape Town in February next year. This will assist documentary filmmakers hugely to get a better understanding of the international market, the business of distribution and the packaging of films.

We've noticed that there are still many foreign filmmakers making films about South Africa and Africa with international funding, in particular the wildlife arena and series. These documentaries are commercial and we as South Africans should be making them. In South Africa we can produce films with lower budgets and with the DTI rebate incentive, we can deliver and offer great value to the international industry. Instead of foreigners making films in South Africa and retaining the rights, we should offer co-productions in order to benefit from their incentives and exploitations of rights. The CFC and DFA, along with other associations should lobby the NFVF to follow-up on the MOU between South Africa and The Netherlands, so that we can have an official co- production treaty between the countries. This will enable both countries to tap into greater funding and incentives.

The IDFA industry and programme guide which contains the contact details and a picture

of every single person that attended, plus the catalogue of films are available at the CFC

offices for perusal to any interested filmmakers.

For more information

Contact

Jacky Lourens

083 485 6368

DFA Member David Forbes Looking for Films to Distribute

David Forbes of Shadow Films is calling for independent films. Set up as an
international Sales Agent for independent South African and African
filmmakers, Forbes offers many advantages over the use of agents and
distributors based in Europe or North America.

As a filmmaker himself, he understands the need to recoup money early to
launch the next project, no entry costs, his commission and costs are lower,
and if you need to break his legs, it's only a trip to Jozi, not to London.

Films of any length and age are welcome, higher quality and recent
completion preferred. As he says: "Every film has a home." His job in the
global markets (and he has been going since 2003) is to find that home for
your film. Contact him now on david@shadowfilms.co.za or +27 82 450 8003
as the 2011 catalogue is being prepared

SABc to have New Board by end of January 2011

The SABC is set to have a new reconstituted board by the end of next month if President Jacob Zuma gives the green light for appointments.

Calls for nominations for four new board members closed yesterday afternoon, and if all goes according to schedule, the board will have the vacant positions filled.

Parliament's communications portfolio committee is steering the appointment process and its chairman Eric Kholweni said that by 4pm yesterday about 90 nominations forms had been sent to his office.

"We will have the final number of nominations tomorrow morning [today] and we will not be extending the deadline," said Kholweni.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

TRC Multimedia Report

The South African History Archive (SAHA) is proud to announce the launch of the SAHA / SABC Truth Commission Special Report Multimedia Product (see invitation below), featuring the Truth Commission Special Report television series, which has been brought out of the archives and repackaged as an interactive product to make the work of the TRC more accessible. The series, which documented the testimonies being heard at TRC hearings across South Africa, provided context, perspective and analysis of what emerged during these proceedings and serve as a powerful window into the conflicts of the past and ongoing challenges for reconciliation in South Africa. The product is aimed at supporting history, heritage and reconciliation education, outreach initiatives, as well as the emerging field of transitional justice, in the wake of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

Thanks to funding received from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, SAHA has a small number of the product available for distribution free of charge to South African university libraries and non-profit organisations working in the transitional justice field. If you would like to request a copy of the product for your university library or for your organisation, please email info@saha.org.za with the relevant contact details, and information on how the product would be used to support education and outreach at your organisation.

GDP: The Human Side of the Canadian Economic Crisis

Another innovative web documentary project sponsored by the National Film Board of Canada. Explore here.

Why Poverty

From the team that brought us Why Democracy, we have the pertinent WHY POVERTY to look forward to. For more on this vast project, click here.

Air Fare Incentive for Filmmakers

To read the full press release click here.

DFA Meets With Broadcasters

LAUREN GROENEWALD, CO-CHAIR DFA REPORTS ON THE MEETING WITH ETV, MZANSI MAGIC AND THE SABC, NOVEMBER 2010

The broadcasting environment has been and is difficult terrain to navigate. Last week, on behalf of the DFA, I met with representatives from e.tv, MZANSI MAGIC, and SABC FACTUAL. The objective was to have frank conversations about how and where broadcasters are currently positioned with regards commissioning and acquiring documentary films specifically.

This is the introduction of Lauren's report. The full report will be mailed to DFA members.

My Movie of the Year

This is an extract from one of my personal blog posts:

In the first quarter of 2010 I was a film reader for the 12th Encounters Documentary Film Festival. What this meant was, although I was barely paid, I got to watch about fifty documentary films. Most of them were good and there was a fair number of brilliant films amongst them. My favourites include Housing by Federica di Giacomo, The Peddler by Lucas Marcheggiano, Eduardo de la Serna and Adriana Yurcovich, My Perestroika by Robin Hessman, Do Osadne by Marko Skop and Bottled Up by Luiza Faga. In no particular order, even though I have watched Housing three times already and enjoy it each time. None of my favourites made it into the Festival, but they are my favourites and well worth watching, I think.

To read the rest, click here.

