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Nigerian Hip hop Star David Adeleke Aka Davido has married his heartthrob, Chioma Avril Rowland , in Lagos State. 

The Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) spotlights the innovative world of animation at Durban FilmMart (DFM) 2024, taking place from 19 – 22 July 2024, under the banner “African Visions Unleashed: From Disruption to Accountability.” Marking its fourth year of focused inclusion in the Programme, the Animation@DFM strand will showcase 8 remarkable animation projects in the DFM Pitch and Finance Forum and present numerous engaging sessions in the Industry Programme, highlighting the growth and dynamism within the African animation industry.

“The 2024 edition of DFM underscores the immense talent and creative energy within the African animation community,” says Magdalene Reddy, Director of the Durban FilmMart Institute. “With Animation@DFM, we are not just celebrating the artistic achievements of African animators but also fostering essential dialogues around sustainability, cultural authenticity, and social impact. All panels across the industry programme related to animation provide an additional platform for collaboration, networking, and presenting powerful narratives that African animation brings to film enthusiasts globally.”

ANIMATION@DFM HIGHLIGHTS

The Industry Programme offers specialised sessions designed to connect creators, institutions, and industry leaders. These sessions will provide a space for new ideas and encourage conversations across the animation landscape.

 Animation for Social Change: Addressing Societal Issues through African Animated Content

The transformative potential of animation as a tool for social change will be at the forefront of this session. It will explore how animated content can address societal issues, raise awareness, and contribute to positive change across Africa. Speakers: Ng’endo Mukii,  Tsepo Moche

BUILDING SUSTAINABLE ANIMATION ECOSYSTEMS

Collaboration within the African animation industry is essential for fostering a sustainable ecosystem. This panel will highlight how partnerships across countries and regions can support the growth of the animation sector throughout the continent, addressing both challenges and opportunities.

Speakers: Laza Razanajatovo, Nosipho Maketo-van Den Bragt, Hamid Ibrahim

CULTURAL AUTHENTICITY IN AFRICAN ANIMATION: NAVIGATING THE BALANCE BETWEEN TRADITION AND INNOVATION

African animators can draw inspiration from traditional stories, folklore, and art while infusing their work with modern innovation. This discussion will explore the challenges and successes in maintaining cultural authenticity while pushing the boundaries of animation.

Speakers: Deidre Jantjies, Dianne Makings, Terrence Maluleke, Betty-Sulty Johnson

The wider industry programme will simultaneously navigate animation through a series of panels with partner organisations:

 In collaboration with Fak’ugesi, Africa’s digital and innovation festival, the DFM Industry programme will highlight virtual productions. In the session, Unlocking the Future of Filmmaking: Integrating Virtual Production into Traditional Production Pipelines,

key players from the digital creative sector and the film industry will explore how virtual production can be integrated into traditional production pipelines. This session will highlight the potential of virtual production technologies to revolutionise filmmaking processes, enhance creative collaboration, and elevate visual storytelling.  The partnership with Fak’ugesi will also continue the discussion on Intermediaries helping to bridge the gap between animation industry intermediaries and creatives.

In 2023, the KZN Film Commission developed a comprehensive strategy for the growth of KwaZulu-Natal’s animation film sector, which they will unveil at this year’s Durban FilmMart. Known for its vibrant landscape and dynamic film community, KwaZulu-Natal has been a cornerstone of the film industry in the province. The collaboration between the Commission and DFM emphasises the province’s commitment to fostering local talent and attracting international collaborations. With the introduction of a targeted strategy for animation, KZN is poised to develop this burgeoning sector. This strategy promises robust growth and international cooperation, continuing to position KZN as a key player in the local film industry and DFM as a significant platform for the development of animation.

PITCH AND FINANCE FORUM – ANIMATION PITCHING

Eight dynamic animation projects will be showcased in the forum, where filmmakers will engage in one-on-one meetings with investors. This initiative aims to expand the reach of African animation, fostering growth and ensuring these creative works find their place on screens both big and small.

DFM 2024 welcomes all African animators and those seeking to learn more about this dynamic sector. DFM continues to support the next generation of animation pioneers, ensuring their stories resonate globally and contribute to a more inclusive, expansive, and thriving film industry.

Registration for participation in the market is currently open.  

For more information and to register, please visit our website: https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/     

The Durban FilmMart Institute receives principal funding from the Durban Film Office and the eThekwini Municipality. For further inquiries, contact: info@durbanfilmmart.com  

About the Durban FilmMart Institute:

Durban FilmMart Institute is the business hub of the African film industry, where film professionals and content are globally competitive and celebrated. The institute’s mission is to provide appropriate and effective programmes and services to promote, support, and facilitate investment in the African film industry.

