Updated: South African filmmakers are shocked, angry and disappointed after the country failed to submit a film for the international feature Oscar race for the first time in 15 years, with one producer slamming the selection committee for what he says are unfounded concerns about his film’s depiction of marginalized groups, and comparing the opaque selection process to the dark days of apartheid.
Nine films were submitted to South Africa’s National Film & Video Foundation (Nfvf) for consideration for the 95th Academy Awards, which will be held March 12 at the Dolby Theatre. Ultimately, none were put forward.
In a letter sent to the snubbed filmmakers, a copy of which was obtained by Variety, the Nfvf said that the nine films were rejected by the selection committee “due to either non-compliance with the [Academy’s] selection criteria and/or a concern regarding the representation of marginalized communities.” The controversy was first reported by the Afrikaans-language website Maroela Media.
Nine films were submitted to South Africa’s National Film & Video Foundation (Nfvf) for consideration for the 95th Academy Awards, which will be held March 12 at the Dolby Theatre. Ultimately, none were put forward.
In a letter sent to the snubbed filmmakers, a copy of which was obtained by Variety, the Nfvf said that the nine films were rejected by the selection committee “due to either non-compliance with the [Academy’s] selection criteria and/or a concern regarding the representation of marginalized communities.” The controversy was first reported by the Afrikaans-language website Maroela Media.
- 12/21/2022
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Answering the SunInternational Film Festival Rotterdam have announced the full lineup for their "scaled-down" 51st edition, which will take place online between January 26 — February 6. As part of a full, nationwide lockdown, cinemas will remain closed in the Netherlands until at least 14 January. Tiger COMPETITIONAchrome (Maria Ignatenko)The Cloud Messenger (Rahat Mahajan)The Child (Marguerite de Hillerin/Félix Dutilloy-Liégeois)Eami (Paz Encina)Excess Will Save Us (Morgane Dziurla-Petit)Kafka for Kids (Roee Rosen)Malintzin 17 (Mara Polgovsky/Eugenio Polgovsky)Met mes (Sam de Jong)The Plains (David Easteal)Proyecto Fantasma (Roberto Doveris)Le rêve et la radio (Renaud Després-Larose/Ana Tapia Rousiouk)Silver Bird and Rainbow Fish (Lei Lei)To Love Again (Gao Linyang)Yamabuki (Juichiro Yamasaki)Big Screen COMPETITIONAssault (Adilkhan Yerzhanov)Broadway (Christos Massalas)Third Grade (Jacques Doillon)Daryn’s Gym (Brett Michael Innes)Drifting Petals (Clara Law)The Harbour (Rajeev Ravi)The Island (Anca Damian)Kung Fu Zohra (Mabrouk El Mechri...
- 1/7/2022
- MUBI
This year’s International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) has unveiled the 14 films selected for its flagship Tiger Competition. Scroll down for the full list.
The selection is typically globe-trotting, with features ranging from Chile to China, Sweden to Israel, and Mexico to India. A jury will grant three prizes: the Tiger Award, plus two special jury awards. On the jury are: Zsuzsi Bánkuti, Gust Van den Berghe, Tatiana Leite, Thekla Reuten and Farid Tabarki.
Last year’s winner of IFFR’s Tiger competition was Indian filmmaker Vinothraj P.S.’s Pebbles, which was the country’s contender for this year’s International Oscar race, though didn’t make the shortlist.
Today, the festival also confirmed the line-ups for its Big Screen Competition, which aims to bridge the gap between popular and arthouse cinema. Titles selected range from Romania to France and South Africa. The Tiger Short Competition was also unveiled.
The selection is typically globe-trotting, with features ranging from Chile to China, Sweden to Israel, and Mexico to India. A jury will grant three prizes: the Tiger Award, plus two special jury awards. On the jury are: Zsuzsi Bánkuti, Gust Van den Berghe, Tatiana Leite, Thekla Reuten and Farid Tabarki.
Last year’s winner of IFFR’s Tiger competition was Indian filmmaker Vinothraj P.S.’s Pebbles, which was the country’s contender for this year’s International Oscar race, though didn’t make the shortlist.
