Presentation on film festivals and markets for South Africans

Markets and Festivals

By

Mayenzeke Baza and Pascal Schmitz

What is the purpose of a festival?

www.filmandtvtransformation.org

Purpose1. Buzz around the film

2. Raising your profile

3. Getting attention of buyers (distributors)

4. Networking

5. Learning (from good films, panel discussions)

6. Pitching new projects

7. One on one sessions

8. Co-production


Let’s Compare Feature Festivals

Cannes/Berlinale DIFF


Let’s Compare Feature Festivals

CANNES/BERLINALE

Red carpet, paparazzi, celebrities, global media buzz, black tie

Narrow selection of films, hardly any SA films…e.g.. Skoonheid: Oliver Hermanus at Cannes

Short films - Launch pad for new directing talent

Berlinale Talent Campus

DIFF

You will be the only one

wearing a tuxedo- no red

carpet

More SA Films- Higher

chances to get selected

DFM- Durban Film Mart

Talent Campus- Satellite

TC from Berlinale


Let’s Compare Documentary Festivals

IDFA/HOTDOCS ENCOUNTERS


Let’s Compare Documentary Festivals

IDFA/HOTDOCS

Forum pitching sessions as main events

Top docies in the world- narrow selection

Some SA films every now and then

Docs for sale/Doc shop - mini market element

Education (Top international speakers) – panels, master classes, workshops

Networking (very social)

ENCOUNTERS

Aljazeera pitch- small

scale

More SA films

No mini market

Education- panels, master

classes, workshops

Networking


What is the purpose of a Film/TV Market?t


Purpose

1. Selling!! – Stands by Sales agents, Distributors

2. Acquisitions (Buyers)- Walk arounds by Distributors, Broadcasters

3. Networking !!!

4. Education – Panels, workshops, keynotes

5. Media buzz / launches- New TV shows ..e.g. black sails

6. Co-production

7. No red carpet screenings


Let’s Compare TV Markets

MIPCOM/MIPTV DISCOP


Let’s Compare TV Markets

MIPCOM/MIPTV

Biggest TV/ Content market in the world

Content from any country for any country

More demand to match supply

Education (Top international speakers) –panels, keynotes, industry screenings

Networking- More business (daytime), Less social (night time)

13000 participants, 4400 buyers, 1700 exhibitors, 100 countries, 250 journalists

DISCOP

The only TV market in Africa

Content from any country predominantly for African buyers

More supply than demand

Education (more local speakers)

Networking – benefit of most participants having focus on Africa, more accessible than at bigger markets

2000 participants, 800 companies,70 countries, unknown nr buyers


Let’s Compare Film Markets

EFM/CANNES MARKET AFM


Let’s Compare Film Markets

EFM/CANNES MARKET

Art-house and Indie Films

Eurocentric market- only 7% attendees are US

In-development project and finished films

Exhibition format like TV markets - Stands

Networking- more social

Cannes - 12000 participants, 2000 buyers, 108 countries, 1000 production companies, 400 stands, 5400 films

EFM- 8000 participants, 1700 buyers, 94 countries, 170 stands, 816 films

AFM

Genre and Commercial Films

US market focused

99 % finished films market

Sales office format- hotel rooms only

Networking – more business

400 distributors, 1000 production companies, 8000 industry professionals, 70 countries,400 films,

More that $800m in deals every year


How to Prepare? 1. Research the Market/Festival purpose

2. Research the buyers/investors/ key players

3. Know your projects - do they match the market?, logline, one liner

4. PR and social media campaign at least a month in advance e.g. Facebook, Twitter

5. Package your product – artwork, trailer, format facts, . e.g. genre, running time, stage of the project. Electronic versions are best; websites,vimeo,pdfs

6. Package yourself/company- business cards, personal profile, business profile (various versions : 400 words, 100 words etc)

7. Gain access to markets/festival databases- request meetings at least 2 months in advance having done all of the above

8. Prepare your spontaneous elevator pitch- your project in 30 seconds,twitter pitch


Now you there…now what? 1. Exercise and pray in the morning - go to market/festival with a positive attitude;

people want to meet happy people

2. Orientate yourself at the market/festival on first day- be early and walk around

3. Attend any first timer events/workshops and all official social events

4. Contact the media department or publicity office and try get your story published

5. Keep your breath fresh at all times

6. Look presentable- like you mean business

7. If you have meetings, get there on time ..preferably early

8. Do not pitch in the toilet or within the first 10 minutes of meeting someone

9. Focus on creating relationships- sell yourself more than your project


Back home…now what?

1. Exercise and pray in the morning- do not stop

2. Collect any PR published and duplicate to your social media network and local media outlets

3. Send a follow up email and keep the relationships going

4. Send regular emails to keep interested parties updated with your project developments

5. Add all contacts you made to your database , e.g. gmail contacts – add info like, market you met them at and description of them and what they do

6. Share what you’ve learnt with your peers!... UBUNTU!


Dates Festival Focus Market Focus City, Country

16-26Jan 2013 Sundance Film Festival

Feature Film &

Documentary Park City, USA

6-14Feb 2013 Berlinale

Feature Film &

Documentary

European Film

Market Feature Film Berlin, Germany

12-14Mar 2013

Rio Content

Market TV Content Rio, Brazil

5-10April 2013 MIPTV TV Cannes, France

April 2013 Hot Docs Documentary Toronto, Canada

14-23 May,

2013 Cannes Film Festival Feature Film

Cannes Film

Market Feature Film Cannes, France

7-12 Jun 2013 Sheffield Doc Fest Documentary Meet Market Dcoumentary Sheffield, UK

24-27 Jun 2013

Sunny Side of

the Doc Documentary La Rochelle, France

28Aug-7Sept

2014 Venice Film Festival Feature Films Venice, Italy

26 Sept-10Oct.

2014 Rio Film Festival Feature Films Rio, Brazil

5-15Sept 2014 TIFF Feature Toronto, Canada

6-10Oct 2014 MIPCOM TV Content Cannes, France

6-13Nov 2014 AFM Feature Film LA, USA

28Nov-1Dec

2014 IDFA Documentary Amsterdam, Netherlands


Funding and assistance available

to attend festivals


1. NFVF: Festival and Market attendance fund

2. DTI: EMIA (Export Market Investment Assistance) Scheme

I. Individual Company Assistance Schemes e.g. IE : Individual Exhibition

II. Group Schemes e.g SSAS emerging exporters group delegations organised through industry associations e.g. ATFT

Questions ?


[email protected]


http://www.filmandtvtransformation.org

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Presentation on film festivals and markets for South Africans