AFM provides busine opportunities for SA producers

--

AFM provides business opportunities for SA producers --

Mon, 23 Nov 2015 12:17

--

At the American Film Market (AFM), which took place in Santa Monica California from 4 to 11 November, South Africa was well represented by South African Indies and its partners, the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) and the Gauteng Film Commission (GFC).

The AFM is one of the largest film markets and conferences in the world with the 2015 edition seeing over 2,200 new films being presented to potential distributors from the USA and across the globe. The ATFT attended the event with one its best delegations to date, consisting of 16 of South Africa s emerging filmmakers. South Africa was represented by a country stand on the main exhibition floor and a formal meeting room where a number of networking and promotional events took place.

The theme for stand SA this year was Come Shoot in South Africa, with the dti, the GFC and SA Indies promoting the country as an ideal filming location due its favourable economic conditions, competitive rebates, ability to service blockbuster Hollywood films, and the multiple opportunities it offers for co-productions.

Co-production was also the topic of a very well attended panel discussion hosted by SA Indies: African Co-productions: The Possibilities and the Challenges . The panel, moderated by Mayenzeke Baza from SA Indies, included Delon Bakker from Mannequin, Jon Volmink from Diprente and Pascal Schmitz from AAA Entertainment.

The main event for SA attendees was the networking reception on 7 November hosted by the GFC and Hoplight Entertainment, an LA based production company which has hosted the reception for three years running. A range of Hollywood celebs and high-powered industry players attended the event including So You Think You Can Dance producer James Gutierrez, Wrap Kings producer Tank Menzies, producer/director Rob Margolies, Emmy Award winning actor, Kiko Ellsworth, SA Faith Like Potatoes actor Frank Rautenbach who is now based in Hollywood, Iris TV CEO Filed Garthwaite and Lions Gate s Kai Wai Ho. The event was an informal yet important opportunity to network and discuss existing film projects and the future for collaboration and co-productions.

Hoplite Films explains why they continue to host this event and support SA Indies: Hoplite has been cultivating a relationship with South African Indies, for a few years now, with the intention of bringing and developing projects alongside South African producers. We currently have two separate narrative series, two films, and three unscripted TV series we are looking to bring into the region. As with all of our relationships, we try to cultivate and foster expression through constant communication. As your market continues to grow and emerge, we are happy to come along side you and help you grow. We have come to know both Pascal and Mayenzeke and have seen first-hand their passion spread through various markets while they promote their country.

According to AFM director Jonathan Wolf the gap is widening between high budget films and lower-budget indie films with the middle ground disappearing. This means that internationally, the ideal production budget is $1 million and below for indie films, and for high budget indie films with a known cast, above $20 million. Films within these two categories are the most successful at securing distribution deals, with films in the $3 to 20 million range struggling to do so.

Schmitz explains why this is good for SA films: Most top productions coming out of South Africa are in the ideal budget range of approximately US$1 million. With an average of only 25% of films presented at market securing distribution, production budgets are an important determining factor that stand in our favour.

Pop, Lock n Roll, a hip-hop dance film currently in production was one of the SA films presented at AFM. The film garnered significant interest with a subsidiary of Lion s Gate distribution interested in first-sight of the finished product. AAA Entertainment is confident that this film will secure international distribution upon completion in 2016.

Related Articles

Die Windpomp wins Best Foreign Film at Long Beach International Film FestivalLocal Afrikaans film Die Windpomp won the Audience Award for Best Foreign Film at Long Beach International Film Festival...

Read more...

Civolution and Bleiberg Entertainment partner on first US second-screen-enabled filmCivolution and Bleiberg Entertainment announced their partnership on i-LIVED, the first US film supported by second-screen...

Read more...

Speakers confirmed for American Film Market round-tableThe American Film Market has announced speakers for its African Co-Productions: The Possibilities and the Challenges roundtable...

Read more...



-- --

-- --

-- Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. comments powered by Disqus

LINK:	http://www.screenafrica.com/page/news/festivals/1655663-AFM-provides-b...
	See more stories from screenafrica

Most recent headlines