By Irene Gaitirira
Published May 31, 2019
Some 20 film projects from across Africa have been selected to pitch at a major South African movie-development market.
The countries from which the 20 projects in development were selected to pitch at 10th Durban FilmMart in KwaZulu-Natal Province include Rwanda, Uganda, Congo-Kinshasa, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
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Durban FilmMart, that runs July 19 – 22, 2019, says the directors and producers of the selected film projects ‘will be mentored for two days during Durban FilmMart, and then given opportunities to pitch to panels of investors, broadcasters, financiers, agents and distributors, as well as take one-on-one meetings with them’.
DFM says its objective in holding the pitching programme is ‘to increase awareness of African cinema, encourage collaborations among African filmmakers and stimulate the growth of the industry’.
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“We believe that this forum within the DFM, is one of the most exciting film industry programmes to have been established on the continent to help support films get off the ground. It is from here that the idea on the page is able to begin its complex journey to completion and exhibition,” Toni Monty, Head of DFM says. “The selectors were very encouraged by the content, themes and subject matter, that came through in this year’s selection portraying some complex and unique African stories that provide intimate insights into the continents consciousness.”
The selected projects, that are evenly split between fiction and documentary, include:
Fiction Selection
- Day of the Vow, (South Africa) – Producers: David Franciscus, Nicki Priem, Marlie S. Jacobs, Director: David Franciscus
- Mami Wata (Nigeria) – Producer: Oge Obasi, Director: C.J. Obasi
- Mkhulu Wase Next Door (South Africa) – Producers: Bongiwe Selane, Brendan Campbell, Director: Xolelwa Nhlabatsi,Pieces of Salma (South Africa) – Producers: Khosie Dali, David Horler, Director: Imran Hamdulay
- Sunflowers in the Dark (Zimbabwe) – Producer: Ben Mahaka, Tapiwa Chipfupa, Director: Tapiwa Chipfupa
- The Bursary (South Africa) – Producer: Brett Michael Innes, Director: Nomawonga Khumalo
- The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos (Nigeria/South Africa) – Producers: James Tayler, Megan Chapman, Andrew Maki, Mat Cerf, Joel Bolnick, Director: Know Your City Radical Co-creative Film Collective
- Those Who Dwell in Darkness (South Africa) – Producers: Dolly Mhlongo, Sithabile Mkhize, Director: Michael James
- Tunis-Djerba (Tunisia) – Producer: Asma Chiboub, Director: Amel Guellaty, and
- Yam and I (Egypt) – Producers: Hala Lotfy, Ruba Atiyeh, Nadine Salib, Director: Nadine Salib.
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Documentary Selection:
- Africa Mother (Burkina Faso) – Producer: Koussoubé Abdoul Karim, Director: Yssouf Koussé
- A Suitcase of Memories (South Africa) – Producer: Zinzi Nkenene Directors: Zinzi Nkenene, Engelbert Phiri
- Black Women and Sex (South Africa) – Producer: Godisamang Khunou, Director: Godisamang Khunou
- Kongo is Burning (Uganda / Congo) – Producer: Ali Musoke, Director: Arnold Aganze
- Living like a Shadow (Rwanda) – Producer: Romeo Umulisa, Director: Claudine Ndimbira
- Murder in Paris – Dulcie September (South Africa) – Producer: Liezel Vermeulen, Director: Enver Samuel
- Girlheart (Tunisia) – Producers: Salem Trabelsi, Latifa Doghri Directors: Latifa Doghri , Salem Trabelsi
- The Home (South Africa) – Producers Justin Cohen, Jessie Zinn,and Chase Musslewhite, Directors: Jessie Zinn, Chase Musslewhite
- The Last Survivor (Egypt) – Producer: Mark Lotfy, Director: Muhammad Taymour, and
- The Missing Middle (South Africa) – Producer: Nomakhomazi Dewavrin, Director: Okuhle Dyosopu.
