Zulu Coast Film Office

An interview with Film Guru - Martin Cuff

2012-02-20T12:33:00.000-08:00

Martin Cuff, who has run film commissions from Colorado to Cape Town, South Africa, and built up film programs in Bosnia, Turkey and Serbia, was recently tapped to be executive director of the Association of Film Commissioners International, which hosts the popular annual Locations Show.

A native of England who lives in South Africa, Cuff talked to the Los Angeles Times about his new job and the upcoming expo, to be held June 15 and 16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

What role do film commissioners play in today’s global market?
Commissions are set up by governments to be the custodian of economic activity. That involves attracting international production to the destination, because it obviously creates jobs and stimulates small business growth. But the job of film commissioners also is to support film festivals to make sure that money circulates in the local economy, develop film audiences, support local filmmakers and connect with film schools -- in short solidifying all aspects of the industry and creating platforms on which the global film industry can continue to grow and be sustainable.

So how will this year’s trade show differ from last year’s?
For the first time this year, the Locations show will also run concurrently with the opening weekend of the Los Angeles Film Festival, a 10-day event produced by Film Independent. It’s a natural tie-in for us because we will get a whole base of independent filmmakers who need this kind of information. We will offer networking events, workshops, seminars, discussions and presentations -- all geared to sharing the most current, dynamic and effective body of knowledge about working on location throughout the world. Last year you partnered with the Producers Guild of America.

Did you have a falling out?
We didn’t get to manage the program and we needed to generate a certain amount of income. It was purely a financial decision. It was all very amicable. Some critics in the past have dubbed the AFCI show a poacher’s festival, saying it encourages runaway production.

What do you say to that?
Film commissions are not just blood-sucking vampires out to steal business away from California, but a dynamic gateway to the world. I'd like to think that the presence of film commissions will connect Californian producers and filmmakers with new markets, new finance and funding, new business relationships and new audiences. China is just producing its first $100-million movie. Brazil's economy is bigger than California's. The TV audience in India is 600 million people. Africa's economy as a whole is growing faster than China's. There is business to be done in the international marketplace, and film commissions can provide an additional, impartial and completely free platform with which to begin that business outreach. Serbia isn’t an obvious film market.

How did you end up working in that country?
I was a consultant with the AFCI and they reached out to me to help develop their film program. Serbia was cheap but it was perceived to be risky, not so much because of war, but lack of information. So we had some challenges. We established a film commission and film incentive program, formally introducing to 14 municipalities nationwide the kinds of processes, protocols and responsiveness required by production. My proudest success was probably a Serbian film function we held at the Sarajevo Film Festival in Bosnia, where hundreds of filmmakers from across the former Yugoslavia came together to celebrate the future.

You’ve spent years in South Africa. What brought you there?
I was living in London with some South Africans who persuaded me to go with them to South Africa when (Nelson) Mandela was released. I started working for a casting director’s office and later went to work for the Southern Africa International Film & Television Market. In South Africa, we had a young black film industry looking to try to create sustainable ways to tell their own stories. We managed to create a small film fund to support a number of filmmakers to create their own movies and provided work space where they could use computers and read film textbooks. The experience taught that as a film commissioner your job is to create economic development and opportunity.

SA at the Tribeca Film Festival

2012-02-17T03:31:00.000-08:00

The Gauteng Film Commission, Cape Film Commission and Durban Film Office, in collaboration with the South African Consulate General in New York, are embarking on a joint venture to take a delegation of South African filmmakers to the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival. The festival runs from 18 to 29 April 2012. The South African delegation will participate on the sideline events organised by the Tribeca Film Festival.

The South African Consulate General’s office will arrange meetings with key industry players in the New York film industry. Upon confirmation of the dates for the visit, the SACG will confirm the meetings with identified institutions/film companies The Tribeca Film Festival’s mission is to help filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, enable the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema and promote New York City as a major filmmaking center. Tribeca Film Festival is well known for being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established directors. The Festival has screened over 1300 films from over 80 countries since its first festival in 2002. Since its founding, it has attracted an international audience of more than 3.7 million attendees and has generated an estimated $725 million in economic activity for New York City.

The purpose of the mission is to expose South African filmmakers to the Tribeca Film Festival with a view to forge partnerships with US filmmakers and producers participating in the festival. In this regard, the South African Consulate General will arrange a series of meetings for the SA filmmakers to engage and interact with their counterparts in the US film industry.

South Africa is known in the US film industry as a destination for film making with a potential to produce world–class films. A case in point is the recently produced “SAFE HOUSE” film in Cape Town, which showcased not only the scenic views but also the huge potential for the growth of the film industry in South Africa.

It is anticipated that this mission will provide an opportunity for South African filmmakers to showcase their projects and talent in future events organized by the Tribeca Film Festival and other similar organizations in the US.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: 2012 DOC SUMMIT

2012-02-08T01:14:00.001-08:00

Hot Docs will once again gather together key industry stakeholders for the Doc Summit, a half-day town hall forum taking place on Friday, May 4, during this year's Hot Docs festival, conference and market, April 26 to May 6.

Industry professionals are invited to submit topic ideas and propose recommendations for issues facing the Canadian documentary industry by Friday, March 5, 2012.

For more information and to submit your proposal, visit www.hotdocs.ca/conference.

OPPORTUNITY: Bursaries to Study Documentary Filmmaking

2012-01-18T02:53:00.000-08:00

What’s your story? Are you a documentary filmmaker wanting to make great films to be seen by a wider audience, including international film festivals? If this sounds like you, Big Fish, the award-winning film school, is offering a fully sponsored National Certificate in Filmmaking.
Women are especially encouraged to apply.

