2018 Durban FilmMart Awards: Winners announced!This year's Durban FilmMart (DFM) Awards, took place at the Southern Sun Maharani Hotel in Durban on Monday, 23 July. Award winners at this year’s Durban FilmMart. Speaking at the DFM’s awards ceremony, Toni Monty, head of the Durban Film Office and the Durban FilmMart, said, “As one of the most important, film industry events and film finance platforms on the continent, we are really pleased that we have grown the DFM substantially this year with 877 delegates attending. We had over 40 countries participating this year, of which 19 were from Africa. A total number of 52 projects were pitched to potential partners, financiers, filmmakers, producers, distributors and agents during countless meetings.” Key to the value that the Durban FilmMart provides filmmakers are the many meetings and networking sessions that are held between delegates over the four days. “The important work we do to enable the film-makers, would not be possible without our partners and sponsors,” said Monty, “And we would like to thank our partner markets, development organisations and funding bodies with deep gratitude.” Dynamically grow the industry“The work we do at this Mart supports the DIFF and DFO’s vision to dynamically grow the industry and bring African cinema to its own people and to global platforms.” Eighteen official DFM film projects in development were presented at the Finance Forum through the sponsorship of the Industrial Development Corporation and the National Film and Video Foundation. Supported by Berlinale Talents, the Goethe-Institut and the German Embassy and in cooperation with Fipresci, Durban Talents was able to host 16 young filmmakers, and 3 Talents Press. “We hosted a number of scriptwriters’ labs including Jumpstart which is supported by Produire au Sud, France and the Realness Script Writing Residency. Hot Docs Canada, mentored 11 documentary projects in development and six CineFam Africa television series projects were mentored by Caribbean Tales, Canada.” “We recognise the important role that the eThekwini Municipality, the principal funder of the DFM plays in its success,” continued Monty. “The city’s involvement actively enables the economic growth of the industry, and we thank them for this.” The DFM hosted a number of delegations this year including the inbound delegation through the Department of Trade and Industry, the Brics Film Festival delegation through the Department of Arts and Culture. Special thanks must go to the Canadian High Commission and US Embassy and the French Institute (IFAS), NFVF and KZN Film Commission for their support in bringing in delegates. The Awards/Grants
New awards
The DFM ended but the Durban International Film Festival continues until 29 July. There is a free industry programme at the Isiphethu Hub opposite the Southern Sun Garden Court Marine Parade for seminars and workshops for the public and emerging filmmakers, as well as the free screenings at various venues, including the Wavescapes Surf Film festival at Ushaka until Friday, 27 July. Also, until Friday is the Brics Film Festival at the Playhouse. For more information about the DFM click here. |