Opportunity for Female Filmmakers

Blue Ice Pictures in partnership with The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) will be hosting a four week

mentorship and hands on training programme for emerging female filmmakers in September 2017.

Blue Ice Pictures is an independent film and television production company based in Toronto with an office in Cape Town. The company’s highly skilled team develops and produces critically acclaimed and commercially viable films, television shows, documentaries, and reality series, with a longstanding involvement in international co-productions and studio production services.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is an agency of the Department of Arts and Culture that was

created to ensure the equitable growth of South Africa's film and video industry. We do this by providing funding for the development, production, marketing and distribution of films and also the training and development of filmmakers.

In addition, the NFVF commissions research and produces industry statistics that provide both the public and

stakeholders with valuable insights into the South African film industry.

The two successful candidates will be working closely with a director and producer on the set of Blue Ice Pictures

television series production in Toronto. The programme offers accommodation, travel and a stipend whilst in Toronto.

Criteria:

Applicants must have a minimum experience of 2 – 3 years proven track record in producing /

directing a Fiction / Drama (NO DOCUMENTARIES)

South African citizen or permanent resident and must reside in South Africa

Previously disadvantaged individuals are encouraged to apply

Requirements:

Full comprehensive CV

A short career profile within the film industry

Certified ID copy

Certified valid passport

Must be AVAILABLE for 45 uninterrupted weeks whilst based in Toronto

Important Notice:

1. Incomplete applications will be disqualified

2. Only certified documents will be accepted

3. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered

4. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for a one on one interview

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 31 July 2017

EMAIL SUBMISSIONS TO: applications@nfvf.co.za

This edition by Fred Felton | Twitter @fredfelton 

Exclusive Interview with the Lady behind the 2017 Mrs Universe Durban

The other day I had the pleasure of interviewing Tracey-Anne Aggett the lady behind the 2017 Mrs Universe Pageant being held for the first time on African soil. 

It will be held in Durban, South Africa.  A real coup not only for Durban but also for South Africa.

Mrs Agett a former entrant in the 2016 Pageant is the lady organizing the event for Durban.  She took part in the event in China last year and won the 2016 Charity Award at the 2016 event.

I asked her some questions about the event coming up for Durban on 2 September 2017.

What made you enter Mrs Universe?

Well I first won Mrs KZN.  I had gone through a lot, I had lost a child, I wanted to do good for children.  That’s what attracted me.  I’m also a tireless campaigner against childhood domestic violence.

How did you get the rights to Mrs Universe?

I wanted it, I saw the opportunity, I’m passionate about Africa, I can grow the brand.  They awarded me the rights by God’s Grace.

Tell us about the campaigns you have lined up against gender violence?

#OneVoice is one where we will be taking a stand against gender violence.  We are also taking part in a Global March, we will all be wearing black with a gold ribbon. We want to empower women. We are uniting as one. It’s time for change. Hopefully we can educate different areas of the world. We need support groups against human trafficking and abuse.

Is there still a place for beauty pageants?

100% as long as they are used to empower women. This event is for real women, real issues.

What can people expect at this event?

A lot of international cultures, fashion, dance, local entertainment, Charity and School visits, Fashion evenings and a celebration of women from the world.

What is your advice for young women who want to get involved in modelling?

Whatever you are trying to achieve know what you want to do with it.  You’re going to face many challenges, use them as building blocks, never stop dreaming.

Tell us about the theme for the pageant, ‘Empowering women. Creating change’ ?

We are empowering the youth and the next  generation.  We want to implement change.  This is a huge sisterhood.

Rumour has it the ladies will be taking part in East Coast Radio’s First Swim of Spring?

It’s going to be interesting. It’s a celebration of Spring. A bunch of women getting together on the beach for a good cause.

Why did you choose People’s Park as the venue for the pageant?

There’s something about that venue. There’s a historic feel to it. It’s the breadbasket of Africa. Best views of Durban.

What keeps you going every day?

Prayer and Faith. God is my pillar. My husband and family keep me going. Positivity. Good food.

The Mrs Universe 2017 pageant takes place at People’s Park, Moses Mabhida Stadium on 2 September 2017.

For more info visit www.mrsuniverse2017.co.za.

For corporate involvement in Mrs Universe 2017, email marketing@mrsuniverse2017.co.za or       call 031 466 4905 or 071 871 6744.

