2ND iREP DOC U FILM FESTIVAL; MARCH 22-25; LAGOS

Dear Friend  in film,

We formally extend invitation to you to participate in the 2012 iREP Documentary Film Festival, slated for March 22-25, 2012.  We invite you to propose any of your films that you deem related to the theme of the festival, Democracy and Culture: The Documentary Intervention for screening during the festival (see attached poster).

 Conversation during the festival will also be focussed on this broad theme; and we request that you participate as a speaker/discussant.

Prof. Jean-Paul Colleyn, director of Institute of African studies, Paris, has agreed to give the KEYNOTE as well as conduct a MASTER WORKSHOP during the Festival.

The Workshop session and a segment of the Conference will, however, consider the potentials of the Nigerian films as presently constituted to -- in their production scheme -- explore and exploit the documentary format in its production virtues; hence the workshop is schematised under the generic theme, IS NOLLYWOOD DOCUMENTARY? The idea is also to explore the potentials and possibilities of theNollywood movies to spur the vocation of documentary film making in Nigeria.

The unfortunate situation in the Nigeria polity has grossly undermined the economic prospects of the country and consequentially frustrated our ability to raise fund for the purpose of the festival, but we are resolved to proceed with our plans even as we continue to strive to get the support of potential supporters for the project.

Kindly let us know if you would be available to participate at the festival on the mentioned dates.

Sgnd: FEMI ODUGBEMI

Executive Director, IREP

THEMATIC FRAMEWORK

DEMOCRACY AND CULTURE – THE DOCUMENTARY FILM INTERVENTION

Emerging realities on the African continent indicate a shift in the information order and definition of governance. The conversation is fast becoming a dialogue on the experiences that had brought us here and how the future can be shaped. A new sense of involvement and pro active participation, on the part of the people, are becoming the indices of our democracy. How documentary filmmaking can effectively contribute to this new development is a critical point of discourse.

It is undeniable that this new sensibility is in large part, made possible by a new generation of Africans who are finding new voices in the possibilities that technology provides. Equipped with a new media device, new voices are springing up with fresh perspectives to known issues, and impulsively curating a reference for the future in ways that are completely participatory.

If participatory democracy must become a part of our culture, it must be deliberately cultivated, and film as a popular art provides a veritable medium with which this new energy can be given a clear direction. How well is the African filmmaker conscientious to his/her role in creating a wholesome understanding of these sporadic emerging realities? Can documentary films help us find a pattern that can become a reference for the future?

Africa is taking a flight into new horizon. A never-before charted path into a future that is characterized by good governance, accountability, rule of law, justice, equity, true democracy, and responsible leadership. Documentary filmmaking can help to midwife this process.

By Olanrewaju Olupona

Festival Project Director

3 Oguntona Crescent, Gbagada Phase 1, Lagos Nigeria. P.O. Box 36 Surulere. T: +234 803 425 1963, +234 802 201 6495, +234 803 403 0646 E: info@irepfilmfestival.com; www.irepfilmfestival.com

'Unhinged: Surviving Jo'burg' for February edition of iREP-GOETHE Monthly Screening

The Film will be screened fro 2pm on Saturday February 25 at the Nigerian Film Corporation Lagos Liaison Office, Obalende, Ikoyi Lagos (by Radio Nigeria). Gate: FREE

Unhinged: Surviving Jo’burg is an honest, quirky and sometimes frenzied documentary about Johannesburg, South Africa’s biggest city

and the world’s gateway to Southern Africa. With rapid narrative, dry humour, trivial factoids, insightful observations and a highly enjoyable soundtrack, the film tells a slice-of-city-life story. It’s a personal video snapshot of today’s city, providing a unique

opportunity for viewers to get a glimpse inside a place that the worldhas a very fuzzy sense of.

   

The film aims to give the audience a small taste of Johannesburg,using the city itself as the principle character. Adrian Loveland, an entrepreneur who was born and raised in Jo’burg, is the slightly

eccentric tour guide. Insights are provided through a selection of conversations with an engaging group of Jo’burgers, including Robbie Brozin (CEO of Nandos), Ferial Haffajee (editor of the City Press),

Justice Malala (political analyst) and Victor Kgomoeswana (MoneyBiz founder).

