Call for submissions to Durban Film Mart 2013

The partnership project between the Durban Film Office (DFO) and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) provides filmmakers from across Africa a valued opportunity to pitch projects to financiers, distributors, sales agents and potential co-producers.

Selected projects will be invited to pitch projects in one-on-one meetings with potential investors within the Finance Forum segment of the DFM programme.

DFM organisers are poised to raise the visibility of projects from local filmmakers, as well as those from around the African continent. ''With the success of the DFM 2012 event, which attracted more than 350 delegates from Africa and around the world, we expect next year to be bigger and better," said Toni Monty of the Durban Film Office.

Diverse narratives of province and continent

"We are looking for films that will reveal the diverse narratives of our province and our continent; these artists can help us interpret the reality of the modern world - captivating stories of truth, determination, innovation and vision," said Peter Rorvik, director of the Centre for Creative Arts and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF). "At the DFM we also want to reflect the energetic and creative vibe of our continent. We want to engage and inspire our local talent, and provide them with a platform to be heard and as well as a chance to get their foot in the door through the opportunities available," he said.

With roots embedded in all corners of the African continent, DFM has been heralded as a significant catalyst for growth of the African Film industry and a vital interface with global film sectors.

At the DFM you will find the Finance Forum, which sits for four days, with selected projects chosen by an international "project reader committee" which engages in a two-day pitching and packaging training programme prior to the one-on-one meetings with investors, where filmmakers pitch their projects. The Master Classes are a forum for professional filmmakers where experts present master classes and seminars on critical issues in film. Africa in Focus is a four-day series of workshops and seminars for entry-level filmmakers with a special focus on the development of African content.

Take note of the important critical information:

• All submissions must be made in English
  
• Full scripts brought to the Durban FilmMart in July 2013 may be in the original language of project
  
• Fiction features with theatrical potential must be minimum of 70 minutes
  
• Animation features with theatrical potential must be a minimum of 70 minutes
  
• Documentaries must be a minimum of 48 minutes
  
• Entries are open to Africans wherein the producer, director or writer must be an African citizen
  
• All projects should have a producer attached.

For more information on Durban FilmMart on how to submit your project and the necessary requirements, go to www.durbanfilmmart.com.