Interview by Fred Felton | Twitter @fredfelton

CineFAM South Africa Short Film Challenge at DIFF and DFM

CaribbeanTales International Film Festival, in partnership with Sisters Working in Film and Television (SWIFT), invites South African women filmmakers to participate in the inaugural CineFAM South Africa Short Film Challenge. 

The CineFAM South Africa Short Film Challenge aims to create opportunities to garner international recognition and global distribution and is presented at the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) (13 to 23 July) and the Durban FilmMart (DFM) (14 to 17 July).

SWIFT is a newly formed organization that aims to advance the participation of women in the South African audio‐visual sector. CaribbeanTales is a group of companies that produces, markets, and sells Caribbean‐themed film and television content for global audiences. It includes CaribbeanTales Inc. a registered Charity based in Toronto, Canada; the CaribbeanTales International Film Festival (CTFF) which takes place annually in Toronto in September; the renowned CaribbeanTales Incubator Program.

The challenge also aims to connect South African filmmakers with those in the Diaspora as well as a

global audience.

SWIFT will present a preparatory workshop on no‐budget filmmaking at the Durban FilmMart on Monday, July 17 from 12:30pm to 2pm at the Tsogo Sun Maharani Hotel. This workshop will provide participants with useful tools for making a short film with constraints in time, budget and other resources.

This is a free workshop and no booking is necessary.

Following the workshop (which is not mandatory to enter the Challenge), the CineFAM South Africa Short Film Challenge will take place from 19‐23 July and will be open to teams with the roles of writer, director and producers filled by women and queer filmmakers from South Africa. The theme from the challenge will be announced on 18 July on the CaribbeanTales website www.caribbeantales‐tv.com and the teams will have five days to write, shoot and edit a film of no longer than 5 minutes. Entering teams need to feature female identifying crew in the key positons of writer, director and producer.

Completed films must be uploaded by no later than Sunday, 23 July at midnight (GMT +2) on the CaribbeanTales website. Teams unable to upload the films for submission, from their own internet connections, should contact cinefamza@gmail.com on the first day of the challenge to make arrangements for submission.

A shortlist of up to ten short films will be selected and posted on the CT website for online voting. The challenge will recognize three winning films including best story, best direction and audience choice. Two of these films will be given their World Premiere Screening at the CaribbeanTales International Film Festival and all will be given the opportunity to acquire distribution by CTWD.

“We are very excited to be collaborating with both SWIFT and Caribbean Tales on this initiative and hope it will lay the foundation for more cooperation between filmmakers on the continent and those from the Diaspora,” says Toni Monty of the Durban FilmMart.

Sara Blecher said “Short films are brilliant ways that filmmakers and their projects can get noticed.

“We are delighted that this new programme to encourage South African filmmakers to take the short film challenge during the festival focuses on women in line with the Women Led Film theme for this year’s festival,” says Chipo Zhou, DIFF manager.

For more info contact cinefamza@gmail.com .

For more info about the DIFF go to www.durbanfilmfest.co.za  and for the DFM go to www.durbanfilmmart.com.

This edition by Fred Felton | Twitter @fredfelton 

All You Need To Know For The Durban International Film Festival 2017

It’s almost time for the Durban International Film Festival.

The Opening Film - SERPENT

The festival will open with the South African film ‘SERPENT’ by Amanda Evans.  It’s been described as a tightly wound, psychological time bomb that unravels with an intense, disturbing conviction.

This year the festival has a new manager, Chipo Zhou.

The festival will pay tribute to three stalwarts, the late and great Joe Mafela and Junaid Ahmed and the living legend, Abdullah Ibrahim.

There will also be the regular features including Talents Durban, Workshops, Durban FilmMart, 

Wavescape Film Festival which opens on Bay of Plenty on 16^th July at 7pm, A Schools Programme and also Free Screenings and Workshops around Durban and much more.

There will also be a German focus in this festival with a German Film Festival within the Durban Film Festival.  Look out for 10 gripping German films by some of Germany’s finest directors, a masterclass by German film industry professionals, as well as networking sessions with the cream of the international film industry crop.

German films to look out for include: ‘The People vs Fritz Bauer,’ also ‘Paula,’ and ‘Goodbye Berlin.’

The Goethe-Institut will also present various Virtual Reality (VR) films at Durban FilmMart which will show what the future holds for filmmakers.

The Closing Film - ASINAMALI

The Durban International Film Festival runs from 13 – 23 July in Durban, South Africa.

For more info visit: www.durbanfilmfest.co.za and www.durbanfilmmart.com

Twitter: @DIFFest   #DIFF2017 

This edition by Fred Felton | Twitter @fredfelton