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Word from the Chief Executive
We continue with our focus on young talent as we update you on the recently held 2nd Bafundi Film and TV Festival which saw 11 film schools from across the country descend on Johannesburg. We also continue with our new series looking at emerging talent and give you tips on how to submit your film to international film festivals.
Our production update includes news on the much anticipated Clint Eastwood production for Warner Brothers Pictures currently shooting in Cape Town and Johannesburg as well as the screen adaption of The Bang Bang Club – the true story of four South African photographers who risked their lives to capture the harrowing political violence of the early 1990’s.
Local screens see the release of two Gauteng-made productions: Finding Lenny starring the indomitable Barry Hilton as well as White Wedding, featuring Rapulana Seiphemo, who recently won Best Actor at the continent?s foremost filmmakers’ rendezvous, FESPACO 2009.
In our regular locations feature we take a drive around Gauteng’s more scenic roads.
As we are now full steam into the international festival and market season we also give you feedback on Berlinale and FESPACO, while locally we look forward to another Wild Talk Africa which will be held in Durban. At Berlinale, the Fight Against Racism (FAR) project received international acclaim, being seen as a role model for the world and we speak to Rehad Desai, veteran filmmaker and activist about the project’s impact as well as future plans.
Enjoy!
Terry Tselane
Chief Executive
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IN BRIEF
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Game of Life sells shares to complete production
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Mirror Mountain Pictures (home of the award-winning animated film Tengers) is making available shares in its new feature film as a way of raising funds to complete production.
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| …to read more CLICK HERE |
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Student film festival proves popular
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This last weekend (27 – 29 March) saw Wits Theatre hosting the increasingly popular 2nd Bafundi Film and Television Festival. The festival, aimed at promoting student filmmakers in South Africa, is an opportunity for students nationwide to meet and network, as well as providing a platform from where to screen their work.
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| …to read more CLICK HERE |
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Eastwood, Freeman and Damon on location in SA
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Currently filming in South Africa is Warner Bros. Pictures’ as-yet-untitled drama, being directed by four-time Oscar winner Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby, Unforgiven). The film stars Academy Award winners Morgan Freeman (The Dark Knight, Million Dollar Baby) and Matt Damon (the Bourne franchise, Good Will Hunting). The South African cast includes Tony Kgoroge, Patrick Mofokeng, Matt Stern, Leleti Khumalo, and Marguerite Wheatley as Francois Pienaar’s wife.
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| …to read more CLICK HERE |
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Encounters names African Trailblazer
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Encounters South African International Documentary Festival has partnered with MIPDOC, the international showcase for documentary screenings held annually in Cannes, for the International Trailblazer Awards. Encounters has had the task and privilege of naming the African Trailblazer, directors selected for their creativity, innovation and personal vision in the world of documentary making, since 2006. This year, the African Trailblazer is one among seven international filmmakers representing Europe, the Middle East, North America, Australia, Korea and Japan.
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| …to read more CLICK HERE |
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Website that offers benefits to film industry learners
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Web-based resource site Realtime Resources is on a concerted drive to encourage industry-related learners and students to register on the site through their respective learning institutions. The site offers a specific section dedicated to learners and registration on this password protected portion of the site will be by means of a student number and name of learning institution.
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| …to read more CLICK HERE |
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Screendance hits SA
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Screendance, a new wave of film art, currently storming across the USA, Europe and Australia recently came to Johannesburg. Hosted at the AFDA Dance Studio in Auckland Park, the first ever Screendance workshop in South Africa featured Scotland-based Screendance promoter, Jeanette Ginslov, who flew in specifically for the workshop.
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| …to read more CLICK HERE |
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PERFECT LOCATIONS
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‘Travelling shots’ in Gauteng
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One of the most exciting drives in Gauteng must be travelling at night along the edge of Johannesburg on the M2 North with the city to the right. City lights, advertisements and skyscrapers give the impression of a pulsating African city – but there are also other less obvious gems hidden in Joburg…
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| …to read more CLICK HERE |
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Let’s make music
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In this article, In Focus profiles one of South Africa’s most well known composer/producer/musician, Rob Schr?der.
Gauteng-based Robert Schroder, who started his musical career as a member of a pop band at Pretoria Boys High playing piano and guitar, is today one of the best known South African composer/producer/musicians.