DFM 2024 will feature an outstanding lineup of industry leaders in its In Conversation and Masterclass series. These sessions aim to provide in-depth insights and specialized knowledge, celebrating the achievements of notable film professionals while guiding the next generation of filmmakers.

Key Highlights Include:

Katie Irwin, Agent and Co-Head of International at WME Independent, will delve into the complexities of film production and distribution, sharing her strategic expertise that has been pivotal in the success of acclaimed films such as Daddio, Clicquot, and Tin Soldier.

Moussa Sene Absa, a renowned artist, writer, musician, and filmmaker from Dakar, will bring African stories to the forefront, discussing his award-winning works and his commitment to addressing critical issues through powerful narratives.

Layla Swart, a trailblazing producer and filmmaker, will share her journey in promoting and developing local films for international markets. Layla’s notable works include Sew the Winter to My Skin and Knuckle City, both South Africa’s submissions to the Academy Awards.

Chris Mack

Nicola Ofoego

Stanislas Renaudeau d’Arc

Additionally, the masterclass programme will feature industry experts such as Chris Mack from Netflix International Originals, Nicola Ofoego from Black Mic Mac, and Stanislas Renaudeau d’Arc from Frogbox covering essential topics from character development to marketing strategies and animation

Filmic, the Most Influential Creative Industry Platform, Held Its Breakfast Business Meeting at The Movenpick Ikoyi Hotel

The following are contributions from major stakeholders who attended the Business meeting and discussed how well the industry has performed since starting from scratch.

Congratulations to Charles Novia, the exceptional producer, writer, and director who organized and anchored this wonderful event.

The videos & photo gallery features those who were present.

After 11 days of an exceptional edition, the Jury of the 77th Festival de Cannes, chaired by American director, screenwriter and actress Greta Gerwig, surrounded by Turkish screenwriter and photographer Ebru Ceylan, American actress Lily Gladstone, French actress Eva Green, Lebanese director and screenwriter Nadine Labaki, as well as Spanish director and screenwriter Juan Antonio Bayona, Italian actor Pierfrancesco Favino, Japanese director Kore-eda Hirokazu and French actor and producer Omar Sy, presented its winners’ list among the 22 films presented in Competition this year.

Feature Films

Palme d’or

ANORA Sean BAKER

Grand Prix

ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT

Payal KAPADIA

Jury Prize

EMILIA PÉREZ  Jacques AUDIARD

Best Director

Miguel GOMES

for GRAND TOUR

Special Award

Mohammad RASOULOF

for THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG

Best Performance by an Actor

Jesse PLEMONS

in KINDS OF KINDNESS directed by Yorgos LANTHIMOS

Best Performance by an Actress

Adriana PAZ

Zoe SALDAÑA

Karla Sofía GASCÓN

Selena GOMEZ

in EMILIA PÉREZ directed by Jacques AUDIARD

Best Screenplay

Coralie FARGEAT

for THE SUBSTANCE

Honorary Palme d’or : George Lucas

 Short Films

Palme d’or

THE MAN WHO COULD NOT REMAIN SILENT

Nebojša SLIJEPČEVIĆ

Special Mention

BAD FOR A MOMENT

Daniel SOARES

Un Certain Regard

Un Certain Regard Prize

BLACK DOG

Guan Hu

Jury Prize

L’HISTOIRE DE SOULEYMANE

Boris Lojkine

Best Director ex-aequo

ROBERTO MINERVINI

for The Damned

RUNGANO NYONI

for On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

Best Actress

ANASUYA SENGUPTA

in The Shameless

Best Actor

ABOU SANGARÉ

in L’Histoire de Souleymane

Youth Award

HOLY COW

Louise Courvoisier

1st film

Special mention

NORAH

Tawfik Alzaidi

1st film

Caméra d’or

Caméra d’or Prize

ARMAND

HALFDAN ULLMANN TØNDEL

Un Certain Regard

Special Mention

MONGREL

WEI LIANG CHIANG & YOU QIAO YIN

Quinzaine des Cinéastes

 La Cinef

First Prize

SUNFLOWERS WERE THE FIRST ONES TO KNOW…

Chidananda S Naik

FTII, Pune, India

Joint Second Prize

OUT THE WINDOW THROUGH THE WALL

Asya Segalovich

Columbia University, United States

THE CHAOS SHE LEFT BEHIND

Nikos Kolioukos

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Third Prize

BUNNYHOOD

Mansi Maheshwari

NFTS, UnitedKingdom

The Short Films and La Cinef Jury presided by Lubna Azabal and comprised of Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar, Paolo Moretti, Claudine Nougaret and Vladimir Perišić has awarded the 2024 La Cinef Prizes today during a ceremony held in the Buñuel Theatre, followed by the screening of the winning films. La Cinef consisted of 18 student films, chosen out of 2 263 entries coming from 555 film schools around the world.