Johannesburg has often been portrayed in the world’s media as a death

trap, or marketed as the ultimate place of gold and opportunity. In

reality the city lies somewhere in between and, although Unhinged

doesn’t dish up all the answers, it gives a representation that

enables viewers to get closer to the truth of what Johannesburg really

is.                                                                   

In some parts the film feels like a documentary and in others a

travelogue. There are also segments, such as when Loveland delivers

his impressions of wild animal calls, which are pure comic relief.

Johannesburg itself is somewhat unhinged and so is this movie.

Unhinged acknowledges the scary aspects of Johannesburg, yet it leaves

the viewer feeling extremely positive and excited by the obvious

energy and potential of a city that has a lot of work ahead. In the

words of Robbie Brozin, one of the most charismatic of the interview

subjects: “You feel like, you’re here, so let’s, like, fix this place.

You can’t fix Paris, you can’t fix London, you can’t fix Sydney, but

you can fix Jo’burg”.

Writer/Director: Adrian Loveland

Producers: Adrian Loveland and Pascal Schmitz

--

FEMI ODUGBEMI, rpa.

Managing Director/CEO,

DVWorx Studios & Zuri24 Media,

www.dvworxstudios.com

+234.8034251963

@femiodugbemi

www.irepfilmfestival.com 3 Oguntona Crescent, Gbagada Phase 1, Lagos Nigeria. P.O. Box 36 Surulere. T: +234 803 425 1963, +234 802 201 6495, +234 803 403 0646 E: info@irepfilmfestival.com

POSTPONEMENT OF JANUARY CONFERENCE-WORKSHOP OF THE iREP

Dear Friends

Fraternal Greetings from the iREP Collective,

Like most Nigerians and indeed peoples of the world, we woke up on January 1 to the shock of about 150 per cent increment in the cost of gasoline, which has since thrown the entire country into a tailspin of instability marked by wild street protests, pockets of violence all around the country; and the threat of an indefinite National Strike that is scheduled to start January 11 – five days to the commencement of our pre-iREP DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL Conference and Workshop slated for January 17-20, 2012.

From past experiences of similar scenario, once Labour declared a National strike, the country’s social and economic activities become totally paralysed, and it could take nearly two to three weeks before order and stability are restored; even if Labour were to call off the strike few days after its declaration.

As it is, the entire national mood is gripped by tension and most businesses are closing shops. In fact, managers of our choice venue and partner on the project, the Terra Kulture Art Centre in the elite Victoria Island part of Lagos, have indicated that from this weekend, they would close shop as their workers would be joining the national strike. They also want to avoid falling victims of the vandalism and violence that usually trailed such National Strike/Protests.

Also many of the would-be participants in the Conference and the Master-class have started returning regrets. Especially students of the various Films, TV and Broadcasting schools whom we expect to be the beneficiaries of the Master-class and Workshop (slated as part of the Conference) would be proceeding on break due to the call for national strike.

From our study of the situation, there are serious and complicate issues of not just inauspiciousness of the time and logistics but also Safety and Security involved.

It is on account of these various factors that we REGRET to inform you of the POSTPONEMENT of the said CONFERENCE to March as part of the 2nd  iREP International Documentary Film Festival.

We are aware of the sacrifice that you have made -- out of your busy schedule and calendar – in reserving the earlier date – January 17-20 -- to honour our invitation but in the extant circumstance that we find ourselves in Nigeria, we have no other options than to shift the Conference ahead.

Our proposal however, is to still request your esteemed person to consider being part of the main festival in March. Details will be sent to you in due course.

Again, while we appreciate your enthusiastic response to our earlier invitation, we regret the inconvenience that this change of date would cause your personal programmes. We however request that you kindly consider our new proposal.

Regards

Femi Odugbemi

Executive Director

iREP INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL,

femi@irepfilmfestival.com

www.irepfilmfestival.com

www.irepfilmfestival.com 3 Oguntona Crescent, Gbagada Phase 1, Lagos Nigeria. P.O. Box 36 Surulere. T: +234 803 425 1963, +234 802 201 6495, +234 803 403 0646 E: info@irepfilmfestival.com

PINA, award winning film in 3D, screens on Saturday, DEC.10; SIlverbird Cinema, Lagos; 3pm. FREE entry

Goethe-Institut Nigeria in cooperation with iRep Documentary
Film Forum (iREP) and the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) cordially invites you to the December edition of the Monthly Film Screening.

