Early bird delegate registration for the 5 Durban FilmMart now open

The Durban FilmMart celebrates its fifth anniversary in 2014, together with the Durban International Film Festival, which celebrates its 35th birthday, and with it comes the exciting announcement of a move to a new venue.

The 5th Edition of the Durban FilmMart - a co-production and finance mart for African filmmakers, co-founded between the Durban Film Office and the Durban International Film Festival - takes place from 18-21 July 2014 in alongside the 35th Durban International Film which runs from 17- 27 July 2014 in Durban, South Africa.

In addition to a series of workshops, master-classes and interactive forums which cover topical and relevant film-production themes, the Durban FilmMart serves as the meeting place for African filmmakers to network with experienced and established local, continental and international industry associates.

A new home for DIFF and DFM!

In keeping with the milestone celebrations, organisers of the Durban International Film Festival and the Durban FilmMart are very excited to announce that this years event will take place at the Tsogo Sun, Elangeni Hotel, located on Durbans world-famous beachfront.

We are looking forward to the move which is both strategic and practical. Both the festival and market have grown tremendously over the years and we needed to consider a venue that could accommodate the size of our current set of programmes as well as allow for growth in line with future plans, said Film Festival Manager Peter Machen.

Tsogo Sun, the leading hotels, gaming and entertainment company in South Africa, is proud to be associated with the forthcoming Durban International Film Festival and the Durban FilmMart. said Mike Jackson, Director of Operations, KZN Tsogo Sun.

We look forward to welcoming both national and international visitors to our Province to enjoy the warm hospitality at our hotels. This is the first time that Tsogo Sun has been appointed the official event and accommodation partner for this prestigious event and we are proud that our mega-complex - Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani - is the chosen venue.

The Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani recently underwent a R220-million redevelopment project in order to provide the best possible experience in terms of hospitality and conferencing offerings.

2014 is all about story....

Adding to the new developments, the Durban FilmMart 2014 programme will also feature a special focus on story development and story presentation, stemming from a new partnership with Produire au Sud, the film development programme of the Festival des 3 Continents in Nantes, France. said Durban Film Office Head Toni Monty.

Produire au Sud is a workshop programme within Festival des 3 Continents, which focuses on the development of film co-productions, and has partnered with the Durban FilmMart in an effort to create opportunities to uncover and develop stories from the African continent.

The 2014 line-up of special guest experts includes renowned Script-Doctor Miguel Machalski and Pitch coach Stefano Tealdi. Miguel Machalski, who is famed for his script work on acclaimed Oscar-winning films including; The Sea Inside (2000) starring Spanish actor Javier Bardem and Million Dollar Baby (2004), starring Hollywood actors Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman, will present a Master Class on Script Development and Screenwriting.

Born in Buenos Aires and currently based in Paris, Machalski has a multicultural, multilingual profile which includes stints in the arts industry covering poetry, music production, journalism and language translation.

The author of the widely-distributed Spanish-language book entitled Screenwriting - A Perilous Adventure', Machalski now works extensively as a writer, consultant and advisor for various script-development programmes, and runs workshops worldwide.

Machalski will be presenting a scriptwriting master class and participating in related panel discussions, with the aim of bringing a greater understanding to the importance of good story development, the stumbling blocks of scriptwriting, and exploring African storytelling traditions'.

My work focuses on the technicalities and creative aspects of screenwriting, and helping filmmakers in their role as narrators to tell meaningful, relevant stories in the most compelling way possible, said Machalski.

The focus on storytelling also includes acclaimed documentarian Stefano Tealdi who will be leading a masterclass or Pitch Lab at the Durban FilmMart on the art of pitching.

The driving force behind the annual documentary networking and pitching event - Documentary in Europe, Tealdi actively develops, produces and directs, documentary features and series through his documentary production company Stefilm International, whose productions have been co-financed with over 50 broadcasting, institutional and independent partners in Europe and North America.

Having taught at universities, facilitated master classes and tutors for EDN - European Documentary Network, Esodoc, Med Film Factory, Scuola Holden, Films de 3 Continents, Zelig Film School, Tealdi is committed to creating and distributing documentary films and series which bring new talent, an exciting approach and Italian culture to the rest of the world.

Using his vast experience and insight, Tealdi will delve in-depth into harnessing the power of pitching and will cover concepts such as; Choose the right moment, Make them curious, Design your pitch with care and Pitching is collaborating.

Delegate Registration:

Although project submissions to the Durban FilmMart are officially closed, delegate registration is open to all film professionals and the greater public who wish to attend.

Registered delegates will be granted access to all Master Classes, Africa in Focus workshops and networking functions during the four-day programme.

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LINK:	http://www.filmcontact.com/africa/south-africa/early-bird-delegate-reg...
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