First Prize

SUNFLOWERS WERE THE FIRST ONES TO KNOW…

Chidananda S Naik

FTII, Pune, India

Joint Second Prize

OUT THE WINDOW THROUGH THE WALL

Asya Segalovich

Columbia University, United States

THE CHAOS SHE LEFT BEHIND

Nikos Kolioukos

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Third Prize

BUNNYHOOD

Mansi Maheshwari

NFTS, United Kingdom

Awards

The Festival de Cannes allocates a €15,000 grant for the First Prize, €11,250 for the Second and €7,500 for the Third.

At the Plage des Palmes, the Jury of the Immersive Competition of the 77th Festival de Cannes awarded the prize for Best Immersive Work, presenting one winner among the 8 in-competition virtual reality, augmented reality, video projection and holographic works.

The Jury, chaired by French filmmaker and screenwriter Marie Amachoukeli, included French writer, director and producer Mathias Chelebourg, American producer, writer, and director Vassiliki Khonsari, Israeli filmmaker Uri Kranot, and New Zealand and American filmmaker Raqi Syed.

The Award was presented to Colored created by Tania de Montaigne, Stéphane Foenkinos, Pierre-Alain Giraud.

For its inaugural year, more than 3000 tickets were booked by Festival attendees to experience this new movement taking place at the 77th Festival de Cannes.

The selected works – En amour, Evolver, Human Violins: Prelude, Maya: the Birth of a superhero, Noire, TELOS I, The Roaming and Traversing the Mist – each used a variety of technologies and techniques to pave the way for new methods of storytelling.

“With the Immersive Competition, the Festival de Cannes is showcasing a new art form that draws in part on the heritage of cinema. This approach is in line with our desire to explore new stories and new experiences. This is not the first time the Festival de Cannes has exhibited an immersive work. In 2017, Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Carne y Arena was presented in the Official Selection, and it was a great success. Today the medium is more mature and we’re once again pioneering our approach, offering immersive art pride of place at the Festival, with a selection of 8 works in competition and an awards ceremony hosted by an international jury,’ says Thierry Frémaux, General Delegate of the Festival de Cannes.

“The Immersive Competition is a continuation of the original values of the Festival, exploring new stories with the new tools available,” says Elie Levasseur, Immersive Competition Project Director.

Explore the business of film with The Durban FilmMart Institute at the Durban FilmMart

The business of film is not just a cultural pursuit for artists and auteurs – it is big business. In 2021, the National Film and Video Foundation projected that the film industry would contribute R7,18 billion to the local economy.

It is not an industry to be entered into lightly. Traditional models of film financing, producing, marketing and distributing, and revenue collection have been radically redefined with the emergence of streaming services and social media content creators. This has lowered the barriers to entry, opened the market to new players and spurned a second growth cycle through increased innovation. As traditional production studios compete against content creators for audience attention, the market is open for innovative approaches to film financing, production and distribution.

Fuelling this opportunity is a global demand for African content. As Africans in the diaspora become both more economically stable, and more homesick, there is an increasing call for authentic African stories from an audience able and willing to pay.

This creates lucrative opportunities for businesses outside the traditional film industry to explore ways to enter the sector. The Durban FilmMart (DFM) is the perfect entry point to those who are considering opportunities in film finance and production. As the economic heartbeat of the African film industry, it is where the business of film is explored and evolved.

For fifteen years, DFM has created substantial opportunities for financiers and producers to connect, converse – and ultimately contract. The market showcases African filmmaking talent and provides opportunities for the development and global integration of African film professionals.

In 2023, DFM attracted participants from 43 countries, with an audience of 4,092 over 4 days – the largest gathering of film professionals on the African continent. 2024 is well positioned to exceed this.

DFM’s 2024 edition, “African Visions Unleashed: From Disruption to Accountability,” takes place in Durban from 19 – 22 July 2024. A range of high-powered panellists will explore vital issues like social accountability, intellectual property rights, equality in the workplace, and environmental concerns related to film production.

