NEFT Vodka and AFRICAN BANK along with the Durban FilmMart, have forged a collaboration to highlight and promote young African talent. Currently in its fourth year, the N.E.F.T.I. (NEFT Emerging Film Talent International) competition – originally developed by NEFT Vodka and The International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA) – aims to challenge aspiring filmmakers across the Continent to showcase their innovative and creative skills while embracing their uniqueness and love for Africa.
Contestants are selected to participate in the Competition by the Durban FilmMart network of filmmakers and NEFTI social media outlets.
Of those applicants, 10 were selected to present a zoom pitch of the concept for their film to a panel of judges consisting of 3 leading film industry professionals – Acclaimed Actress Vivica A Fox, Academy and Tony Award winning producer Bruce Cohen, and President of Post Production 21st Century Fox/Disney Ted Gagliano – and Nahom Abraham, NEFTI 2023 winner. And from those 10, 3 finalists – Lwazi Duma (South Africa); Emma Tollman (South Africa); Moreetsi Gabang (Botswana) – were selected and had 30 days to complete and submit their film. The task involves that each filmmaker weaves African Bank into the storyline without advertising or product placement, using the African Bank Credit Card. The three finalists are also required to send clips documenting their journey. The filmmakers will be mentored by NEFTI founder, Paul Robinson, who will guide them through the filmmaking process – these interactions will be recorded and edited into the content.
The 3 final films will be screened at the DFM (Durban FilmMart), July 22nd, 2023, from 18:15-20:00. The event will take place at Elangeni/Maharani Hotels on the Durban Beachfront in KwaZulu-Natal, where, following a live viewing of the judges’ deliberation, a winner will be crowned in front of a packed audience, which together with an international online viewership will present an Audience Award with a $2,000 prize. The winning filmmaker will get $5,000 for their creativity, as well as a long-term collaboration to create short films, documentaries, and other video content for African Bank.
“We are delighted to partner with NEFTI to celebrate African stories and storytelling. As a bank whose foundation is built on the legacy of serving its people, this partnership was natural, as our main purpose is to put African storytellers on the map by showcasing their creative works. This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to honing the best of African talent and inspiring meaningful conversations in our communities,” says Sbusiso Kumalo, Chief Marketing Officer at African Bank.
NEFTI, DFM and African Bank are excited about the opportunities this partnership will bring to African filmmakers and the broader film industry. “By working together, we aim to elevate African cinema to new heights, celebrate the continent’s diverse stories, and create a lasting impact on the global film landscape,” concludes Kumalo.
“One of the highlights of this NEFTI Africa competition is getting to work with so many talented filmmakers,” states Paul Robinson, Chief Creative Officer of NEFT Vodka. “There is such a diverse group of largely underrepresented talent on the African continent and bringing an opportunity to showcase their stories is what the NEFTI Competition is all about.”
Additional invaluable supporters of the NEFTI Africa Competition are The International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA), Adobe and TikTok.
The N.E.F.T.I. competition was created to find and inspire talented emerging filmmakers internationally and give them an opportunity to spotlight their visions and creativity, expand the filmmaker’s reach into regions that may otherwise not have been available to them and to showcase the diverse creative process of filmmakers from a variety of backgrounds and environments.
Up next – NEFTI Nigeria!!
For more information about NEFTI Africa please visit www.nefticompetition.com. Information can also be found on the NEFTI Instagram page @nefticompetition.