Call for Applications for the Cannes South African film factory 2016

Cannes 2015 saw the launch of the South Africa Film Factory 2016.  This move marks a great opportunity for South African film Directors and the industry as whole.

Cannes South African Film Factory will provide an opportunity four (4) SA directors and four (4) international directors to collectively produce four (4) short films that would have a greater opportunity of screening at the official Cannes program next year. 

“This is the fourth programme we’re running since our launch. We’ve produced successful projects that have received rave reviews internationally, as well as being screened at the Cannes official programme," says Dominique Welinski from the Cannes Film Factory.

Local directors have five weeks to apply for this life changing opportunity. “Our selection process comprises a short list to ten directors, which will be followed by in-depth interviews at the Durban international Film Festival. This is where we will select the four qualifying directors, says Jeremy Nathan of Zidaka. Carol Coetzee KZN Film Commission CEO adds that “the programme is indeed a great platform to showcase not only what South African directors can do, but also what the country has to offer, particularly Durban as all the four films will be shot in KwaZulu Natal.

“We are proud to be associated with such a massive opportunity that will up skill our youth. The NFVF strives for an industry that is constantly growing, and this programme provides exactly that as it will uplift our talent, showcase the country as well as create collaboration,” says NFVF CEO Zama Mkosi.

In conclusion, Edouard Waintrop says that “the filmmaker, as an artist is a lonely person and often very individualistic. Dominique and I therefore came up with an idea to pair directors to work together, an idea that has resulted in great productions from Taiwan, Nordic Countries and Chile. We look forward to working with South Africans.”

Directors who wish to participate in this programme have five weeks to apply, and need to have a strong feature concept attached to their motivation, a producer must be attached, and need to have directed one short film, a first feature film, or a documentary. They can be between the ages of 23 and 35 years old. They need to be available to participate in a workshop during the Durban International Film Festival in July, and be available to film in October and November, 2015. The films will premier at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016.

AFDA Durban has offered its edit facilities for postproduction. Media Film Services and Sound Surfers, Hollard Film Guarantors, Cote Ouest Audiovisuel and Instit Francais are all official partners.

The selection of the 4 directors will take place at the beginning of the Durban International Film Festival by the partners. More information on how to apply and criteria can be downloaded from the Film Factory website.

2016 Bluecat Screenplay Competition: Call for entries

NOW ACCEPTING FEATURE LENGTH AND SHORT SCREENPLAYS

EARLY DEADLINE: June 15th

*All submissions received by June 15th will receive their one page screenplay analysis by July 1st.

Since 1998, the BlueCat Screenplay Competition has provided a community for the unknown screenwriter to develop their work, giving undiscovered talent a path to professional success.

AWARDS

BEST FEATURE SCREENPLAY: 
$15,000 Grand Prize
Four Finalists: $2,500

BEST SHORT SCREENPLAY: 
$10,000 Grand Prize
Three Finalists: $2,000

THE CORDELIA INTERNATIONAL AWARD: 
Best Feature Screenplay from the UK $2,000

THE ROSHAN INTERNATIONAL AWARD: 
Best Feature Screenplay from India $2,000

THE JOPLIN INTERNATIONAL AWARD: 
Best Feature Screenplay from outside the USA, Canada or the UK $2,000

MOVIE TITLE CONTEST: 
Three Winners: $250 each
*All screenplays entered by Aug 1st are eligible

ENTRY FEE: Features $55 | Shorts $35

Sample Analysis:  http://www.bluecatscreenplay.com/script-analysis/

SUBMIT YOUR SCREENPLAY: http://www.bluecatscreenplay.com/submit

Recent Achievements by BlueCat Alumni Include:

2007 BlueCat Winner Ana Lily Amipour’s debut feature, “A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night,” was produced by Elijah Wood and premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.  It will be distributed by Kino Lorber (Oldboy, Manuscripts Don’t Burn) nationwide in Fall 2014. She is currently teaming up with Megan Ellison’s Annapurna Pictures for her sophomore feature film THE BAD BATCH.

