After 10 days packed with virtual panel discussions, conversations, presentations, pitches, and meetings, the 11th Durban FilmMart ended on a high with the announcement of the 2020 Official Awards for Projects on Sunday, 13 September.
A total of 64 projects were selected to participate at the DFM, Africa’s premier co-production and finance market. These included: 32 official fiction and documentary projects, 26 Talents Durban projects and 6 Jumpstart projects.
“We were impressed by the high quality of project submissions that were pitched to the various broadcasters, financiers, investors, markets and producers at our first virtual edition,” says Mandisa Zitha, Chairperson of the Board of the Durban FilmMart Institute. “What is coming through in these projects is an overall boldness, and willingness of filmmakers to push the boundaries of their uniquely African stories. We are delighted that through our partners and funders that some of these film projects will be given the opportunity to develop further through some very generous grants and awards provided.”
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Awards and Awardees:
The CineMart Award sponsored by the co-production market of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (The Netherlands), went to The Accident (South Africa), produced by Khosi Dali and directed by Imran Hamdulay. The filmmakers will be able toattend the Rotterdam Lab, a five-day training and networking event for producers in 2021.
The Produire au Sud of Festival des 3 Continents (Nantes, France))/ IFAS Award went to We All Fall Down (Zimbabwe),directed andproduced byTapiwa Chipfupa. Ms Chipfupa will be given the opportunity to attend the developmental workshop programme, PAS, where they are supported with developing tools, expertise, and opportunities to forge European networks.
The Sørfond Award (Norway) was awarded to the project Vlees van my Vlees (Flesh of my Flesh) (South Africa) produced by Lucia Meyer-Marais and Jozua Malherbe and directed by Matthys Boshoff. The filmmakers have the opportunity to attend a pitch course, as well as pitch this project at the Sørfond Pitching Forum in Oslo, Norway.
Durban Filmmart Talents Durban Award (South Africa) for the Talents Durban Project went to Between Worlds (Uganda) director Adong Judith, This project automatically qualifies for the DFM 2021 pitch and finance forum.
The DoK Leipzig Award (Germany) went to The House is Burning (South Africa) directed and produced by Sara Gouveia and co-produced by Natalie Geyser. These filmmakers will now participate in the 2021 DoK Leipzig Industry Programme and are given an opportunity to do a public presentation of the project in the DOK Co-Pro Market or DOK Preview Presentation.
International Documentary Film Festival of Amsterdam (IDFA) Award (The Netherlands)was given to The Ship and the Sea (O Navio e o Mar) (Mozambique) produced by Lara Sousa, co-produced by Matheus Mello, and directed by Lara Sousa and Everlane Moraes allowing them toparticipate in IDFA 2020 virtual event later this year.
Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival (China) Special GZDOC Invitation went to five film projects providing them with the opportunity to participate in the virtual GZ Doc Pitch Session in 2021.
- The House is Burning (South Africa) – Producer and director Sara Gouveia, Co-producer Natalie Geyser
- Rising Up at Night, (Democratic Republic of the Congo) – Producers: Dada Kahindo, Rosa Spaliviero, Director: Nelson Makengo
- How to Build a Library, (Kenya) – Producer and director Maia von Lekow and Christopher King
- The Ship and the Sea (O Navio e o Mar), (Mozambique) – Producer: Lara Sousa, Co-producer: Matheus Mello, Directors: Lara Sousa and Everlane Moraes
- The Wall of Death, (Morocco) – Producers: Merieme Addou, Alexis Taillant, Nadege Labe, Director: Amine Sabir
Festival International de film Documentaire d’Agadir (Morocco) (FIDADOC) Awards went to the Talents Durban project To Be Loved (Togo)directedby Justin Kpatchaa and Pan Africa & The Ticking Time Bomb (Kenya) produced byJean Meeran and directed by Eva Njoki Munyiriproviding the filmmakers with the opportunity to participate in the FIDADOC Writing Residency in December 2020.
International Emerging FilmMakers Association (IEFTA) Award (Monaco) went to three Talents Durban projects:
- Feature Documentary Film: Conti-Mental/Black People Don’t Get Depressed (South Africa)directed by Sara Chitambo
- Feature Film: Between Worlds (Uganda) directed byAdong Judith
- Short Film: I Might Not Normally Share This (Egypt)directed by Noura Sharaf
These projects will be given mentorships through one of IEFTA’s partner development programmes and labs.
DOK.fest München Award (Germany) was given to The House is Burning (South Africa) directed and produced by Sara Gouveia and co-producer Natalie Geyser who will participate in the DOK.forum Marketplace.
Miradas Doc Award (Spain) was given to Rising up at Night (Democratic Republic of the Congo), produced by Dada Kahindo, Rosa Spaliviero and directed by Nelson Makengo which includes participation in the Miradasdoc 2021.
FIPADOC International Documentary Festival Award (France) went to Des Espoirs (Hope) (Tunisia),produced by Erige Sehiri, Carine Ruszniewski, Clothilde Bunod and directed by Dhia Jerbi to participate in FIPADOC 2021 programme.
The National Film and Video Foundation (South Africa) awarded three projects this year with cash grants to further develop their films:
- Best SA Non-fiction grant of R50 000 went to 12 Pangas (South Africa) produced by James Tayler and Xola Mteto and directed by Xola Mteto
- Best SA Fiction grant of R50 000 went to the Talents Durban project Behind High Walls (South Africa) produced by Jono Kyriakou and directed by Pheello Mokokeng
- Best Overall Pitch grant of R100 00 went to The House is Burning (South Africa) directed and produced by Sara Gouveia and co-produced Natalie Geyser
The Durban FilmMart platform is still open to registered delegates to review presentations, pitches and network until 30 September.
For more information about the DFM go to www.durbanfilmmart.com.
The Durban FilmMart 2020 is produced by the Durban FilmMart Institute with principal funding from the Durban Film Office and Ethekwini Municipality.
The DFM 2020 virtual event is supported by the National Film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission, Film and Publications Board, Gauteng Film Commission, IEFTA, Institut Francais – South Africa, Candian High Commission of SA, Wesgro/Film Cape Town and Namibia Film Commission with the following programme partners – Talents Durban Berlinale Talents, Documentary Filmmakers Association, DOK.fest München, Dok Leipzig, FidaDoc, FipaDoc, Hot Docs Blue Ice Fund, Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival, International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, Incoproduction, Independent Producers Organisation, Miradas Doc, Netflix, Norwegian South Film Fund, Produire au Sud, Rotterdam Cinemart, Realness Institute, San Francisco Black Film Festival, SASFED, SWIFT, TRT 12 Punto, Writers Guild of South Africa, University of Cape Town’s Screen Incubator programme. DFM media partners include Awotele, Callsheet and Variety.