The choice film for the month is PINA, a feature-length dance film in 3D,
based on the life and works of Pina Bausch, directed by acclaimed
German director Wim Wenders (Buena Vista Social Club). It features the
unique and inspiring art of the great German choreographer who died in
summer 2009.
Together with the ensemble of the Tanztheater Wuppertal,
Wenders takes the audience on a sensual, visually stunning journey of
discovery into a new dimension: straight onto the stage with the
legendary Tanztheater Wuppertal ensemble– the place which for 35
years, was the home and centre for Pina Bausch’s creativity.

FUND AND GRANTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR FILMMAKERS

Funds and Grants

Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Society Foundation

http://www.gottliebfoundation.org/
Provides funding for visual artists who incorporate video and film into their work.

Ann Arbor Film Festival
http://aafilmfest.org/
Gives out $20,000 via various awards to each year’s winners.

Austin (Texas) Film Festival Competition
http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/
The Austin Film Festival offers numerous awards, but a registration fee is required for the various competitions.



Center for Asian American Media
Media Fund
http://mediafund.asianamericanmedia.org/
The Center for Asian American Media provides funding and support for provocative and engaging Asian American film and media projects from independent producers. CAAM awards production and completion funds for projects intended for public television broadcast. Since 1990, more than $3 million has been granted to over 150 projects. Funding is made possible with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Open Door Completion Funds are available up to $20,000 and Production Funds, $20,000 to $50,000 on average.

iREP- GOETHE COLLABORATION TAKES OFF SEPT 17, WITH SCREENING OF VIVA RIVA

On Saturday September 17, the iREPRESENT Documentary Film Forum (iREP) and the Goethe Institut Lagos will formally begin a comprehensive relationship that will see the two organisations collaborating on a number of projects in the area of films. The projects will include a Monthly Film Screening session; Training and Capacity Building programmes; Festivals and others.
The core objective of the collaboration is to facilitate relationship between the German and the Nigerian film Industries through sharing of ideas and products; networking of personnel as well as exposure to the intricacies of each of the film cultures. The overall objective of the collaboration, however, is to help quicken the development of the nascent Nigerian film industry.

MONTHLY FILM SCREENING
In particular, the Monthly Screening and Discussion session is conceptualized to facilitate elevation of film language and understanding of the artistic narratives of cinema in a way that empowers storytellers to explore more their intrinsic artistic voices. The screenings are being curated to push the boundaries of the Nigeria film industry’s appreciation for narratives that underscore the interconnectivity of the human experience even in a globalised culture.
The film screening which will consist of short and long films will be introduced by experts and the public will get the chance to discuss with film professionals after each session. Thesession will encourage a discussion on the film screened between professionals and the public.
The choice film for the September 17 edition, is ‘VIVA RIVA!’, (98 min, DR Congo), directed by Djo Munga, with Patsha Bay, Manie Malone. It tells the story of Riva, an operator, a man with charm and ambition in equal measure who resides in Kinshasa. With petrol in short supply in DRC's capital, Riva and his sidekick pursue a plot to get hold of a secret cache — barrels of fuel they can sell for a huge profit. Of course they're not the only ones who want the stuff…
Screening starts at 3pm, and will be followed by Discussions among fil experts and the general audience. There will also be refreshment and light entrtainment.

WORKSHOP ON STORYTELLING, SCRIPTING & CONTENT MANAGEMENT

iREPRESENT International Documentary Film Forum (iREP) in colaboration with the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the United Consulates Lagos presents the:
2011 WORKSHOP ON STORY TELLING, SCRIPTING AND CONTENT MANAGEMENT, an industry clinic targeted at professionals within the various disciplines of film making.

The workshop will specifically focus on scripting, storytelling and content management.

About 30 participants, whose vocations have to do with scripting and content management have been drawn from the various guilds and associations to participate in the workshop, which will cover both Fiction and non-Fiction storytelling and scripting. The participants were nominated by their various Guilds.

The Instructor of the workshop is MICHAEL GOZZARD, a multiple-award winning scripter and content manager of international repute fropm the USA, who has traversed the major centres of film production and discourse around the world instructing similar workshops and clinics.