Focus Features has chosen five winners for its 2012 Africa First Program, an initiative launched in 2008 that is dedicated to providing financial assistance for upcoming African filmmakers. Each filmmaker will be awarded $10,000 to be used for funding their films' pre-production, production, and/or post-production. "This year we have a dynamic group of filmmakers who will be telling stories that span genres and generations," says Focus CEO James Schamus. "Everyone at Focus is excited to be collaborating wtih them."
The filmmakers selected this year are Vincent Moloi (South Africa) with his film "Berea," Samantha Nell (South Africa) with her film "One Way Ticket," William Nicholson (South Africa) with "The Second Law," Jeremiah Mosese (Lesotho) with his film "Mosongoa," and Ekwa Msangi-Omari (Tanzania) with "Soko." The films' cover a wide range of stories from a neurotic undertaker to a Jewish man living in Johannesburg, to a Kenyan father and daughter, to a teenage girl in stick-fighting contest, to a schoolgirl and her grandmother. All of the shorts are filmed in Africa.
Producer Kisha Cameron Dingle, the founder of Completion Films, is the Program Director of Africa First. Dingle worked with Focus director of development and production Christopher Kopp and production coordinator Jess Kwan in evaluating the submissions for the competition.
"Africa continues to be a region rich with filmmaking potential, and the talented men and women we have selected this year embody it," says Dingle.
In addition to the $10,000 award, each filmmaker will spend a weekend in New York City attending workshop discussions with their co-winners, Focus executives, the directors and coordinators of Africa First, and a board of experts on African cinema. The advisory board members include a number of renowned figures in African film: the founder and executive director of the African Film Festival, Mahen Bonetti; documentarian Jihan El-Tahiri; former programmer of the Toronto International Film Festival's Planet Africa Series, June Givanni; independent producer Sharifa Jokha; South African producer Pedro Pimenta; and Keith Shiri, founder of the Africa at the Pictures film festival in the U.K.
Moloi, Nell, Nicholson, Mosese, and Msangi-Omari will retain the copyrights and distritubtion rights for their shorts, except for North American rights which are retained by Focus Features.
The filmmakers selected this year are Vincent Moloi (South Africa) with his film "Berea," Samantha Nell (South Africa) with her film "One Way Ticket," William Nicholson (South Africa) with "The Second Law," Jeremiah Mosese (Lesotho) with his film "Mosongoa," and Ekwa Msangi-Omari (Tanzania) with "Soko." The films' cover a wide range of stories from a neurotic undertaker to a Jewish man living in Johannesburg, to a Kenyan father and daughter, to a teenage girl in stick-fighting contest, to a schoolgirl and her grandmother. All of the shorts are filmed in Africa.
Producer Kisha Cameron Dingle, the founder of Completion Films, is the Program Director of Africa First. Dingle worked with Focus director of development and production Christopher Kopp and production coordinator Jess Kwan in evaluating the submissions for the competition.
"Africa continues to be a region rich with filmmaking potential, and the talented men and women we have selected this year embody it," says Dingle.
In addition to the $10,000 award, each filmmaker will spend a weekend in New York City attending workshop discussions with their co-winners, Focus executives, the directors and coordinators of Africa First, and a board of experts on African cinema. The advisory board members include a number of renowned figures in African film: the founder and executive director of the African Film Festival, Mahen Bonetti; documentarian Jihan El-Tahiri; former programmer of the Toronto International Film Festival's Planet Africa Series, June Givanni; independent producer Sharifa Jokha; South African producer Pedro Pimenta; and Keith Shiri, founder of the Africa at the Pictures film festival in the U.K.
Moloi, Nell, Nicholson, Mosese, and Msangi-Omari will retain the copyrights and distritubtion rights for their shorts, except for North American rights which are retained by Focus Features.
- 11/20/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
$10,000 In Financing Goes To Five
New Moviemakers For Their Short Films
New York, October 6th, 2011 . For a fourth consecutive year, Focus Features. Africa First program for short films, the worldwide film company.s initiative earmarked exclusively for emerging filmmakers of African nationality and residence, has awarded five filmmakers $10,000 apiece, Focus CEO James Schamus announced today.