Today, the festival also confirmed the line-ups for its Big Screen Competition, which aims to bridge the gap between popular and arthouse cinema. Titles selected range from Romania to France and South Africa. The Tiger Short Competition was also unveiled.
- 1/7/2022
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Adilkhan Yerzhanov’s “Assault” and “Kung Fu Zohra” from Mabrouk El Mechri are among the lineup at International Film Festival Rotterdam’s (IFFR) 51st edition.
The films were among 10 features selected for the Big Screen competition, which aims to bridge the gap between popular, classic and arthouse cinema.
IFFR also boasts the Tiger Competition for emerging talent and Ammodo Tiger Short competition for shorts.
Among the 14 titles selected for the Tiger Competition, Roberto Doveris will present “Proyecto Fantasma,” Morgane Dziurla-Petit will deliver “Excess Will Save Us” and David Easteal will show “The Plains.”
The festival, whose full lineup was announced on Friday, will run as a virtual festival on IFFR.com from Jan 26-Feb. 6 for the second year in a row due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Festival director Vanja Kaludjercic revealed that the lockdown in the Netherlands had enforced some changes in previously announced elements of the program. For example,...
The films were among 10 features selected for the Big Screen competition, which aims to bridge the gap between popular, classic and arthouse cinema.
IFFR also boasts the Tiger Competition for emerging talent and Ammodo Tiger Short competition for shorts.
Among the 14 titles selected for the Tiger Competition, Roberto Doveris will present “Proyecto Fantasma,” Morgane Dziurla-Petit will deliver “Excess Will Save Us” and David Easteal will show “The Plains.”
The festival, whose full lineup was announced on Friday, will run as a virtual festival on IFFR.com from Jan 26-Feb. 6 for the second year in a row due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Festival director Vanja Kaludjercic revealed that the lockdown in the Netherlands had enforced some changes in previously announced elements of the program. For example,...
- 1/7/2022
- by K.J. Yossman and Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
"Will they survive?" ITN Movies has debuted an official UK trailer for a South African western drama titled Children of the Storm, which originally premiered at the Silwerskerm Film Festival last year. The film's original title is The Story of Racheltjie De Beer, but that's only in South Africa because outside of that country no one really knows who Racheltjie De Beer is. Based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Brett Michael Innes. Known as an "Afrikaans tale for all South Africans", this is inspired by the cherished tale passed down from generation to generation. The beloved tale of a young girl whose sacrifice saved her little brother's life after the two got lost in a snowstorm in the late 1800s. Starring Zonika de Vries, Stian Bam, Marius Weyers, Sandra Prinsloo, Antoinette Louw, Beate Olwagen, Johannes Jordaan, and Seputla Sebogodi. We don't hear any dialogue in the...
- 4/28/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Following his acclaimed short film work, South African director Matthys Boshoff makes his feature debut with upcoming period drama The Story Of Rachel de Beer. Adapted from a best selling Afrikaans language novel by Brett Michael Innes - himself and acclaimed local filmmaker - the picture looks to be eqqual parts period drama and taut thriller. South African wilderness 1800s. Five years after their mother died, Rachel, a girl on the cusp of adolescence, and 5-year-old Jamie are on their way to the gold fields with their father, Herman. When Jamie goes missing in a freak snow blizzard, will Rachel be able to save him from certain death? If there's a villain here it's the hostility of nature coupled with the pride of the family...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 9/4/2019
- Screen Anarchy
Durban–Female-driven narratives and daring portraits of queer culture around the continent were the big winners at this year’s Durban FilmMart (Dfm), the industry program of the Durban Intl. Film Festival, which handed out awards at a ceremony Monday night at the Southern Sun Maharani Hotel.
Among the prize-winners were the story of a Zimbabwean woman grappling with her country’s traditions and customs as she tries to reconcile her difficult relationship with her husband; a teenage sexual-assault survivor in South Africa forced to make a difficult decision that will affect her fate and the fate of her community; and an alternative perspective on what it means to live and identify as Lgbtq in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“This is the 10th edition of Durban FilmMart, and we wanted to ensure that we celebrate this milestone with the birthing of new initiatives, new conversations and new directions,” said...
