NFVF to celebrate 10th birthday at Cannes Film Festival

As the official host of South Africa's presence in Cannes, the NFVF (www.nfvf.co.za) has partnered the Department of Trade and Industry (dti), Department of Arts and Culture (DAC), and the Avalon Group - which celebrates 70 years in the cinema business.

In commemorating its 10 years, the NFVF has planned a conference themed "South Africa, your co-production partner of choice, and content on offer", to be held at the Eden Hotel in Cannes on Monday 18 May. The NFVF will be joined at the conference by its partners, plus international buyers, industry colleagues and producers from other film-making countries.

"One of our objectives in hosting this event is to present some of South Africa's best projects to the international market. With the launch of our new commercial department, ‘New Ventures', one of our aims is to create new opportunities, in the process building a commercially viable business within the sector," said Eddie Mbalo, NFVF CEO.

Projects that will be presented at the conference include 31 Million Reasons, Izulu Lami (My Secret Sky), In the Shadow of a Saint, Otello Burning, Skin, Khumba, And the in the Dust, and The Consequence.

SA's positioning strategy

During the conference, the dti will once again present the South African Film and Television Production Incentive Rebate to the delegates in attendance. The rebate is one of the instruments that Government developed to benefit foreign film investors and co-production partners.

The conference also aims to leave the delegates with an understanding of the country's positioning strategy that states that SA is a film-making nation that provides an excellent environment for incoming productions, and a partner for co-production.

SA's presence at Cannes is not only to showcase local product, but also to build and strengthen relations with local and global partners. In the spirit of strengthening relations, the NFVF and Avalon Group will on 17 May host the delegates to a cocktail event, in celebration of the 70th anniversary. This year's celebration in Cannes also recognises SA's 15 years of democracy.

Networking event

On the evening of 16 May, the NFVF and partners will host a networking event, when industry professionals from other filming countries will meet their SA counterparts. The guests will be served a menu featuring a variety of proudly SA dishes in celebration of the NFVF's 10-year anniversary.

Throughout the duration of Cannes, the NFVF will host the South African Pavilion, which is open to all SA industry professionals attending Cannes to use for various meetings and project screenings.