By Khalifa Hemed
Published October 15, 2021
Emerging filmmakers across Sub-Saharan Africa have till November 14, 2021 to apply for the opportunity to win US$75 000 production grant to create short films to premiere on Netflix in 2022 as an Anthology of African Folktales.
Netflix and UNESCO, the organisers of the short film competition tithed African Folktales: Reimagined, say their aim is to ‘discover new voices’ and ‘give emerging filmmakers in Sub-Saharan Africa visibility on a global scale’.
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The competition partners say they ‘want to find the bravest, wittiest, and most surprising retellings of some of Africa’s most-loved folktales and share them with entertainment fans around the world in over 190 countries’.
Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, says: “It is important that the film sector acts to ensure the voices of Africa are heard, by supporting the emergence of diverse cultural expressions, putting forth new ideas and emotions, and creating opportunities for creators to contribute to global dialogue for peace, culture and development.”
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Besides the US$75 000 grant for developing, shooting and post-producing their films under the guidance of industry mentors selected by UNESCO and Netflix, US$25 000 shall also be given to every six winner of the competition in what the organisers say will be ‘to ensure everyone involved in the production is fairly compensated’.
UNESCO and Netflix say they not only ‘believe in the importance of promoting diverse local stories, and bringing them to the world,; but they also ‘recognize that many emerging filmmakers struggle with finding the right resources and visibility to enable them to unleash their talents and develop their creative careers’.
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“Africa has a rich storytelling heritage and a wealth of folktales that have been passed down for generations. When you marry these very local stories with Africa’s emerging talent, there’s no limit to fresh new stories to connect people with African cultures and bring the world that much closer to each other,” says Ben Amadasun, Director of Content in Africa at Netflix.
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So how does one get to participate in this short film contest?
Applicants are required to submit a synopsis of their concept in no more than 500 words as well as links to a recent CV and a portfolio and evidence of any past audiovisual media work they have produced.