Call for Entries: Sithengi Feature Film Co-production Forum (FFCF) - Matching African Feature Film Projects with International Partners

The Pitching Forums will take place in two rounds, the first round in July and the second and final round at the Sithengi Film & TV Market in November.  These deadline dates are:

First Round Deadline:   1 June 2005

Second Round Deadline:   30 September 2005

(No extensions will be granted on these deadlines)

Following the success of the previous editions, this year's Sithengi Feature Film Co-Production Forum (FFCF) will follow the same process as before, modelled on Cinemart, the Rotterdam Co-Production market.  We have however made one change.  We will no longer be including the project development consultation round with an international expert, usually held in the first half of the year. 

The reason for this is with the launch of AVEA, feature film projects selected for this process will have the opportunity to go through various developmental and consultation rounds.  Projects selected for AVEA will automatically be eligible for selection for the FFCF at Sithengi.

Feature Film Co-Production Forum (FFCF)

July Pitching Session

Producers selected from the first round of entries will be eligible to pitch their projects to South African corporate financing bodies and government funding agencies in Johannesburg.  In 2004, these organizations included the Industrial Development Corporation, Rand Merchant Bank, Ster Kinekor, the National Film and Video Foundation, MNET, the SABC2 and 3 and SASANI.  This session will include a series of one-on-one meetings between the producer and the corporate funding body or organisation that has selected their project.

Producers selected for this round must please note that this pitching session will only be held in Johannesburg and the onus is on the producer to find his/her own means to attend.

Feature Film Co-Production Forum (FFCF)

Sithengi Pitching Session

A final call will then be announced for all projects to be entered into the 2005 FFCF - this will be open to producers who have gone through the local pitching session in July and those who haven't, but whose projects fulfil the necessary criteria.

The final selection of projects will be forwarded to invited international co-producers, financiers and distributors, prior to Sithengi 2005.  These international industry leaders will then select the projects and producers with whom they wish to meet and the Sithengi team will set up one-on-one meetings with the interested co-producers and financiers.

The objective of the FFCF is to ensure that you will be ‘matched' with the correct people - those who are genuinely interested in your project with the capacity to come on board with either financing or as a co-producer. 

In addition, all projects selected for the 2005 FFCF, with the necessary criteria, will be packaged and entered into the following international co-production markets on behalf of the producers:

• Mannheim Co-Production Market, Germany
  www.mannheim-filmfestival.com
• Cinemart, Rotterdam
  www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com

NOTE:
If you are selected for the local pitching sessions and/or for the Feature Film Co-Production Forum (FFCF) at Sithengi 2005, you have to be a registered and fully-paid up member. 

THE CRITERIA FOR ENTRY INTO THE 2005 FFCF ARE:

• The Feature Film Co-Production Forum is only open to producers or projects with producers attached
• At least 20% of your proposed budget has to be secured and/or
• A pre-sale or distribution deal needs to be in place
• A Director must be attached
• The attachment of key Cast is beneficial

PLEASE NOTE:
Projects entered into the final round of the 2005 FFCF at Sithengi cannot be re-entered into any future Feature Film Co-Production Forums.  Please make sure that your project is at the most advanced stage possible when entering it in the 2005 FFCF.

NB!! For the initial 1 June deadline, projects needn't have 20% of their budget secured or a pre-sale/distribution deal in place, but must have a director attached.  All of the required entry forms and information must be submitted.

ENTRY PROCEDURE:

• Click on the link below and complete the attached co-production application form.  This form must be signed and faxed to Taryn da Canha at 021 430 8186
• Email the following to Taryn da Canha at [email protected]:
  -          1 page synopsis (no longer than 1 page)
  -          3 page treatment (no longer than 3 pages)
  -          1-page finance plan
  -          1-page budget top sheet
  -          Any letters of intent/commitment from financiers,  distributors, broadcasters etc...
  -          1/2-page biography of the producer
  -          1/2-page biography of the director and key cast

[Total number of pages of application: 7 (excluding application form and letters of intent/commitment)]

NOTE:
The lengths of the above application material must be strictly adhered to.  Any incomplete applications or application material that is longer than required will be disqualified and no correspondence will be entered into.

We look forward to receiving your applications and ‘Matching African Feature Film Projects with International Partners!'

For further information, log-on to sithengi.co.za or contact;

Taryn Da Canha
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +27 21 430 8427 / 8160

Co-Pro Market Application Form (60 kB)

Posted on 2005-04-15