The objectives of the training are to:
•Expand on current knowledge and skills of those who have either made or worked on several projects and who have already proved their commitment and passion to the industry,
•Assist individuals who have had little or no formal training, or who have had to “drop out” of previous projects due to lack of funds.
Training is project focused and the course content includes technical up skilling as well as the option to specialise in your chosen electives: directing, cinematography, production management, editing, sound and research.
DURATION: 8 months, starting Mid-Feb 2012 FULL / PART TIME:Full time
APPLICATION CRITERIA:
•Applicants should have either a minimum of three years working experience in the film and TV industry or a previous qualification in any aspect of filmmaking.
•Applicants must be available for the full 8 month duration of the course.
•Applicants must have passed Grade 12.
Only energetic, organised, entrepreneurial, committed, reliable and innovative individuals with a passion for film should apply!
For information or to apply, contact Connie on 011 482 5599 or email on mosegedic@bigfish.org.za

Deadline for applications is 23 January 2012!
http://www.bigfish.org.za/

ECO KIDS FILM INITIATIVES - CALL FOR ENTRIES

2012-01-16T04:36:00.000-08:00

And ACTION!

The second annual EKFI film festival is calling for entries.

Through films that are entertaining, educational, and above all inspirational it is the Eco Kids Film Initiative’s goal to inspire real change through the children of today and generations to come by promoting a proactive strategy to environmental awareness through film as medium.
The films should be between 2 to 15 minutes in length.
The target age group is 4-15 years in age.

Please download the entry form at: http://whileyouweresleeping.wordpress.com

Deadline: 30 June 2012. For more information contact the festival director Tarien Roux at: info.ekfi@gmail.com

VIMEO FESTIVAL AND AWARDS

2012-01-16T04:31:00.000-08:00

The Vimeo Awards honor the best original videos online. Grants of $5,000 will be awarded to the winners of each category and a grant of $25,000 will be presented to the winner of the Best Video Award.

Entrants can submit any original work that premiered anywhere online between July 31, 2010 and February 20, 2012, or any original work that has never been premiered.

See more info here: http://vimeo.com/awards/about

OPPORTUNITIES

2012-01-16T04:16:00.000-08:00

SOS Campaign Organiser:

SOS is looking to employ a Campaign Organiser. The civil society coalition Support Public Broadcasting (SOS) is dedicated to the broadcasting of quality, diverse, citizen-orientated public programming committed to the goals of the SA Constitution.

Job Requirements:

* A commitment to social justice.

* Writing, editing skills

* Computer experience in word processing, spread sheets, internet, website and email.

* Maximising social networking tools for advocacy (including Google groups, Twitter and Facebook).

*Event management, including administration and logistics.

For more info email:
kate.skinner@mweb.co.za.

Deadline: Monday 23 January 2012.

Logger/Transcriber:

A video production company working primarily in the social development sector are looking for someone to do logging, transcribing and tagging using a video archiving program called CAT DV. There is potential for a long term position.

Job requirements:

* Must be VERY competent at touch typing

* Responsible and able to take initiative.

* Have own Apple laptop

* Cape Town based

For more info and requirements, please contact:

Bart on 073 460 2168 or bart@anotherloveproductions.co.za for further information.

ENCOUNTERS SOUTH AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL

2012-01-16T04:07:00.000-08:00

Encounters The 14th Encounters South African International Documentary Festival will run from the 7 – 24 June 2012 in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Due to the extraordinary number of entries Encounters has decided to charge a nominal submission fee of USD15.

African filmmakers are exempt. Deadline for entries is 23 March 2012.

To submit your film go to the link below:

http://www.oncrm.co.za/references/resource?onRN01=7YVYTAlu.0lyOCyDMTGsbAlu.U3lZCW0MExidXg3R4WxMCIN

DSTV Short Film Competition

2012-01-09T07:55:00.000-08:00

Dear Filmmaker

You are invited to enter your beautifully crafted film in the DStv Film Talent Celebration short film competition. This competition will be focusing on the ability of South African filmmakers to tell wonderful authentic stories through very short films.
The competition will be challenging specifically those filmmakers who overcame the limits of time and continued to display their craft as talented story tellers. The length of the films has to be between three and ten minutes. This is a nationwide short film competition for South African filmmakers which is open to any genre of film as long as you believe that your film is a high impact offering.
The competition not only celebrates talent but the winners will receive cash prizes which they can add to their funds to tell more beautiful South African stories.
The categories and prizes are as follows:
Best Production: R50k (Overall)
Best Director: R40k
Best Editor: R40k
Best Sound: R40k
Best Cinematography: R40k
Best Newcomer: R20k

The competition will be judged by highly respected industry professionals. To make it easier for you to participate in this competition we have provided two options for you to send your entry. The only accepted format is DVD and all submissions must include a completed entry form. Films must reach MultiChoice on or before 29 February 2012.

Entry delivery options POSTAL:
ATTENTION: Lehlohonolo Nkhabe DStv Film Talent Competition CSI Department MultiChoice Corporate Office P O Box 1502 Randburg 2125
OR ATTENTION: Tamsin Ranger DStv Film Talent Competition Cape Town Office P O Box 2228 Cape Town 8000
DELIVERY: ATTENTION: Lehlohonolo Nkhabe DStv Film Talent Competition Corporate Building Reception Area MultiChoice 251 Oak Avenue 2194
OR ATTENTION: Tamsin Ranger DStv Film Talent Competition Cape Town Office 1st Floor 27 Caledon Street Cape Town 8001
For further information email film@multichoice.co.za or phone Hloni Nkhabe on +27+112893068.

Contact by email is preferred. This competition will culminate in a special event during which the winners will be announced and the top short films screened. It will be an occasion for networking, appreciating talent and generally reflecting on our achievements as an industry. We will also take this opportunity to recognise the up-and-coming filmmakers from DStv’s Film Skills Development programme.