South African directors selected for the Cannes SA Film Factory

DW (France) and Zidaka (South Africa), in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission, the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), and the Cannes Quinzaine Directors Fortnight, are pleased to announce the selection of the four South African directors.

After a very positive response to the call, with more than 30 high quality submissions, a short list of 12 directors were invited to attend the final interviews, which took place in Durban on the 15th July.

The four South Africa directors selected are:

Sheetal Magan

Samantha Nell

Zamo Mkhwanazi

Zee Ntuli

Two of the directors are KZN born, and two are from Gauteng.

Cannes South African Film Factory will provide an opportunity for these four SA directors and four international directors, to collectively direct four short films, which will be produced in KZN, and then will be screened on the Opening Day of the Cannes Directors Fortnight / la Quinzaine, in the official Cannes program next year.

The workshop will commence on Tuesday 21st July through until 25th July, 2015, during the Durban International Film Festival.

The Factory enjoys exploring new territories of cinema... The South African cinema scene, which, in recent years, has often surprised us in major festivals, remains, however, little known in our hemisphere. 4 short films that will be soon directed by South African and international young filmmakers will enable the public of the Directors' Fortnight in Cannes to discover the unsuspected realities of South Africa. Known for its dramatic story and now, for its remarkable opportunities... We look forward to discover films that will be made and then screened in Cannes. Vive the SA Factory! says Edouard Waintrop, Artistic Director of the Cannes Directors' Fortnight section.

This is the fourth Factory and, after Asia, Europe and South America, this is the 1st one in Africa. Im amazed by the high quality of the directors and it was heartbreaking to select only four , says Dominique Welinski curator and producer.

Carol Coetzee KZN Film Commission CEO adds These results are very exciting and mean we are definitely moving in the right direction towards a transformed and sustainable film industry. To have young talents and particularly women being exposed to such an opportunity is a milestone indeed.

We are happy to be associated with this project, which not only recognizes our local talent, but also create opportunities for our filmmakers to be the best directors, sharing their vision and talent with the rest of the world. As an enabler, we constantly seek ways of developing the youth and ensuring the growth of our general film industry; this process is aligned to this objective. Congratulations to all selected directors, says NFVF CEO Zama Mkosi.

AFDA Durban has offered its facilities for production and postproduction. Media Film Services and Sound Surfers, Hollard Film Guarantors, the Durban International Film Festival and Cote Ouest Audiovisual and Institut Francais (South Africa) are all official partners.

Cannes South Africa Factory website: www.zidaka.co.za.

On behalf of the NFVF, KZN Film Commission, Cannes Film Factory, DW and ZIDAKA.

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