Durban FilmMart reveals animation projects
The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) has announced the animation projects selected to be part of the 14th annual Durban FilmMart this summer.
The projects for the event, scheduled to be held from July 21 to 24 in Durban, South Africa, include South African science fiction series Azania Rises, season one, produced by Farayi Chinyanga and Fatuma Abdullah; and 2D Kenyan show Boy Boi, produced by Shadrack Munene and J Njogu Macharia.
Others include Nigerian animation The Passport of Mallam Ilia, produced by Ferdinand Adimefe and directed by Chekwube Okonkwo; Between Heaven & Earth (Tunisia), produced by Sarra Ben Hassen and directed by Nadia Rais; My BIG Name, produced by South Africa’s Busisiwe Ntintili, Mpumi Sinxoto and Amanda Zungu; Naledi from South African producer Lesego Vorster; Spiky to the Core (Egypt), produced by Nermeen Salemp; and Sola (South Africa), produced by AJ Pitre and directed by Thandiwe Mlauli.
Magdalene Reddy, director of DFMI, said; “Animation has been noted by Forbes Magazine as one of the fastest growing sectors in the creative industry across Africa over the past few years.”
The selected animation project teams have access to individual mentors who will give them the tools to pitch and the confidence to navigate the market, as well as access to an eight-week masterclass series presented by DFMI, which began in mid January.
At the end of the masterclass, selected project teams will be invited to participate in the Road to Annecy Animation Incubation Programme, presented by DFMI’s animation partners Digital Lab Africa, Tshimologong Precinct and Cape Town International Animation Film Festival.
The eight official animation projects in development will be presented to a panel of international decision makers, consisting of potential coproducers, broadcasters, film funds and distributors, at the Durban FilmMart Pitch and Finance forum.
The DFMI is a non-profit organisation that facilitates local and international trade and investment in African film content.
The Durban FilmMart animation programme is supported by the project Cultural and Creative Industries, which is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut.