By Khalifa Hemed
Published February 14, 2023
The annual Durban FilmMart (DFM) has selected eight animation projects to participate in its Pitch and Finance Forum.
DFM is for the second year including animation projects in development in its Pitch and Finance Forum, says Magdalene Reddy, DFM Institute Director. “DFM is perfectly placed to provide a platform for animation content creators to meet potential collaborators and financiers, thereby contributing to the continuing growth of animation on the continent.”
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The in-person event that is scheduled for July 21-24, 2023 in KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa has selected the following projects:
- Azania Rises:Season 1 (South Africa), producers: Dr. Farayi Chinyanga and Fatuma Abdullah and director: Farisai Kavayi
- Boy Boi (Kenya), producers: Shadrack Munene and J Njogu Macharia and director J Njogu Macharia
- Between Heaven and Earth/Entre ciel et terre (Tunisia), producer: Sarra Ben Hassen and director: Nadia Rais
- My BIG Name (South Africa), producers: Busisiwe Ntintili, Mpumi Sinxoto and Amanda Zungu and director: Lebogang Sekwelenkwe
- Naledi (South Africa), producer: Lesego Vorster, co producers: Valentin Maupin and Aristote Douroudakis and director:Lola Aikins
- Spiky to the Core (Egypt), producer and director: Nermeen Salem
- Sola (South Africa), producers: AJ Pitre, Thandiwe Mlauli and director: Thandiwe Mlauli
- The Passport of Mallam Ilia (Nigeria), producer: Ferdinand Adimefe and director: Chekwube Okonkwo
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Every team, DFM says, has been assigned an individual mentor who will give them the tools to pitch and the confidence to navigate the market, which includes one-on-one meetings with decision makers from across the world. In addition to one-on-one mentorship, every team has access to an 8-week masterclass series, presented by DFM which began in mid January 2023. The masterclass series is specifically structured to upskill and prepare filmmakers for the international market place and will be presented by Beth Parker, Terence Maluleke, Aseye Tamakloe and Mounia Aram, just to name a few.The series covers creative elements such as story development, character development and visual representation as well as business elements such as distribution and finance planning.
At the end of the 8 week masterclass series, DFM says selected project teams will then be invited to participate in the Road to Annecy Animation Incubation Programme presented by DFM’s animation partners, Digital Lab Africa (DLA), Tshimologong Precinct and Cape Town International Animation Film Festival (CTIAF).
The animation projects in development will be presented to a panel of international decision makers consisting of potential co-producers, broadcasters, film funds and distributors in the 14th Durban FilmMart Pitch and Finance Forum.
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Filmmakers with live action projects who wish to participate at the DFM Pitch and Finance forum are encouraged to apply by visiting: durbanfilmmart.co.za/pitch-and-finance-forum-application/.
The deadline for application has been extended to February 20, 2023 at 23:59 CAT.