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| …to read more CLICK HERE |
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EMERGING HOT SHOTS
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Seeing yourself as a brand – Siza Masombuka
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There’s a lack of organised funding initiatives for young disadvantaged storytellers and aspirant filmmakers in South Africa. But, says Siza Masombuka, a young filmmakers who studied at AFDA, there is internal support from established production companies and agencies to fresh, hard-working talent.
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| …to read more CLICK HERE |
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SPECIAL FEATURE
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Tips on entering film festivals
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There are an increasing number of calls to aspiring filmmakers to enter their work for various film festivals, both locally and globally. In Focus thought it might be useful to consult with film experts who’ve won awards and the Southern Africa Communications for Development (SACOD) organisation to see what advice they could pass on…
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| …to read more CLICK HERE |
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SA Canada co-production The Bang-Bang Club starts shooting in Joburg
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Africa has an enormous contribution to make to the world’s film industry. So says Lance Samuals of Out of Africa Entertainment, who are currently shooting the true story of four South African photographers who risked their lives to capture the harrowing political violence of the early 1990’s.
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| …to read more CLICK HERE |
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Gauteng gets the IEC’s vote
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Sandton-based production company L. Dukashe Productions (LDP) recently shot both a 60sec and a 30sec commercial for the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in and around the Johannesburg CBD. Director Lumko Dukashe spoke to In Focus about the commercials and the locations used.
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| …to read more CLICK HERE |
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Finding Lenny in and around Gauteng
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Finding Lenny, which was shot in and around Gauteng, is scheduled for release in May. In Focus spoke to the lead, Barry Hilton, one of SA’s most loved funny-men, as well as to director Neal Sundstrom and producer Terry Vallet.
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| …to read more CLICK HERE |
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MADE IN GAUTENG
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BIS and the Core Group
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As the 8th in a series of articles profiling various manufacturers, suppliers and services that cater specifically to the film and television industry in Gauteng, In Focus spoke to BIS Business Presentation Products, a provider of total solutions in presentation and information equipment in the business-to-business and institutional markets, and the Core Group, official distributors of Apple, Griffin and Nintendo in South Africa.
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| …to read more CLICK HERE |
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TECHNO TALK
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Strictly non-linear
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In this article, we take our first look at non-linear editing, how it all began and the current situation in the market. Due to the amount of material to be covered, this article will be serialised.
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| …to read more CLICK HERE |
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2010 COUNTDOWN
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Screening for 2010
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It is now just over a year until the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup South Africa kicks off at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. Several local suppliers are hard at work preparing and installing equipment in various stadiums around the country, including Sony Broadcast South Africa.
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| …to read more CLICK HERE |
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| FESTIVAL & AWARD WATCH |
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AFCI Locations Expo
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Premier tradeshow for location filmmaking
Dates: 16 – 18 April
Venue: Santa Monica, USA
For more info: www.afci.org
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Wild Talk Africa Film Festival and Conference 2009
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Premier international film festival and conference for the global wildlife, travel and cultural filmmaking industry
Dates: 19 – 23 April 2009
Venue: ICC Durban in South Africa
For more info: www.wildtalkafrica.com
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Tribeca Film Festival
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Dates: 19 – 23 April
Venue: New York, USA
For more info: www.tribecafilmfestival.org
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Cannes International Film Festival
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Dates: 13 – 24 May
Venue: Cannes, France
For more info: www.festival-cannes.fr
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INPUT 2009
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Annual international television showcase
Dates: 10 – 15 May
Venue: Warsaw, Poland
For more info: www.input-tv.org
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11th Encounters SA International Documentary Festival 2009
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Johannesburg 18 – 28 June and Cape Town 2 -12 July
For more info: www.encounters.co.za
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Taiwan announces film festival in SA
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The Taipei Liaison Office in SA recently announced a 3-week long 2009 Taiwan Film Festival, kicking off on 11 September and screening in Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Cape Town.
Dick Fu, representative of the Taipei Liaison Office, said: “Despite the 12 000 km distance between Taiwan and South Africa, and the fact that we don’t enjoy formal diplomatic relations, our annual bilateral trade recently surpassed the $2 billion mark. Needless to say, we have a lot of room for further improvement, but the foundation for mutual trust is firm and solid.
