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Nigeria Animation Among Eight DFM 2024 Selected Animation Projects
ANIGERIAN animation project, ‘ The Legends of Bulan’, produced by Ferdinand Adimefe and directed by Azubuike Joseph Duru, is one of the eight selected by the Durban Filmmart for the 15th yearly DFM Pitch and Finance Forum. The Durban Filmmart 2024 will see the return of the animation elements in its programming in July during the Durban International Film Festival. The DFMI said it received more than 100 applications from animators across the continent and the diaspora, which made the selection of eight projects by the independent evaluation panel very competitive, challenging and exciting. All projects will go through a three- month period of training and development to ensure they are ready to meet investors in Durban. “Global demand for African animation content is growing and international investors are looking for authentic African stories capturing authentic African characterisation,” says Director of the Durban Filmmart Institute, Magdalene Reddy. “Creative talents across the continent are looking for a space to be heard and seen. This is the aim of the Animation programme, which creates visibility for quality African content on the global stage. The strength of the programme lies within these creative individuals who will participate in the DFM Animation Pitch and Finance Forum later this year,” Reddy said. The eight officially selected DFM 2024 animation projects are Jay Fly, produced by Nosipho Maketo van den Bragt and directed by Tiaan Franken ( South Africa), Monster Nanny, produced by Kaya Kuhn and directed by Tafadzwa Hove ( South Africa/ Zimbabwe), Oarona, producers AJ Pitre and Thandiwe Mlauli and directed by Thandiwe Mlauli ( South Africa), ‘ R. E. M’. ( Rapid Eye Motion), produced by Ahmad Abdelhameed and directed by Mahmoud Hemeda ( Egypt), The Legend of Hyena Man, produced by Matthew Valerian, directed by Elshadye Berhanu and Joshua Faber ( Tanzania), The Legends of Bulan, produced by Ferdinand Adimefe and directed by Azubuike Joseph Duru ( Nigeria), Uli & Tata’s African Nursery Rhymes, produced by Sarah Mallia and directed by Chief Nyamweya ( Kenya), and Unseen, produced by Annemarie du Plessis and co- writers and producers Devon Delmar & Jason Jacobs ( South Africa).
Nigeria Film Festival Association Unveils 2024 Film Festival Calendar
THE leadership of Nigerian Film Festival Association ( NFFA) has said Nigeria will play host to 28 film festivals in different cities across Nigeria in 2024. Public Relations Director of the NFFA, Kate Ezeigbo, disclosed that as at the time of the launch, “there are 28 fast growing and recognised film festivals captured in the calendar.” Ezeigbo, who doubles as the Festival Director of the Rivers International Film Festival ( RIFF) stated that the NFFA decided to launch the calendar early in the year so as to enable creatives in Nigeria and around the world to plan their participation in the festivals. Ezeigbo said the calendar would be published yearly and updated as more festivals come on board. Some of the festivals listed on the 2024 calendar are Coal City Film Festival, Eko International Film Festival, irepresent International Documentary Film Festival, African Indigenous Language Film Festival billed for July, Kaduna International Film Festival billed for August, Bayelsa International Film Festival billed for September, Abuja International Film Festival, Jos International Film Festival, Badagry International Film, Cultural and Sports Festival, and the Kano Indigenous Language of Africa Film Market and Festival billed to hold in the city of Kano as from November 26 to 30, 2024. Others are Rivers International Film Festival slated for October 25 through to October 27, Kingdom Film Festival, and the Victor Thompson Inyang founded Uyo International Theatre and Film Festival, which is billed for October 3 to 5, 2024. The NFFA was established in 2023 to coordinate and regulate all film festivals in Nigeria. Accomplished filmmaker and founder of the Coal City Film Festival, Uche Agbo, currently chairs the association. Information on the festivals can be sourced at www.nigerianfilmfestivals.org.
Films From 33 Countries To Screen At 2024 Coal City Film Festival
THE management of Coal City Film Festival has announced that 41 films from over a hundred movies submitted from across 33 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, South and Northern America and Middle East would screen at the 2024 edition of the Coal City Film Festival ( CCFF). Uche Agbo, founder and Executive Director of Coal City Film Festival, who also is the Chairman of the Nigerian Film Festivals Association, the umbrella body housing all film festivals in Nigeria, stated that the fourth edition of the festival is proposed to hold at the Nike Lake Resort and Hotel from March 21 to 23, 2024. The theme for this year is ‘ Cultural Renaissance’. The theme will centre on how to utilise the powerful medium of film to rekindle a sense of pride in the country’s heritage, rejuvenate and invigorate Nigeria’s cultural landscape while encouraging innovative expressions of our diverse traditions and customs. The festival will feature master classes, panel discussions, palm wine and bush meat roundtable, as well as Southeast entertainment and media night, all designed to encourage local entertainers and creative. Other slated programmes include, networking sessions, pitching sessions to potential sponsors, parties, gala night and awards ceremony.