BlueCat Finalist Aaron Guzikowski’s #1 Film “Prisoners,” (Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Melissa Leo) was released in September 2013 through Warner Brothers. Guzikowski is also the creator of “The Red Road,” (Martin Henderson, Jason Momoa, Julianne Nicholson) which is SundanceTV’s second scripted original series. He was recently hired to scribe Universal’s upcoming THE WOLFMAN.

2014 BlueCat Winner HF Crum has signed with manager Michelle Knudsen at MXN. Knudsen co-produced Jason Bateman’s “Bad Words” and also represents screenwriting team Yana Gorskaya & Maia Rossini, who are currently writing a film for FOX and director Paul Feig. Crum’s “3 Faces of Hunger & Thirst” won Best Feature Screenplay at the 2014 Slamdance Screenplay Competition.

2014 BlueCat Joplin Award Winner Savion Einstein has been named as one of six fellows to the 2014 Black List Lab and will be mentored by Jessica Bendinger (Bring it On, Stick It), Max Borenstein (Godzilla, Seventh Son), Jesse Wigutow (It Runs in the Family, The Prince) and Scott Myers (K-9, Alaska).

2006 BlueCat Winner Young Il Kim’s script, “Rodham,” attached director James Ponsoldt (The Spectacular Now) after having been on the 2012 Black List. Young recently won the 2013 Alfred P. Sloan Commissioning Grant from Sundance, and is currently writing a biopic on Stephen Hawking.


BlueCat Screenplay Competition: http://www.bluecatscreenplay.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/BlueCatScreenplayCompetition
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlueCatPictures
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bluecatscreenplay
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/bluecatscreenplay
Newsletter: http://www.bluecatscreenplay.com/bluecat-newsletter

BAFTA Short Film Festival 2015: Call for entries

The BAFTA Qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2015 is currently open for entries, presenting a fantastic opportunity for emerging and established filmmakers to showcase films at the festival (5-8 November), and win many great prizes and awards that will get their work noticed by industry, filmmakers and thousands of film fans.


There will also be several networking opportunities to connect with key figures from Warp, Channel 4, Association of Camera Operators (Harry Potter, Elizabeth), Framestore (Björk, Gravity, Guardians of the Galaxy) and more.

ASFF 2015 Prizes:

• Screenings at the BAFTA Qualifying ASFF 2015
• All films are in competition
• Awards for Best Film in each category and People’s Choice
• Eligibility to enter the EE British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA)
• Screenings in various guest programmes at other film festivals
• Screenings as part of ASFF Film Tour
• Editorial in Aesthetica Magazine and on Aesthetica’s online channels (186,000 readership worldwide)

Genres accepted: advertising, animation, artists’ film, comedy, dance, documentary, drama, experimental, fashion, music video and thriller. Running times up to 30 minutes.

Entries close 31 May 2015. To enter visit www.asff.co.uk/submit

Twitter:

Enter your #films #drama #documentary #comedy + more into @asffest by 31 May. Prizes incl. #screenings + #awards www.asff.co.uk/submit

View the ASFF 2014 Trailer.

JOBURG THEATRE AND THE CITY OF JOBURG CELEBRATE AFRICA DAY

To commemorate Africa Month this May, Joburg Theatre will be presenting a weekend of AFRICA DAY CELEBRATIONS featuring local and international artists on The Mandela stage at Joburg Theatre on May 22nd and 23rd. 

Friday May 22nd will feature Lura (Cape Verde), Femi Koya and special guest Abena Koomson (Nigeria, SA, Ghana/New York) plus Ringo (SA).

Saturday May 23rd will feature Lura (Cape Verde), Lira (SA), Femi Koya and special guest Abena Koomson (Nigeria, SA, Ghana/New York)

Performances are at 8pm on Friday May 22nd and 8pm on Saturday May 23rd.

