input2008 kicks off

The Chinua Achebe foyer at Input2008 – registration opened today as delegates were checked in, tagged and bagged… registration at input2008 will remain open at the venue until the 9 may, one day before the conference closes.

Participants at the Made in Africa workshop and training session, a two-day precursor to Input2008 that ended today, as registration for the official conference opened.

Mayenzeke Baza from Port Elizabeth is interviewed live on Radio 2000 by presenters Zai & Victor at Input2008. Mayenzeke is one of three Made in Africa participants whose documentary pitch won him a 3 month Thomson Foundation documentary course in Cardiff, Wales.

Tracey-Lee Dearham from Cape Town takes her turn at the Radio 2000 mic after the news that her pitch was selected as another Made in Africa winning entry.

** The third winner of the documentary award, Makhela Phululu from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was unavailable at the time for a snapshot…but we’re bound to catch up with him over the Input week…

Andy Glynn (DFG) and Sally-Anne Wilson (CBA-DFID Broadcast Media Scheme) – are asked by Radio 2000 about the criteria used for selecting the winning pitches…

All together now… Sally-Anne Wilson, Mayenzeke Baza, Andy Glynne and Tracey-Lee Dearham…

pics by Modise aka Dise

MADE IN AFRICA WORKSHOP UPDATE – hear ye, hear ye!!

The deadline for aspiring participants of The Made in Africa workshop is almost here. Previously there was a call for aspiring filmmakers who have an idea for a ten minute documentary that explores the importance of sport within the context of the 2010 World Cup’; this is no longer the case.

We’re asking you to send us a one-page proposal of an idea you may have, on any theme related to Africa and of course MADE IN AFRICA!!!! If you are selected then you will develop your idea with Christina Burnett, an international pitching trainer from the UK, over the course of the two days. Some of your training sessions will be in front of the whole audience, which is good practice for pitching in some of the international forums. On the 2nd Day, you will pitch in front of a panel of experienced producers and commissioning editors.

The winning pitches will receive SABC and CBA-DFID Broadcast Media Scheme funded places (each worth £10,000) on the Thomson Documentary course in Cardiff 2008.

Please submit:

1. Your CV
2. A one page letter of intent stating why it is important for you to make this film and why you should be selected for the pitching workshop
3. The name, job title and contact details for an industry professional who we can contact as a referee.
4. Your Proposal (Please note this is an application for the training workshop only. Your proposal will be developed during the two days for the purposes of training)

On one side of A4 with the following information:

• Proposed title
• Story and contents of the film: what, who, where, when
• Structure and form: how will you tell the story
• Visual and aural style
• Any other relevant information about the context of the story

DEADLINE FOR PARTICIPANTS WITH PROJECTS HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MONDAY 28th APRIL

PLEASE E-MAIL ALL APPLICATIONS TO: maganthrie@input2008.org.za