Early Bird registration for participation is now open until 31 May. For more information and to register, visit: https://durbanfilmmart.co.za/    

About the Durban FilmMart Institute:

The Durban FilmMart Institute receives principal funding from the Durban Film Office and the eThekwini Municipality. For further inquiries, contact: info@durbanfilmmart.com  

Durban FilmMart Institute is the business hub of the African film industry in a world where film professionals and content are globally competitive and celebrated. The mission of the Durban FilmMart Institute is to provide appropriate and effective programmes and services to promote, support and facilitate investment in the African film industry.

Nadia Davids ; Public Relations and Social Media Management. M: +27 82 777 0917

“Wedlock of the Gods” by Zulu Sofola is a compelling Nigerian play that delves deep into the cultural and societal intricacies of traditional African communities. Written by one of Nigeria’s most prolific female playwrights, the play is an exploration of love, duty, and the tragic consequences of defying societal norms.

Set in a traditional Nigerian village, the story centers around Ogwoma, a young widow who wishes to marry her true love, Uloko, against the customs that dictate she must marry her deceased husband’s brother. Sofola masterfully portrays the tension between individual desires and societal obligations, highlighting the struggles faced by women in a patriarchal society.

One of the strengths of the play is its rich depiction of African culture and traditions. Sofola’s background as a scholar of African drama is evident in her authentic representation of ritual practices and community dynamics. The use of indigenous language and proverbs enriches the narrative, providing a deep sense of place and authenticity.

The characters are well-developed, each representing different facets of the conflict between tradition and change. Ogwoma is portrayed with a blend of vulnerability and strength, making her plight deeply moving. Uloko’s passion and defiance contrast sharply with the rigid adherence to customs embodied by other characters like Adigun, Ogwoma’s brother-in-law.

Sofola’s use of dramatic tension keeps the audience engaged, building to a climax that is both inevitable and heart-wrenching. The themes of love, sacrifice, and the clash between modernity and tradition are universally resonant, making the play relevant to audiences beyond its African setting.

However, some readers may find the play’s resolution bleak and its commentary on societal change somewhat pessimistic. The tragic ending underscores the harsh realities faced by those who challenge entrenched systems, but it also raises questions about the possibility of progress within such frameworks.

In conclusion, “Wedlock of the Gods” is a powerful and evocative work that offers a poignant look at the complexities of love and duty within the context of traditional African society. Zulu Sofola’s insightful writing and deep cultural knowledge make this play a significant contribution to African literature and a must-read for those interested in understanding the interplay between tradition and change. Just my own view oh .

Reviewed by Tolulope Damilola Odebunmi. Actor at Nollywood Movies

Canon develops Electro-Optical System (EOS) R1 as first flagship model for EOS R SYSTEM New image processing system further improves Auto Focus (AF) and image quality

The EOS R1 is a mirrorless camera geared toward professionals that brings together Canon’s cutting-edge technology and combines top-class performance with the strong durability and high reliability sought in a flagship model

The EOS R1 is a mirrorless camera geared toward professionals that brings together Canon’s cutting-edge technology and combines top-class performance with the strong durability and high reliability sought in a flagship model. This camera will dramatically improve the performance of both still images and video (in comparison to the EOS R3) and meet the high requirements of professionals on the frontlines of a wide range of fields including sports, news reporting, and video production.

This camera employs the newly developed image processor DIGIC Accelerator in addition to the pre-existing processor DIGIC X. The new image processing system, composed of these processors and a new CMOS sensor, enables a large volume of data to be processed at high speeds and delivers never-before-seen advancements in Auto Focus (AF) and other functions

https://filmfreeway.com/UNIVERSALMOVIEAWARDS

By combining the new image processing system and deep learning technology to an advanced degree, Canon has achieved high-speed and high-accuracy subject recognition. For example, subject tracking accuracy has been improved so that in team sporting events where multiple subjects intersect, the target subject can continually be tracked even if another player passes directly in front of them. In addition, the AF “Action Priority” function recognises subject movement by rapidly analysing the subject’s status. In moments during a sports game when it is difficult to predict what will happen next, this function automatically determines the player performing a certain action, such as shooting a ball, as the main subject and instantly shifts the AF frame, thereby helping to capture decisive moments of gameplay.

The combination of the new image processing system and deep learning technology will help to improve image quality. Canon implements the image noise reduction function, which has been previously developed and improved as part of the software for PCs, as a camera function to further improve image quality and contribute to user creativity.

https://filmfreeway.com/EkoInternationalFilmFestival

Canon is working on field tests for this camera and will support capturing definitive and impactful moments at international sporting events to be held in the future.

Going forward, Canon will continue to expand the EOS R SYSTEM lineup of cameras and RF lenses, thereby continuing to meet the demands of a wide range of users and contribute to the development of photography and video culture.

Courtesy :  Africa-Newsroom.com