Africa Day celebrates the continent's achievements and affirms its vision to create a better life for all. The vision of the African Union is that of “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

Joburg Theatre will be presenting a special weekend of African music featuring the richness of the continents rhythms, dance and song.  A diverse and exciting programme which salutes Africa’s musical heritage, from the inimitable Cape Verde sounds of Lura, to South African musical giants Ringo Madlingozi and Lira, to a special tribute to the great Nigerian Afrobeat Master, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. The Fela Tribute features multi-talented Nigerian saxophonist, Femi Koya, with his 8-piece South African band and special guest Abena Koomson. Ghanaian born, New York-based Abena Koomson is a member of the Tony award-winning Fela! on Broadway show.

Headlining the AFRICA DAY CELEBRATIONS at Joburg Theatre is award-winning Ringo Madlingozi and Lira. Both are household names in South Africa who represent the best of Mzansi music. Ringo is one of the biggest artists on the outdoor festival circuit and draws thousands of fans across the age and gender divide,  both in South Africa and the continent.  Lira continues to make waves both on the local and international stages including Europe and the USA.  

Moving from South Africa up to the West Coast of Africa is singer and dancer, Lura. 
Lura is a Portuguese-speaking artiste who stands at the crossroads of the Portuguese and Cabo Verdean culture. This award-winning artiste, who is constantly performing on the international stage, was born in Lisbon to parents of Cape Verde heritage. Lura is signed to Lusafrica, producer of the legendary, Cesaria Evora. Her music is influenced by African Carpo Verde rhythms, jazz, soul and Portuguese pop music. This former swimmer and dancer turned singer, with her beautiful soulful voice, is an exceptional performer on stage.

Nigerian multi-talented saxophonist Femi Koya and his South African band features Abena Koomson, a powerful singer and accomplished poet, who hails from Haarlem, New York. Abena, a member from the Tony award-winning Fela! on Broadway show has recently performed with the acclaimed Kronos Quartet – an exploratory string ensemble, who celebrated  their 40th birthday at their recent show entitled Afrobeat, Hip-Hop and Kronos Quartet: ‘Red Hot + Fela’ at the Lincoln Centre, New York.

The Africa Day weekend celebrations will also host workshops at Joburg Theatre and schools with Abena Koomson.

Tickets range from R100 to R200, and are on sale by visiting www.joburgtheatre.com, or by calling the theatre’s ticketing line on 0861 670 670.  Discounted rates for groups of ten or more are available by calling Joburg Theatre on (011) 877 6853/6815.

For media interviews and photos, please contact
MS ROSHNIE MOONSAMY
 083 272 0285  
info@artsexchange.co.za 

TWITTER HANDLE:
@joburgtheatre
HASHTAG:
#JTAfricaDay

Professional Practice in the Visual Arts

Art Source South Africa in Association with Lizamore & Associates Gallery will be hosting a Professional Practice in the Visual Arts Seminar on 18 & 19 May 2015 at Lizamore & Associates Gallery, Parkwood, Johannesburg.

Professional practice encompasses a broad spectrum of basic business practices which include among others, how to negotiate contracts, how to work with an agent or gallery, to more complex matters of considering and planning a career strategy. 

Art Source South Africa has developed a series of professional practice seminars, workshops and training tools which draw on years of experience gained in consulting to the visual arts sector, its strategic career management for visual artists and its tertiary curriculum development. With their practical and accessible approach the presenters offer their insights and expertise to artists and arts administrators on the business of the arts. 

The seminar will address the following topics: 

• Defining your practice
• It’s who you know: Audience Engagement and Networks
• Tools of the trade: Documentation
• The White Cube: How does a gallery operate?
• The Eye of the Beholder (Curation and Presentation)
• Can Buzz Build a Career? Understanding Marketing and the Media

"We need this nitty, gritty detail stuff" - Seminar delegate (2011)

"You combine humour, knowledge and comfort with your audience in a wonderful way!"- Seminar delegate 2013

“Your style, enthusiasm, combined knowledge and experience, sense of humour, case studies and practicality, exceeded my wildest expectations” Seminar delegate 2012

PRESENTERS:

Les Cohn: established Art Source South Africa in 2001. As a qualified artist and an experienced arts administrator and arts project consultant she has extensive experience in the sector. She specialises in strategic career management for artists.