Among the prize-winners were the story of a Zimbabwean woman grappling with her country’s traditions and customs as she tries to reconcile her difficult relationship with her husband; a teenage sexual-assault survivor in South Africa forced to make a difficult decision that will affect her fate and the fate of her community; and an alternative perspective on what it means to live and identify as Lgbtq in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“This is the 10th edition of Durban FilmMart, and we wanted to ensure that we celebrate this milestone with the birthing of new initiatives, new conversations and new directions,” said...
- 7/23/2019
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
The 10th edition of the Durban FilmMart, which unspools parallel to the 40th Durban Intl. Film Festival, will feature 10 fiction and 10 documentary works-in-progress taking part in its annual Finance Forum. The leading co-production market on the continent, the Forum brings together producers, distributors, sales agents, broadcasters, funding bodies, and other industry players from across the globe for four days of pitching sessions and networking opportunities from July 19-22.
“The Dfm Finance Forum was always intended as a springboard platform for African filmmakers to access global markets,” says Durban Film Office and Dfm head Toni Monty. “When we began 10 years ago, only a handful of the filmmakers submitting to Dfm really understood how to prepare for the international market. Ten years on the applications have become much more sophisticated and competitive.”
Recent editions of the Finance Forum have helped launch the festival careers of films like Un Certain Regard selection “Rafiki,...
“The Dfm Finance Forum was always intended as a springboard platform for African filmmakers to access global markets,” says Durban Film Office and Dfm head Toni Monty. “When we began 10 years ago, only a handful of the filmmakers submitting to Dfm really understood how to prepare for the international market. Ten years on the applications have become much more sophisticated and competitive.”
Recent editions of the Finance Forum have helped launch the festival careers of films like Un Certain Regard selection “Rafiki,...
- 7/17/2019
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Durban — The 9th edition of the Durban FilmMart (Dfm) closed Monday night, with an award ceremony celebrating an exciting crop of African film projects currently in development.
Toni Monty, head of the Durban Film Office and the Dfm, said, “As one of the most important film industry events and film finance platforms on the continent, we are really pleased that we have grown the Dfm substantially this year, with 877 delegates attending. We had over 40 countries participating this year, of which 19 were from Africa. A total number of 52 projects were pitched to potential partners, financiers, filmmakers, producers, distributors and agents during countless meetings.”
She commented: “As one of the most important film industry events and film finance platforms on the continent, we are really pleased that we have grown the Dfm substantially this year, with 877 delegates attending. We had over 40 countries participating this year, of which 19 were from Africa. A total...
Toni Monty, head of the Durban Film Office and the Dfm, said, “As one of the most important film industry events and film finance platforms on the continent, we are really pleased that we have grown the Dfm substantially this year, with 877 delegates attending. We had over 40 countries participating this year, of which 19 were from Africa. A total number of 52 projects were pitched to potential partners, financiers, filmmakers, producers, distributors and agents during countless meetings.”
She commented: “As one of the most important film industry events and film finance platforms on the continent, we are really pleased that we have grown the Dfm substantially this year, with 877 delegates attending. We had over 40 countries participating this year, of which 19 were from Africa. A total...
- 7/24/2018
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Durban — With the four-day Durban FilmMart building a bridge between African filmmakers and the international market, 16 projects from across the continent arrive in South Africa this week for pitching sessions with potential co-producers, broadcasters, sales agents, investors, and other industry experts from around the world.
“The projects are at various stages of development. We do each year attempt to create a balance between what presents as strong projects, as well as new emerging talents,” said Toni Monty, head of the Durban Film Office, which jointly organizes the Dfm along with the Durban Int’l. Film Festival and the eThekwini Municipality. “This is important to ensure that we not only present filmmakers that have a fairly established profile and need to get their next project out there, but also to tap into the undercurrent and ensure we are bringing new talents into the marketplace.”
Here’s a look at the eight...
“The projects are at various stages of development. We do each year attempt to create a balance between what presents as strong projects, as well as new emerging talents,” said Toni Monty, head of the Durban Film Office, which jointly organizes the Dfm along with the Durban Int’l. Film Festival and the eThekwini Municipality. “This is important to ensure that we not only present filmmakers that have a fairly established profile and need to get their next project out there, but also to tap into the undercurrent and ensure we are bringing new talents into the marketplace.”
Here’s a look at the eight...
- 7/19/2018
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
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