Award-winning production company gets funding for local films

Junaid Ahmed

The funding allocates R1 million each year for development of four feature projects and R1 million each year to produce one of the films out of the development slate.

Ahmed, who specialises in film and television production, will steer a programme targeted at sourcing and developing emerging black talent within the local film industry. "I believe it is essential that young aspirant filmmakers are given every opportunity to develop their craft so that South African cinema is further enriched by these new visions and new voices," he said.

Despite the success of his documentaries and films, which have featured in several international film festivals, the Durban-born filmmaker still holds the city of Durban close to heart and it is his desire to film two of the four feature films in the city.

His feature film Stockholm, Zululand, a co-production with Swedish producer Jan Blomgren, was also chosen as an official project during the inaugural Durban FilmMart (DFM) in 2010. The final selection of film projects for NFVF will be made at the end of March 2012 and groundwork for the funding will begin thereafter.

Identifying local talent

Acting CEO of the Durban Film Office (DFO), Toni Monty, believes Ahmed's venture encompasses similar objectives to the Durban FilmMart. "It will be exciting to observe how he will use his experience and expertise to enrich the lives of young emerging film-makers and in doing so, give back to his community through such an initiative," said Monty.

Ahmed's motivation for the project was based on his concern over the slow advancement of black film professionals, particularly screenplay writers, directors and producers in the film industry. He and his team to address the root of the problem hatched an intensive-action plan. This involves selecting and grooming aspirant filmmakers with "natural DNA and flair for the art of visual story-telling," said Ahmed. Another key objective is to overcome the shortage of local stories by adapting novels written by black writers aimed at the big screen.

"We have identified a pool of writers who reflect a cross-section of people across South Africa and whose literary works are not only compelling stories but will also translate brilliantly to the big screen."

Relevant societal issues coupled with fresh visual language will be sourced from a group of film-graduates from around the county in a developmental project aimed mentoring and grooming raw talent.

Mentorship

His company will offer a series of training workshops and mentorships which will include both local and international professionals in areas of producing, directing and scripting, targeting the growing core of filmmakers and graduates who have yet to evolve to the next level in the filmmaking process.

"We believe that they make up a potentially potent talent pool, alive with the possibility of substantial achievement in the film industry," he said. Through his participation at DFM, which he deems the "most important and vital film market in Africa," he encompassed key lessons such as pitching, marketing, strategizing and interacting with international role-players in the industry.

Possible world premiere for film

Developing Stockholm, Zululand has also broken new ground in production, which will begin later this year. Ahmed is also not ruling out the possibility of a world premiere of the film at the Durban International Film Festival 2013. The project was well received at the Durban FilmMart and at other film finance markets in Cannes, London, Halifax and New York and Ahmed has since engaged with film financiers, producers, sales agents and distributors.

Monty is particularly excited about this development. "It will be a full-circle experience for him, from developing his labour of love to a highly awaited premier is an attestation of a job well done."