Taryn Cohn: a consultant with Art Source South Africa, specializes in the marketing and communication for art and development projects, financial and project management and business strategy for the visual arts.

Teresa Lizamore: has a solid career in the industry over a 25 year period as an art consultant, curator and gallerist. She consults to several major corporate collections and has been director of Lizamore & Associates (previously Artspace) for the past 8 years. 

EVENT INFO:

DATE: 18 & 19 May 2015
TIME: 9am - 5pm
VENUE: Lizamore & Associates Gallery, 155 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkwood

FEES:
Early Bird booking (ends 5 May): R 1350.00
Educational: R 1050.00
Regular: R 1500.00

BOOKING INCLUDES:
Direct access to three respected and experienced industry professionals, a seminar course pack, a free copy of SA Art Times, a 12 month subscription (inclusive postage) to SA Art Times, a seminar bag, refreshments and a networking session with wine on the final evening.


TO BOOK CONTACT: 
Kelly McErlean on 011 447 2855 or info@artsourcesouthafrica.co.za   

  

Call on Film & Publications Board to Withdraw Draft Online Content Regulation Policy

Civil Society and Industry Associations call on Film & Publications Board to Withdraw Draft Online Content Regulation Policy 30 May 2015

A broad alliance of civil society and industry associations has issued a firm call for the Film and Publications Board (“the Board”) to withdraw its draft Online Content Regulation Policy, released for public comment on 4 March 2015. The call for the withdrawal is based on the unconstitutional, unlawful and unworkable nature of the draft, as well as the fact that it ignores several related Government processes.

A spokesperson for the alliance noted that “[W]e all accept the need to address the ease with which children are able to access pornography and other inappropriate content on the Internet as well as the extension of current offline classification undertaken by the Board into the online environment. This is a critical debate already taking place within the South African Law Reform Commission and the ICT Policy Review Process.”

“We do not, however, accept the appropriateness of this document as a starting point for this debate as it is premature and indicates a lack of understanding of the manner in which content is distributed online. The failure to define key terms or to provide workable definitions for others creates confusion in interpreting the scope of application of the document, but it appears that the Board wishes, effectively, to classify the Internet.”

The allied organisations noted that – while the strapline of the Board was “We inform. You choose” – the draft policy as published was more akin to a laying a platform for the systematic infringement of constitutional rights, particularly freedom of expression.

“We accordingly call on the Board to withdraw the draft policy pending the finalisation of the SALRC process and future debate around the amendment or replacement of the Films and Publications Act.“

The deadline for submissions on the draft Policy is 8 July 2015.

For further information, please contact:

SOS Coalition: 
 Charley Lewis, Tel: 083 539 5242 


Association for Progressive Communications: 
Emilar Vushe, Tel: 073 094 4690 



Freedom of Expression Institute: 
Zororo Mavindidze, Tel: 073 554 8310 

Workshop on the future of TV in South Africa

In the next few months South Africa will be changing its ordinary (or “free-to-air”) TV broadcasts to a new digital broadcast system. Decisions taken now will determine the future of television in South Africa.

Please join Right2Know and Cape Town Community TV for a workshop on the future of TV in South Africa to mark Press Freedom Day 2015.

DATE: Monday 4 May - day after Press Freedom Day
TIME: 9h00 - 13h30
VENUE: DAG Cafe, 105 Lover Main Rd, cnr Trill Rd, Observatory, Cape Town

RSVP: Space is limited confirm attendance at (021) 447 1000 email mark@r2k.org.za - or on Facebook here.

PROGRAMME:

9h00: Registration

9h30: Welcome & Introductions, Ice Breaking exercise

10h00: Framing Panel:

• Marcus Solomons, Childrens Movement (history/vision of Alt Media) 
• Mark Weinberg, Right2Know  (the media landscape today) 
• Sekoetlane Phamodi, SOS Coalition (opportunities  and risks of digital migration) 
• Karen Thorn, CApe Town TV (challenges and opportunities to community TV )

10h55: Plenary discussion (clarity and initial perspectives)

11h15: TEA

11h45: Two Breakaway Groups: Towards a Campaign on (1) contesting incentive channels                       and (2) public funding for CTV: What should we demand? How? Action plan?

