The 13th edition of Jumpstart in partnership with Produire au Sud, Nantes, and the French Institute of South Africa is calling for project submissions from emerging African filmmakers/storytellers looking to expand their skill, gain experience, and create valuable relationships.
Presented in partnership with Produire au Sud, Nantes, and the French Institute of South Africa (FISA), Jumpstart is an incubator programme designed to introduce emerging filmmakers to writing and packaging.
The project focuses on project packaging for the international market, with filmmakers introduced to key techniques and tools for scriptwriting and storytelling processes. Guided by script consultants from South Africa and France.
The programme runs concurrent with 15th annual Durban FilmMart (19 to 24 July 2024) , and will be preceded by a series of workshops starting on July 18, with online follow-up sessions in November 2024 and February 2025.
“The partnership with Produire au Sud is one of DFMI’s most long- standing partnerships and one that is ever evolving to suit the needs of filmmakers,” saud Magdalene Reddy, director of the Durban FilmMart Institute. “The programme creates a space for African writers and directors to gain exposure to French producers and industry.”
According to Lucas Taillefer, coordinator of Produire au Sud, Jumpstart’s fruitful collaboration between not only ensures Produire au Sud come to South Africa to learn and share skills, but also the other way around. “Indeed, each year, a project of DFM is invited to come to Nantes during the PAS workshop in the framework of the Festival des 3 Continents in late November.” This meaningful partnership, he added, is made possible thanks to the help of the Institut Français in South Africa.”
Jumpstart application criteria
- Projects in which the producer, director, or writer is an African citizen. Proof of African citizenship must be provided through a certified copy of a valid African passport or identification document. (Africans living in the Diaspora must have African citizenship – proof of passport).
- Projects with a producer and director attached.
- Projects must have a first draft script available.
- Live action fiction features in development only.Applications can be made through the Durban FilmMart Institute website: https://www.durbanfilmmart.co.za/jumpstart-application/
Deadline for applications: February 28 (2024)
The Durban FilmMart 2024 is presented by the Durban FilmMart Institute with principal funding from the Durban Film Office and eThekwini Municipality.
 is now open. Application deadline: 28 February 2024.){kind=link}