Lowering the DTI Rebate Threshold for Documentaries

Below is an excerpt from The Callsheet article:
In 2008 the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) introduced The South African Film and Television Production Incentive in an attempt to make the Large Budget Film and Television Production Rebate more accessible to local producers. To qualify for a 35% rebate of their total production budgets from the DTI, locally owned productions would have to weigh in with a minimum budget of R2.5 million instead of R25 million. This was the first time the rebate was made available to documentary producers.
The new incentives were heralded as a landmark for the local film industry by members of the industry task team that consulted with the dti. The task team recommended a lower threshold of R1.5 million because they were concerned that the minimum budget of R2.5 million would exclude documentary filmmakers and smaller production companies.

Read further here.

Right 2 Know Western Cape Summit

To see the details of the event, click the image or visit the Facebook page.

Cinema Sports

YOUTH CUP

South Cup South Africa vs. USA

South Africa Schedule

Dec 12, 2010

Sign up

Cinemasports kicks off the World Cup of youth filmmaking with USA versus South Africa December, 2010. Youth teams from USA and South Africa have 10 hours to complete a music video with a list of ingredients. Finished movies screen in USA and South Africa within hours of completion. Three time Oscar winner Walter Murch says: "Something emerges that's not contained in any of the films..."

• Teams represent their neighborhood, media organization, or school in international competition. Team colors / mascot encouraged!
• Youth experience a valuable cross-cultural bond that breaks down barriers with youth around the world and around the neighborhood.
• Wider global publicity brings attention to youth and their media organization or school.

Cinemsports Youth Video Cup challenges teams to show the world their creativity and share a special experience with cultures accross the ocean and accross the tracks. Teams start at 9AM and complete their movie by 7pm that day. Finished music videos screen either that night (South Africa) or the next day (USA). Presented in conjuction with South African Youth International Film Festival (SAY IFF)

Any youth team can participate. Sign up through the link above. Contact jin@cinemasports.com with questions.

Note: South Africa schedule below. Follow this link for USA schedule.

Times listed in SAST (South African Standard Time UTC + 2hrs). South Africa completes movies and screens Sun Dec 12 (same day).

09:00 AM Filmmakers' Kickoff / Ingredients Announced

Uptown Theatres (outside)
Rink Street (at Pearson Street), Central Port Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape, 6001 Youth Cup South Africa (vs USA)
Participation fee: Free

08:00 PM Public screening of finished movies

Uptown Theatres / South African Youth International Film Festival (SAY IFF)
Rink Street (at Pearson Street), Central Port Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape, 6001 South Africa

Tickets: Free

Supporters

South African Youth International Film Festival (SAY IFF)

The Factory (BAVC)

Festival of Film

For its very first national edition, the Festival du Film Français in South Africa proposes a fresh programming of contemporary French movies selected by guest curator, Oliver Hermanus.

The talented “little prince” of South African cinema, who has attended Cinéfondation in Cannes in 2009, has been given “carte blanche” for the selection of movies which reflects the dynamism and the variety of contemporary French Cinema.

Highlights of the festival include the screenings of:

* Tournée (On Tour) directed by Mathieu Amalric, in the presence of Oliver Hermanus at the opening night. Mathieu Amalric is internationally known for his role in the last James Bond Munich directed by Steven Spielberg and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly directed by Julian Schnabel. Tournée received the Prize of the Best Director at the Cannes International Film Festival 2010.

* Des Hommes et des dieux (Of Gods and Men) directed by Xavier Beauvois (courtesy of Videovision) in the presence of the director Xavier Beauvois. Des Hommes et des dieux (Of Gods and Men) received the Grand Prix at the Cannes International Film Festival 2010 and was part of the official selection of the Annual Academy Awards.

* La Vénus Noire (Black Venus) directed by Abdellatif Kechiche, in the presence of the actor André Jacobs at the closing night. La Vénus Noire (Black Venus) was part of official selection of the Venice Film Festival 2010 and the 82^nd Annual Academy Awards.

During the festival, Oliver Hermanus will give an exceptional master class in each participating city based on his first feature film Shirley Adams (Best South African Film, Best Actress, Best First Feature Film at the Durban Film Festival).

The festival was born out of a desire to develop and share with the South African public the incredible wealth of French cinema and is addressed to cinema enthusiasts and Francophiles eager for alternative to multiplex cinemas programming.

The festival is co-organised by the French Institute of South Africa, the network of Alliances Francaises in South Africa and the Embassy of France in South Africa with the support of Unifrance, Culturesfrance, Credit Agricole, Accor group and the Region Ile de France.

For more information, please open the programme attached or visit www.ifas.org.za/filmfestival

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Contact: Roger Metcalfe | Hemisphere Productions | Cell 082 456 4233

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The Uprising of Hangberg Review

Long-running tensions between residents of Hangberg in Cape Town's Houtbay and city council authorities once again boiled over in September 2010, with police firing rubber bullets (some claim live ammunition as well) on residents, who responded (or initiated) with rocks and petrol bombs. Situated above the bay, Hangberg is a neighbourhood of mainly working-class ‘coloured’ people. Fishing is the area's primary economic activity, stretching back several generations in Houtbay.

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To read further, go here.