12h30: Breakaway report back and agreeing way forward (20min each)

13h10: Agree roles and coordination structure/people

13h30: LUNCH


BACKGROUND:

One of the advantages of digital TV is that it can carry far more channels. This is the good news as we could expect a greater diversity of views and information.

The bad news is that ICASA (the regulator) want to give two thirds (66%) of the channels to the private sector. The SABC has been given a quarter of the channels (25%). The SABC does not have the resources to produce all these extra public interest channels and is likely to run them as profitable partnerships with the private sector. This dramatic privatization of the airwaves will see only 5% of stations being community non-profit; like Cape Town TV.

Join us to campaign for many of the new channels to be community-operated, as well as the kinds of educational and parliamentary ones currently only enjoyed by satellite viewers.

 Who will fund all this television?

Commercial stations will compete for existing advertising funds. There will be less advertising to go around so you can expect to see a lot of re-runs, old shows, and low budget American productions.

Media is a public good essential for democracy so Government should provide public funding for public broadcasters - community stations and the SABC. But the noeliberal policies of our Government have left the public broadcasters to complete with commercial stations for advertising to survive. In this context it is virtually impossible for them to provide the public service broadcasting they are mandated to offer.

Join us to campaign for public funding for public broadcasting.

The most  marginal will be excluded from TV completely!

The new digital TV system will require different aerials and for viewers to have a set-top box (like a decoder). These will cost around R1,000 but after protests by R2K and others, the government has agreed to give them for free to 5 million poor households. However we are not satisfied and demands that they be free to all who need them.

There will be a certain number of months when both the existing and the digital broadcasts will be working, after which only digital will be available. Viewers who have not managed to install the new aerials and set-top boxes, will then be unable to watch TV.  

Join us to campaign to ensure nobody has their TV access cut off!

Moshito Music Conference, 2015

The 12th annual Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition will take place on the 10-12 September 2015. Under the theme ‘From Kwela to Hop: the Great South Africa Song Book’, with a stimulating conference programme, expanded expo section and plenty of live events, the conference again promises to be the industry biggest gathering.

Moshito will continue with the newly introduced film and photographic exhibition to crystallize its theme ‘From Kwela to Hop’  focusing on the evolution of the country’s music heritage from Kwela music founded  in the 1950s to Hip-Hop a post-apartheid edition to the music landscape in the 1990s.

Day 1 of the conference will be succeeded by an opening concert on Thursday the 10th of September at SABC M1 studios followed by the after party at Bassline at the now infamous Ragga Nights hosted by Admiral and Jah Seed. Day 2 of the conference will be the entertainment shifting to the Braamfontein precinct at The Orbit- Jazz Club and spilling over to Bistro, the Great Dane, Kitchener’s Carvery and Bannister Hotel.

Moshito will close the conference with its debut festival  on the 12th of September at Newtown Park – the soul of Johannesburg with its distinct cosmopolitan vibe of live music, poetry and arts. The festival will showcase South Africa’s music heritage with genres ranging from kwela, Afro-trad/pop, gospel, ragga /reggae, kwaito and hip hop. The festival will feature performances by kwaito legends collaborating with contemporary hip hop artists.

In 2014 Moshito has managed to establish partnership with international music markets such as the Atlantic Music Expo in Cape Verde and Doa Doa Music Market in East Africa and the Chinese Musicians Association, and this year it will add Musica Minas from Brazil as its new partner.

This year Moshito will be bringing internationally acclaimed artists from Reunion Islands: Maya Kamaty, India: Maru Tarang “Ripples of the Desert” who play indigenous instruments, United Kingdom: Dj Scratchy and Mungo’s Hi Fi, and Cabo Verde: Chachi Carvalho and Karol Conka from Brazil.

General enquiries can be directed to Sina Kwepile at Moshito on sina@moshito.co.za or call 011 712 8534.

Moshito Conference is a place where music meets business and business creates opportunities.