Broadcast content across borders

Talent Durban Back For 15th Edition
The yearly training programme for emerging filmmakers and critics, dubbed, Talent Durban, is back for the 15th edition and it will hold as part of the Durban FilmMart, which is a major component of the yearly Durban International Film Festival.

Initiated by the Berlin International Film Festival and Berlinale Talents, Talents Durban is an important partner programme of the Durban FilmMart Institute. This training and development platform offers the selected Talent participants a six-week mentorship and an opportunity to present their film projects to an international market.

Following a meticulous adjudication process, 27 projects, and four film critics, representing 16 countries made the final selection. 

Nigeria’s Adesua Okosun’s merited an invitation in the episodic section as a director for helming Gloria. Also, Nigeria’s Aderonke Adeola will participate in the documentary section of Talent Durban as director of the documentary film, Darker Sides of Afrobeats.

Nigeria is also represented in the Talent Press section. Film critic Jerry Chiemeke was selected to participate in the Talent Press section.

The Durban filmMart, which is held as part of the yearly Durban International Film Festival holds in the city of Durban as from July 22 to 31. The filmMart will be held under the theme, Changing the Narratives.

Film Saudi Unveils Incentives For Creative
FILMMAKERS from around the world can now hit Saudi Arabia to shoot and enjoy some incentives as the Saudi Film Commission (SFC) has announced that the highly anticipated up to 40 per cent cash rebate programme, Film Saudi, is now functional and open for applications via a dedicated platform for film productions.

Eyaf

According to filmfestival.com, Saudi Arabia is set to become a world-class centre for production, with the Film Saudi programme providing major incentives for local, regional, and international film producers to base their creative projects in the Kingdom while supporting the screen sector to develop and participate on the international stage.

Abdullah Al Eyaf, CEO of the Saudi Film Commission, said: “We are delighted to open applications for our cash rebate programme, Film Saudi, and welcome productions to Saudi Arabia.

The film industry is rapidly accelerating as we continue to invest in training our local crews and developing our infrastructure to ensure we are in a position to support all productions. Incentivising film productions will enable us to tap into the potential of our growing film industry, showcase our unique and breathtaking landscapes, and attract a diverse range of productions to the Kingdom.”

Film productions planning to film either partially or fully in Saudi are invited to apply for the incentives, and can find out more information on the website www.film.sa. Also, the SFC CEO announced that productions that recruit Saudi crew and talent above and below the line, feature the Kingdom’s culture, history and people along with showcasing the diverse selection of landscapes in Saudi Arabia are among the qualifiers for incentives of up to 40 per cent.

Over the last 18 months, Saudi Arabia has provided the backdrop for three major Hollywood films, Ric Roman Waugh’s action thriller, Kandahar, filmed in the extraordinary landscape of AlUla, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hegra, and also in the city of Jeddah; Rupert Wyatt’s historical epic ‘Desert Warrior’ shot in the incredible new city-state of Neom and the region of Tabuk; and the Russo Brothers’ crime drama ‘Cherry’ shot in AlUla and the capital Riyadh.

The country’s cinema industry is now the fastest growing in the Middle East and provides a lucrative economic opportunity for international businesses. More information on SFC and on the incentives can be sourced from: www.film.sa.

Last Call For AMAA 2022 Entries
THE last date for entries for the 2022 edition of the Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) is June 15.

Africa Film Academy organisers of the yearly AMAA have extended the entry submission till June 15, 2022.

Founder and CEO of AMAA Peace Anyiam-Osigwe said the submission date was extended to enable filmmakers to submit their genres of films to vie for the nomination in almost 30 categories of the film award.

The AMAA CEO also stressed that submission of films is strictly open to films produced within one year. “This submission is officially open to only films produced and released between the 1st of May 2021 and June 15, 2022 (last day of submission). All entries for the 18th AMAAs will be made via Filmfreeway. The Africa Film Academy will not accept any film that exceeds the 120-minute run as a feature or a short film that is longer than 40 minutes,” she said.