Production News South Africa

NFVF initiatives at Cannes Film Festival

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (dti), will be presenting the South African pavilion at the 60th edition of the Cannes film festival, 16 - 27 May 2007, for SA delegates to use a a home base for conducting business with their counterparts.

The pavilion will house business facilities, as well as meeting areas that can be used by all South African delegates who will be present at the festival.

The NFVF encourages all filmmakers, distributors, producers and other delegates who are registered for the festival to let the NFVF know about their presence in Cannes so that the foundation may inform other delegates about the SA programme at the festival.

Tentative programme and activities for SA at Cannes 2007 include:

1. Producers’ network

The NFVF is a partner for this year’s Producers’ Network. The network provides an exclusive opportunity for SA producers to network with high-ranking international producers who have registered at Cannes as part of the network. It will run from Thursday 17 to Wednesday 23 May (9am - 11am daily).

The NFVF contract with the Producers’ Network makes provision for SA to meet and network with other international producers and to participate in round table discussions as well as thematic discussions hosted by moderators who each bring industry background in finance, distribution, marketing etc.

There will be a special focus on SA producers on Thursday 17 May: register online at www.marchedufilm.com. The registration will cost 335 euros and the deadline is 30 April 2007. To be listed in the Producers’ Network Catalogue the applicants (producers) need to be registered by 12 April.

2. The SA party at Cannes 2007

The NFVF will be hosting a SA networking event on Saturday 19 May 2007 at the Martinez Beach. Delegates who informs the foundation of their presence in Cannes will automatically be invited to the event. In addition, each Cannes delegate can invite 10 guests/clients to this event.

Entry into the event will be strictly regulated and each guest will only gain access with an official invitation card. Ensure that you inform Deliwe Jolobe, NFVF special projects co-ordinator, ahead of time whether you will require invitation cards for this event. SA delegates are advised to submit their names to in order to acquire an invitation to the party.

3. Three filmmakers to be sponsored

The NFVF will be supporting three entry-level filmmakers to attend the festival. The NFVF will cover costs for travel, accommodation, visa, registration and per diem.

The main aim of this initiative is to provide an opportunity for the selected filmmakers to gain experience at an international festival and equip them to operate in this environment in a professional manner. Preference will be given to young producers who do not have experience at an international market.

The interested applicants should contact:

    Deliwe Jolobe

    NFVF
    Email

    Tel +27 (0)11 483 0880

4. Critics’ Week

The 46th international Cannes Critics’ Week will take place 17 ­ 25 May 2007 and the deadline for submission of films is 6 April. Information on the call for entries, rules and regulations as well as application forms can be found on www.semainedelacritique.com.

All the films selected for the Cannes Critics’ Week will enjoy international premieres. Formats for previews are 35 or 16mm prints, VHS, DVD, Beta SP, and Digi Beta. For further information on submissions and other queries, contact Jean-Christophe Berjon on Tel +33 1 45 081 454.

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