“It is heart warming to announce the film festival which will also allow local culturevultures to look out for our home-grown film Cape No. 7, which has broken box office records in Taiwan by grossing more than R150 million since its release in August 2008.” |
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Dick Fu of the Taipei
Liaison Office |
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The Taipei Liaison Office also released information on the Wow! Eye Taiwan Video Contest. (click here to article on Wow!Eye featured in last month’s newsletter)
Registration for the contest and submission of films must be completed online at the website of the Taiwan Audio Video Interactive Service (TAVIS) at http://tavis.tw . In order to be considered, entries must be uploaded onto the TAVIS website before 31st May 2009 (18h00 SA standard time)
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NEED TO KNOW
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Report on the Film Indaba 2008
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A comprehensive report on the 2nd Film Indaba, hosted by the Gauteng Film Commission, which was held in November last year, is now available on the GFC website.
To access the report, go to www.gautengfilm.org.za
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Weekend Workshop for Scriptwriters
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If you’re an aspiring screenwriter with a vivid imagination whose ideas are larger than life, The Writing Studio has an exciting Weekend Workshop for Scriptwriters that is guaranteed to turn words into big screen action!
Dates: Saturday 4 April ? Sunday 5 April, 10h00 ? 17h00
Venue: Sasani Studios Highlands North, Johannesburg
Cost: R900; if you are a registered student, scholar or a pensioner, the cost is R800
For more info and to register, go to www.writingstudio.co.za
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National Film, Video and Sound Archives move offices
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From 1 April, the NFVSA will be moving to the premises of the Old Pretoria State Library at 239 Vermeulen Street, Pretoria.
Tel: +27 (0)12 441 3150
Fax: +27 (0)12 441 3199
All e-mail addresses will remain the same. Contact e-mails for enquiries are:
Dennis.Maake@dac.gov.za
Brenda.Kotze@dac.gov.za
Film.Enquiries@dac.gov.za
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Call for Short Film Scripts
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Out In Africa, organisers of the annual South African Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, intends to produce a feature film over the period 2010 – 2012.
The intention is to make an Omnibus feature film – consisting of 4 episodes (stories) that are linked (through characters and a developing story line) to create a feature length film.
OIA is calling for original short film scripts (20 pages) that are stories about gay and/or lesbian and/or transgender lives. The stories must be South African.
Experienced scriptwriters whose work has been produced on film, or for television, are encouraged to apply.
Deadline for submissions: Monday, 23 November 2009
For more information and application guidelines and forms, go to www.oia.co.za
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Young Director Award, Commercial Film Producers of Europe – call for submissions
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The CFP-E and Shots magazine have announced the opening of submissions for the 11th annual Young Director Award. The award ceremony will take place on 24 June in Cannes, France. Divided into two sections, European and Non-European, the Young Director Award includes 5 categories: broadcast commercials, test commercials, film school submissions, branded short films, and viral commercials.
Deadline for submission of entries: April 15 2009
For more info, go to www.youngdirectoraward.com
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MultiChoice Film Talent Incubator – Call for Nominations
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MultiChoice invites filmmakers to be a part of developing great South African filmmaking talent. Nominate an up and coming director and/or producer and if selected- he or she will receive free intensive six months training and mentorship which includes: an overseas assignment; funding for an independent film project; and flighting of produced films on the DStv platform
As an established filmmaker- you are well aware of the fact that besides staying
power, guts and passion, our “rising stars” in the industry need to be highly skilled
in order to make it in this exciting but tough and highly competitive industry.
Here’s your chance to move from providing inspiration and guidance to uplifting
and upskilling.
Make a difference – take ACTION now
- Nominate a director and/or producer with great potential
- Make sure that the exceptional candidates that you put forward have atleast 5 years filmmaking experience
- The closing date for nominations by 26 April 2009
Submit your nomination today: Contact Connie Mosegedi at +27 (0)11 482 5599 or send an email to mosegedic@bigfish.org.za. Nominees will need to submit a CV and a showreel. This skills development initiative is part of the MultiChoice Film Talent Incubator, run by the award winning Big Fish School of Digital Filmmaking in Auckland Park.
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Gauteng Film Commission
9th floor, 56 Main Street, Johannesburg, 2108
Tel: +27-11-833-0409
Fax: +27-11-833-0282
Email: info@gautengfilm.org.za
Web: www.gautengfilm.org.za |
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