IEFTA

A Letter from the IEFTA in Monaco

marco — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 11:46:13 +0000

Dear IEFTA community:

Let me begin by belatedly wishing you all a Happy New Year. Please accept my sincerest hopes for a safe and prosperous 2013 for you and your loved ones.

It has been some time since I last had the opportunity to report on the work of the International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA), but it is my pleasure to do so today.

As you know, the IEFTA’s mission is to promote film education in developing countries and to support emerging filmmakers internationally. Since our inception in 2006, we have honored this mandate and 2012 has been no exception. We have had a very productive year.

At the Cannes Film Festival last May, we hosted an event on behalf of three promising young Ethiopian filmmakers, raising funds to cover their travel to and participation at the festival, and showcasing their work on screen there and in Monte-Carlo. Actor Billy Zane, our new advisory board member, and the honoraryAmbassador Tadelech of the Ethiopian Film Initiative (EFI), co-hosted. It was an exciting, educational and memorable week for all participants.

After our visit to Cannes, we met with our Ethiopian guests to discuss how best to support their continuing film education in country. Among the many recommendations presented, one response was clear and simple: movies. With assistance from Monaco Stars & Bars, we held a month long DVD drive for classic films. We collected 100 DVD’s to augment the small but select library of filmed content at the Ethiopian Film Initiative.

We also learned of a pressing need by the EFI for support to update, maintain and improve its website. As a portal to the nation and its filmmakers, the website is a clearinghouse for information about African film in general and a window on the state of its development. We recognize a mission of critical imperative in this technological challenge.

On October 5th, for the 4th year in a row, the IEFTA sponsored a film night at which we raised 6,350 Euros to be spent on the following

Expand the EFI website’s filmmaker and film databases.
Create digital tools to enable filmmakers to improve and develop their skills and interact internationally.
Update the list of grants and opportunities.
Update the design and enhance the technology of the site.
Underwrite the provision of introductory & advanced film workshops in Addis Ababa.

Simply put, we had another productive year in 2012. To continue our work, we have set ourselves two significant goals for the next 18 months.

1. Continue our tradition of sponsoring 3 Ethiopian filmmakers at Cannes and inviting them to showcase their work in Monaco and Cannes.

2. Co-Host an international conference in Addis Ababa to examine educational programs and film workshops throughout Africa in order to share successes, identify best practices and discover how to make these efforts sustainable.

Board members Ragnhild Ek, Moira Griffith and consultant Mitch Levine are already at work on the second objective which we plan to implement immediately after Cannes 2014. Since we’ve achieved similar objectives in the past, we know that both are eminently attainable, subject only to our ability to finance them.

Moving forward, I ask each of you to consider how you would like to be involved in the effort, whether contributing time, talent or resources or any combination thereof. A prime sponsor for either project is always welcome, but there are so many ways you can meaningfully contribute and participate beyond signing a check. While the rewards of involvement may be hard to quantify, the qualitative difference that you can make in the lives of our Ethiopian neighbors is frankly, staggering.

I look forward to sharing with you our plans and our progress as we move forward; I trust you know by now that I won’t bombard you with emails!

I can be reached at this email or the numbers listed below for any further information desired or questions unanswered about the IEFTA and our ambitious plans for 2013 and beyond.

Sincerely,

Marco

Note from the Board

marco — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 08:53:30 +0000

Dear friends of the IEFTA:

Myself and the board members of the IEFTA would like to thank you for your support last Tuesday night at the screening of “Dinner at the No Gos*”. We raised close to 7,500 Euros!

These funds will go a long way to:

Expand the filmmaker and film database.
Create new information tools that enable the filmmakers to improve and develop their skills and interact internationally.
Present a new updated list of grants/opportunities.
Enhance the site and bring it up-to-date technically.
continue film workshops in Addis Ababa.

Again, thank you for your support! If you haven’t seen the photos from the event, please click on the links below.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.506795576031066.107941.227124707331489&type=3

“Dinner at the No-Go’s” European Premiere

marco — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:00:55 +0000

The evening was a great success! Thank you to all those who were able to attend!

For more photos, please visit our Facebook profile:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.506795576031066.107941.227124707331489&type=3

“Dinner at the No-Go’s” Private Screening

marco — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 21:26:41 +0000

Local Press Coverage:

CityOut Monaco

Indiewire Magazine 2012

admin — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:37:31 +0000

Young Ethiopian Filmmakers on once-in-a-lifetime trip to Cannes

admin — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 20:44:11 +0000

Three talented young Ethiopian Filmmakers just finished a once-in a-lifetime experience when they spent a week in Monte Carlo and at the Cannes Film Festival, attending film screenings and premieres, participating in meetings, workshops, and seminars, and being feted at dinners and parties, and presenting their own work. Filmmakers Henok Mebratu, Olisarali Olibui and Yidnekachew Shumete, are participants of an educational program sponsored by The International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA) and the Ethiopian Film Initiative (EFI). All three were chosen after a rigorous competition between fellow Ethiopian filmmakers vying for a chance to participate in this program."