The uniquely conceived initiative offers eligible and participating filmmakers the chance to be awarded the $10,000 in financing for pre-production, production, and/or post-production on their narrative short film made in continental Africa and tapping into the resources of the film industry there. Of equal importance, the program brings the filmmakers together with each other and with a renowned group of advisors, major figures in the African film world, for support and mentorship. The short films coming out of the program have been showcased at the Sundance, Toronto, and Berlin Film Festivals; the Film Society of...
New Moviemakers For Their Short Films
New York, October 6th, 2011 . For a fourth consecutive year, Focus Features. Africa First program for short films, the worldwide film company.s initiative earmarked exclusively for emerging filmmakers of African nationality and residence, has awarded five filmmakers $10,000 apiece, Focus CEO James Schamus announced today.
The uniquely conceived initiative offers eligible and participating filmmakers the chance to be awarded the $10,000 in financing for pre-production, production, and/or post-production on their narrative short film made in continental Africa and tapping into the resources of the film industry there. Of equal importance, the program brings the filmmakers together with each other and with a renowned group of advisors, major figures in the African film world, for support and mentorship. The short films coming out of the program have been showcased at the Sundance, Toronto, and Berlin Film Festivals; the Film Society of...
- 10/6/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
2011 Entry Period For Focus Features.
Africa First Program To Commence May 16th;
$10,000 In Financing Apiece Earmarked For New Filmmakers
Focus Features will accept entries for its Africa First Program . entering its fourth year . beginning Monday, May 16th and continuing through Monday, August 22nd. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.
The uniquely conceived initiative, with funds earmarked exclusively for emerging filmmakers of African nationality and residence, is for the fourth consecutive year offering eligible and participating filmmakers the chance to be awarded $10,000 in financing for pre-production, production, and/or post-production on their narrative short film made in continental Africa and tapping into the resources of the film industry there. The program also brings the filmmakers together with each other and with a renowned group of advisors, major figures in the African film world, for support and mentorship. Complete details on Africa First . including application information . can be accessed year-round through www.
Africa First Program To Commence May 16th;
$10,000 In Financing Apiece Earmarked For New Filmmakers
Focus Features will accept entries for its Africa First Program . entering its fourth year . beginning Monday, May 16th and continuing through Monday, August 22nd. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.
The uniquely conceived initiative, with funds earmarked exclusively for emerging filmmakers of African nationality and residence, is for the fourth consecutive year offering eligible and participating filmmakers the chance to be awarded $10,000 in financing for pre-production, production, and/or post-production on their narrative short film made in continental Africa and tapping into the resources of the film industry there. The program also brings the filmmakers together with each other and with a renowned group of advisors, major figures in the African film world, for support and mentorship. Complete details on Africa First . including application information . can be accessed year-round through www.
- 3/2/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Here’s a program we’ve given a lot of ink to on this website, so I won’t rehash. Just read the press release received today, for all the relevant info…
For Immediate Release: 2011 Entry Period For Focus Features’ Africa First Program To Commence May 16th
2011 Entry Period For Focus Features’
Africa First Program To Commence May 16th;
$10,000 In Financing Apiece Earmarked For New Filmmakers
New York , March 2nd, 2011 – Focus Features will accept entries for its Africa First Program – entering its fourth year – beginning Monday, May 16th and continuing through Monday, August 22nd. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.
The uniquely conceived initiative, with funds earmarked exclusively for emerging filmmakers of African nationality and residence, is for the fourth consecutive year offering eligible and participating filmmakers the chance to be awarded $10,000 in financing for pre-production, production, and/or post-production on their narrative short film made in continental...
For Immediate Release: 2011 Entry Period For Focus Features’ Africa First Program To Commence May 16th
2011 Entry Period For Focus Features’
Africa First Program To Commence May 16th;
$10,000 In Financing Apiece Earmarked For New Filmmakers
New York , March 2nd, 2011 – Focus Features will accept entries for its Africa First Program – entering its fourth year – beginning Monday, May 16th and continuing through Monday, August 22nd. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.
The uniquely conceived initiative, with funds earmarked exclusively for emerging filmmakers of African nationality and residence, is for the fourth consecutive year offering eligible and participating filmmakers the chance to be awarded $10,000 in financing for pre-production, production, and/or post-production on their narrative short film made in continental...
- 3/2/2011
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
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