SA films set their sights at TIFF

Four South African feature films were selected in the official selection category, which is a first for South Africa. These films include: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (director - Justin Chadwick), Khumba (director- Anthony Silverton), iNumber Number (director -- Donavon Marsh) and Of Good Report (director - Jahmil X.T Qubeka) and two shorts, Berea (director -Vincent Moloi) and Unogumbe (director -- Mark Dornford-May).

CEO of the NFVF, Zama Mkosi states that regardless of the reception from international audiences, the fact that we have four feature films in selection is a huge feather in our cap and speaks to the improved quality of filmmaking in South Africa. The TIFF programmers are highly critical of the films they select and maintain very high standards, and for them to select all these films, is an achievement. Its a success for the South African film industry before the films even screen.

Mkosi says that the NFVF attends TIFF along with other international platforms for a variety of reasons. Firstly, as an opportunity for global positioning, it is an opportunity to impress on the world the standard of our film industry and the opportunities available for cooperation. Secondly, it is a chance to reinforce our relationship with Canada which was the first country to sign a co-production treaty with South Africa.

Mkosi says that it is paramount to maintain good relations with South Africa's treaty partners, and that festivals like TIFF give the NFVF the opportunity for reciprocal support of the industry. Thirdly, with TIFF being one of the big festivals it offers us an opportunity to support our filmmakers who either have films in official selection or, as we have done this year, with filmmakers who want to broaden their experience and showcase various projects to potential funders, co-producers and sales agents.

At this year's festival the NFVF has partnered with Variety magazine to promote South African films in competition. The South African Consulate in Canada (Toronto) will host a networking function at the festival.

One of the big advantages about TIFF is that it is a festival that caters for filmmakers and audiences alike. Mkosi says that TIFF has gained popularity as an audience driven platform as opposed to other festivals that are either about the glam factor or about sales. TIFF is unique as films are screened mainly to real audiences - the people who are most likely to pay to see your film in a cinema. Getting an audience award at TIFF does guarantee you a sales agent as the agent is able to see that a film actually has an audience. In this way, the films are able to speak for themselves.

One of the biggest challenges for South African filmmakers has been Read more....

LINK:	http://nfvf.co.za/article/sa-films-set-their-sights-at-tiff...
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