INTERNATIONAL EMERGING FILM TALENT ASSOCIATION (IEFTA)
PARTNERS FOR THE SECOND YEAR WITH THE
EUROPEAN FILM MARKET ON THE
BERLINALE AFRICA HUB
TO PRESENT AND SUPPORT PANELS, SESSIONS, POP-UPS & RECEPTIONS
BEYOND THE RAGING SEA
THE AMAZING TRUE-LIFE RESCUE STORY OF ADVENTURERS
OMAR SAMRA AND OMAR NOUR
PRESENTED BY IEFTA
IN COLLABORATION WITH DHL, UNDP, AND UNHCR
WILL HAVE ITS INTERNATIONAL ‘MARKET’ SCREENING PREMIERE AT EFM
The International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA), a Monaco based not for profit organization working with filmmakers from emerging economies, will partner for the second year in the “Berlinale Africa Hub,” an initiative of the European Film Market (EFM). Located in the Marriott Hotel Berlin, the Africa Hub provides an international forum for communication and networking for African filmmakers and creatives with distributors, buyers and other film professionals, as well as for filmmakers who are active on the continent, in particular in its sub-Saharan regions.
IEFTA will sponsor panel discussions, speed dating sessions, support for Sudanese & Ethiopian popups and a reception for African Hub Participants. The Ethiopian pop-up features several films made by IEFTA alums, including Moges Tafesse’s, Enchained (2019), which is currently in US and EU theatrical release.
IEFTA is also underwriting a panel focused on building relations between filmmakers and foundations, using film to reach a target audience. That panel is scheduled for Monday 24 February, from 15:30-16:30 and called, “Roadmaps: Forging New Synergies for Film Production with Foundations: ‘Edutainment.’” Unfortunately, works commissioned by foundations – and not just in Africa – are too often overlooked by cinephiles on the festival circuit. Participating in the panel will be Jarreth Merz, from Ghana’s Urban Republic; as well as an alumni of our GFE program, Tamara Dawit (Egypt); Keith Shiri, a leading international festival programmer and consultant; and long-time IEFTA mentor, UNHCR veteran and Executive Producer of Beyond the Raging Sea, Ragnhild Ek. Moderated by Theresa Hill (Acquisitions Manager, South Africa)
Last year, IEFTA supported Ethiopia’s first major presence in the Berlinale with the panel discussion, Spotlight: Ethiopia’s Emerging Film Industry. This year, IEFTA will be supporting the Africa Hub Talks Series, Spotlight: Sudan’s Awakening as a Film Industry Player - Sunday, 23 February, 15:30-16:30. Sudan has emerged as an up-and-coming African film market, with talented filmmakers, storytellers and key-players focused on making their mark on the industry and the world. This session will explore Sudan’s emergence as an exciting content-creator, review new initiatives and explore opportunities for international collaboration. Panelists include: Mohamed Awad Farah (Sudanese Filmmaking Association); Talal Afifi (Sudan Independent Film Festival); Sara Abbas Karoum (Sudanese Filmmaking Association); and moderated by Prudence Kolong (Consultant, Sweden).
NETWORKING HOUR at the Africa Hub with IEFTA - Sunday, 23 February, 17:00-18:00
Join IEFTA President Marco Orsini and key IEFTA team members as we discuss our initiatives to build capacity, support creativity and develop opportunity in emerging countries worldwide. RSVP to lacey@iefta.org
Besides the partnership with the Africa Hub, IEFTA will be there with Beyond The Raging Sea. The film will be having its official, international, ‘market’ premiere screening at the EFM. A collaboration by DHL, UNDP, UNHCR and IEFTA, and Directed by Marco Orsini, Beyond The Raging Sea, will take place on Monday, 24 February, 15:00 at Cinema 15, CinemaxX Berlin - Potsdamer Platz.
Beyond The Raging Sea follows the harrowing tale of two Egyptian adventurers, Omar Samra and Omar Nour (affectionately known as O2), as they take on the world’s toughest row, an unsupported, perilous 3,000 nautical mile journey from the Canary Islands to Antigua. The extreme journey is part of an annual ocean-rowing race called the Atlantic Challenge. They didn’t make it. Team O2 dedicated their row to raising awareness of the global refugee crises. In an ironic twist, Nour and Samra faced the same dangers, terrors and decisions of those they meant to recognize and relieve. Check out the spectacular two minutes promo :
The “Berlinale Africa Hub” is an initiative of the European Film Market (EFM) realized in co-operation with the World Cinema Fund, with Berlinale Talents, and with the Berlinale Co-Production Market.
Among the missions of IEFTA, a Monaco-based, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, is to discover and promote emerging cinema talent from around the world, encourage dialogue between filmmakers, promote cultural diversity and international understanding, and engage the art of cinema. Focusing on the world’s developing regions, IEFTA provides opportunity and education to those with little to no access to resources for cinematic expression.
For more information on IEFTA’s Berlinale initiatives or on IEFTA programs around the world contact (year round as well as in Berlin): Gary Springer, Springer Associates PR, +1.914.659.4802, gary@springerassociatespr.com.
14.02.2020 | Berlin's blog
Cat. : FILM