Opportunity for 15 Producers to participate in the second Creative Producer Indaba

Submissions have opened for the second Creative Producer Indaba, theprofessional development programme offered by the Realness Institute, in partnership with EAVE, International Film Festival Rotterdam’s IFFR Pro, and the Marrakech International Film Festival’s Atlas Workshops.

The Creative Producer Indaba (CPI)offers 15 Producers an opportunity to further develop their producer-related leadership and entrepreneurial proficiencies and build on their creative skills.

“Strong creative producers with connections to international financing serve as engines that can spur local media markets to grow, adapt, and thrive. Our ultimate aim is to strengthen the pool of capable producers on the continent that can help drive the growth of our respective local markets and to equip these producers with the skills, community, and resources they need to develop and finance our stories,” says Mehret Mandefro, Director of Development and Partnership, Realness Institute.

The programme comprises plenary sessions and group work, unpacking successful case studies, and having access to individual meetings with mentors and guest experts. As this is a producer-facing development programme, the focus will be on project development and planning, financing, legal, PR and marketing, advocacy and lobbying, organisational development, network management, and leadership. 

Kristen Trapp, CEO at EAVE says, “Knowledge sharingleads to progress and EAVE is a community committed to sharing experience and expertise in order to sustain and transform the business in a collaborative effort. EAVE is proud to be a partner of Creative Producer Indaba for the second year to help foster a community of strong producers and industry leaders in Africa and build bridges on the continent as well as internationally.”

The programme is anchored by two workshops. Workshop 1 has online sessions from 9 – 12 November 2022 followed by in-person sessions at Atlas Workshops from 14-17 November 2022 during Marrakech International Film Festival. Workshop 2 has in-person sessions at the International Film Festival Rotterdam from 26 January to 2 February 2023.

“We are very proud and excited to be part of Indaba again, a programme that has proven to be pivotal in producers’ careers,” says Inke van Loocke, Manager CineMart & Rotterdam Lab. “It not only brings their skills to the next level, but it consolidates their creative approach to projects and running a company in a sustainable way. One of the best parts of Indaba is the bridges that are built, nurturing not only individual careers but the industry as a whole. We look forward to the creative exchange and exploring all the opportunities and challenges that will arise during the workshop together with the participants, experts, and partners.”

“Highlights worth mentioning from the 2020 edition were industry insights from Christopher Mack, Director of Grow Creative at Netflix, Makhosazana Khanyile from the National Film and Video Foundation in South Africa, ex-Director of Sundance, Tabitha Jackson, and Vanja Kaludjercic, Festival Director at International Film Festival Rotterdam,” says Elias Ribeiro, Head of Studies and Executive Director of the Realness Institute.The selected participants will be mentored by Group Leaders, Mehret Mandefro and Diana Elbaum, Story Expert, Mmabatho Kau, plus a host of guest speakers, all in leading roles in our industry. The call for submissions goes out to Producers (with and without projects) from Africa; producers from outside the continent with an interest in co-producing with Africa and film professionals from other disciplines such as funding bodies, international sales, distribution, broadcasters, and development executives with a stake in the African marketplace. Through a partnership with Brazilian foundation, Projeto Paradiso, one place is guaranteed for a Brazilian producer with a link to an African project.There are relevant criteria for submissions and costs to cover to participate, like the flight to Rotterdam. All details can be found on the Realness Institute website; https://www.realness.institute/creative-producer-indaba.Importantly, applicants are required to have produced at least one feature fiction, a series, or documentary film; or a minimum of two short films as a lead producer or co-producer (executive producer, associate, or line producer does not qualify). Film professionals must have a minimum of two years of professional experience. The deadline for submissions is 22 August 2022 at 17:00 Central African time. The Creative Producers Indaba is made possible through the support of Documentary Africa, International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA), Institut Français d’Afrique du Sud, the Brazilian foundation Projeto Paradiso,and The Storyboard Collective in partnership with European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs (EAVE), International Film Festival Rotterdam Pro (IFFR Pro) and Marrakech International Film Festival (Atlas Workshops).For any queries, please email submissions@realness.instituteFollow Realness on Twitter @rlnsinstitute, Instagram realnessinstitute or Realness Institute on Facebook for up-to-date information.