DURBAN FILM OFFICE FESTIVALS & MARKETS SUPPORT PROGRAMME FACT SHEET

The Durban Film Office seeks to support the promotion of locally based films by, providing a suitable support programme with clear guidelines and eligibility criteria when applying for support for attendance at markets and festivals.

The Durban Film Office festival and market support programme will sponsor up to a maximum R30,000.00 in associated costs per project annually.

Applicants may apply for sponsorship of:

• (a) flights;

• (b) accommodation;

• (c) registration fees; and

• (d) marketing materials to be used for a festival or market as approved.

Notes

• Applicants may only receive sponsorship once a year.

• Only 1(one) application per applicant will be considered.

• An application does not guarantee sponsorship.

• Support is subject to budget availability.

B. Eligibility Criteria-Can I apply?

• Any applicant / company who has been officially invited to screen their film in a film festival or present a film project in development at an official co-production market, may apply to the Durban Film Office for financial support to attend the festival or market that they have been invited to attend.

• The applicant must be a Durban based production company.

C. Submission Criteria – What must I submit with my application?

• Completed application form.

• Proof of address

• Official letter of invitation from the related festival or market

• Valid passport and visa where applicable

• Project package, including but not limited to synopsis, treatment, showreel (if available

• Motivation letter (minimum of 1 page.

• Detailed itinerary of proposed and confirmed participation/meetings/screenings at the festival or market; and

• Festival screener (festival application only).

• Examples and/ or showreels of previous works if available.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

• Durban based filmmakers whose film has been officially selected to screen In a festival or whose project in development has been officially selected to present or participate in a co-production market, must be aligned with any national, provincial or local government festival and market program, or sister city programme of the Ethekwini Municipality.

• Where a filmmaker’s application falls outside the scope of these eligibility criteria and is primarily based on an exploration mission to promote their company, and in the absence of an official invite to present a specific project at a recognized festival or market, the applicant will be directed to the broader international marketing missions as coordinated by provincial and national bodies.

D. Evaluation Process – How does it work?

The evaluation of applications takes place in three phases:

Phase 1: Technical Evaluation Stage

• The initial evaluation stage will evaluate whether your submission fulfils all the eligibility criteria and if your application includes all the documents required under ‘submission criteria’ (see above).

• The Durban Film Office will contact you via email to request any documentation not submitted and you will have 5 working days to submit these documents.

• If you are unable to submit requested documents within 5 working days from date of first contact, your submission will not be considered, and you will receive a notification that you will need to submit your project during the next project cycle.

Phase 2: Evaluation

• A panel of industry professionals will evaluate your project submission on set criteria (below). The panel will provide final scoring, assessments and recommendations for shortlisting for the phase 3 evaluations.

• Submissions that are not shortlisted will receive a notification that the project has not been successful.

Phase 3: Interview of shortlisted applications

• Project submissions shortlisted in the phase 2 evaluation will receive an invitation to attend an interview.

• Each shortlisted submission will be interviewed by the panel and provided an opportunity to present their project.

• The panel will then provide final scoring, assessments and recommendations to Durban Film Office.

E. Phase 2 Evaluation Criteria- What criteria are used to assess my submission?

Merits of the creative proposal

• Does the project present strength and distinctiveness of the story or subject matter?

• Does the writer demonstrate understanding of story/narrative structure?

Feasibility of the business proposal

• Is there a clearly defined and relevant marketing and / or development plan?

• Is the proposed budget realisable?

• Is the proposed finance plan feasible?

• Is there a clear market / audience for the film?

Track record of the creative team and the production company

• Do the level of skills, experience, and track record of each of the key principals demonstrate reasonable capacity to advance the project?

The market potential for the film

• Does the project demonstrate South African distribution potential?

• Does the project demonstrate international sales potential?

F. Phase 3 Evaluation Criteria- What criteria are used to assess my interview?

Presentation of the creative proposal

• Is the vision of the creative team clear?

• Is the story structure logical / believable?

Feasibility of the business proposal

• Is the proposed team able to make the necessary commitments to the proposed plan?

• Does the team demonstrate ability to raise the necessary financing?

• What level of production value can be achieved?

• Is there a clear understanding of the market for the project? Is there a market for the project?

Track record of the creative team and the production company.

• Does the producer have the necessary skills to advance the project?

• Does the director’s profile and vision align the project objectives?

Overall presentation

• The evaluation panel will be looking for applications that demonstrate a well-thought-out plan to drive the project to final financing and production with realistic projections within a year.

• Any research or other background supporting the application should be included.

G. Contractual Arrangements

• Successful applicants will be required to submit documents to prove the ownership of all the intellectual property rights of the film and to execute financing contracts with the Ethekwini Municipality.

• The Durban Film Office Fund support is to be acknowledged with a Durban Film Office credit and logo on the production and publicity and promotional materials relating to the production, subject to customary exclusions and exceptions.

• Successful applicants will be required to register a Special Purpose Corporate Vehicle (SPCV) incorporated in the Republic of South Africa solely for the purpose of the production of the film project. The SPCV and parent company(e.g.) must have a majority of South African shareholders of whom at least one shareholder must play an active role in the production and be accredited in that role.

H. Funding Drawdowns and Reporting Requirements for successful applicants

• Successful applicants will be notified by letter and will be required to enter into a grant fund agreement with the Durban Film Office, Ethekwini Municipality in terms of s67 of the Municipal Finance Management Act No. 56 of 2003.

• The fund agreement will outline the reporting requirements for the duration of the agreement.

• The fund agreement will outline the funding drawdowns for the duration of the agreement.