The renowned New York-based Tribeca Film Festival will be coming to South African shores on a five-year franchise starting in 2013, creating a new platform for local and African filmmakers.
The Cape Film Commission has signed an agreement with espAfrika, the organisers of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, to bring the New York festival to South Africa every year for the next five years.
The Tribeca Film Festival was established by Robert De Niro and two other entertainment industry partners after the 911 twin towers tragedy.
The festival was designed to regenerate the area following the devastation experienced by the Tribeca neighbourhood.
On a visit by the directors of Tribeca to last year’s jazz festival in Cape Town, espAfrika was approached to manage and produce the Tribeca Film Festival in South Africa, along the same franchise lines as the Tribeca Film Festival in Doha.
The festival has achieved its objectives and launched the careers of many filmmakers.
The festival also has a very strong training and development component which will form an integral part of what the Cape Film Commission and espAfrika are planning.
“The opportunity this creates for the local and African film industry is very important as the festival will create a much-needed international platform for our local film-makers and industry,” said espAfrika CEO Rashid Lombard.