Marco Orsini, Richard Bruer, Billy Zane, Tom Oliver at the IEFTA charity diner

Their experience began in Monte Carlo, the home base of the IEFTA, when they attended a Benefit Dinner in their honor at the beautiful Villa Nocturne hosted by IEFTA President Marco Orsini. Funders and supporters of the IEFTA and EFI program were on hand as well as members of the international press and film industry who came in from Cannes for the event and to meet the filmmakers. Actor Billy Zane (“Titanic”) flew in from the US to support the event and to serve as mentor for the filmmakers. Marco Orsini, President of the IEFTA announced that Mr. Zane has joined the organization’s Advisory Board. He also announced that in addition to the focus on Ethiopia (begun in 2008) and its filmmaking community, the IEFTA would also be broadening its educational outreach and support to include young emerging talent from other African nations.

The next day was spent in workshops, and meetings preparing the three for theirtrip to the Festival in Cannes where they were to meet the industry. Veteran Producer Mitch Levine guided them through discussions, trial pitching sessions and filmmaking workshops. That evening at CREM in Monte Carlo, the filmmakers screened their short films, to the public, program supporters, and local Monaco media. Following the screenings Billy Zane led the three in a discussion of their work, their film-making vision and the passion for their art, and commitment to the advancement of Ethiopia’s – and Africa’s – film-making community.

On to Cannes and the 65th Cannes Film Festival where the three were immersed in the industry. From morning to night they traversed the Festival, guided by Mitch Levine, meeting and speaking with industry professionals such as Co-Director of the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival Cameron Bailey and his team of programmers specializing in Africa; Film Fund representatives from France and Norway whose funding programs specifically benefit the filmmakers’ region; Film Commissioners and Film Festival directors and programmers from Scandinavia, Europe, India, Canada, US and elsewhere to speak about co-production opportunities as well as presenting their work to the public; distributors and acquisition executives who explained what they were looking for from the global marketplace to bring to their countries and audiences; public relations and marketing executives, as well as journalists and many many others. They had numerous opportunities of networking and attending receptions – where the real work of the festival is done – and talked, met and mingled with the world’s film industry.

"As a filmmaker from a developing country, I used to wonder how things worked in the developed world," says Yidnekachew Shumete, "and this trip gave me the inside look and on how industry professionals operate and how I can best use this new knowledge in my career. It was magnificent! It will be interesting to see if things will be the same when I get back home?"

"I can simply say that these were the most efficient six days for my career," says Henok Mebratu. "The experience has completely raised my confidence in the contexts of developing my work and pitching, selling, marketing and showing my films. Now, better knowing how the film industry works, I can upgrade my products to meet international standards."

Bruno Chatelin Gary Springer and Christophe Kourdouly

"This trip to Monaco and Cannes was very impressive," states Olisarali Olibui. "I have traveled to a lot of festivals, but I have never seen this type of program with all the workshops, seminars, and meetings for a filmmaker. I have learned a lot about distribution, co-productions, etc. As an indigenous person - I can now be instrumental in helping other indigenous filmmakers. It was so amazing. I appreciate the EFI and IEFTA efforts - and for selecting my projects and me!! It was very strong work, and was much more than just an organized visit - but provided me with education, training and important contacts. I am looking forward to what the future will bring for this program and for me.

Ambassador Tadelech Haile-Michael, a founding member of the EFI in Ethiopia, says: "I want to underline the unique opportunities brought to the Ethiopian filmmakers and the EFI by the Monaco and Cannes visit and that it is now up to them to pursue their contacts. This was a special new experience both for the filmmakers and myself and we all benefited. Billy Zane's participation and the commitment and kindness of the people working with IEFTA was so touching it has inspired me to work more to strengthen our common dream of the EFI. Meeting heads of institutions, film commissions, fund providers, film school directors and instructors and other different role players that can become EFI partners and help support in the creation of a film fund and/or a film school to benefit our emerging filmmakers was incredibly valuable."

The IEFTA and EFI form an international / Ethiopian partnership committed to raising the professional standards of the Ethiopian film industry. The EFI provides capacity building support for Ethiopian documentary and feature film producers and directors as well as encouraging and training local and international entities to use local Ethiopian filmmakers.

The IEFTA – through its Global Film Expression and partnerships with organizations such as the Ethiopian Film Initiative – is dedicated to the discovery, nurture and promotion of filmmakers throughout the developing world. The IEFTA has been supporting Emerging talent since 2006 and has been specifically supporting Ethiopian film since 2008.

Special thanks to Ethiopian Airlines for great help in making the visit possible!!!

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