The sixth edition of the Joburg Film Festival wraps Sunday, putting a bow on a week that saw many in the host nation reflecting on South Africa’s long journey in the three decades since the end of apartheid. But among the filmmakers and executives taking part in the second Jbx content market the focus was squarely on the future, as Africa’s streaming wars and an eye toward global dealmaking highlighted how the tide has begun to shift in how the world perceives the continent. “What a time to be alive in Johannesburg,” said festival founder Timothy Mangwedi at Saturday’s award ceremony. “What a time to be alive in Africa.”
Here are five takeaways from a busy week in Johannesburg:
Streamers shift strategies but still drive growth
Amazon Prime Video’s abrupt pull-out from the African market in January has left many local producers frustrated and confused. “It...
Here are five takeaways from a busy week in Johannesburg:
Streamers shift strategies but still drive growth
Amazon Prime Video’s abrupt pull-out from the African market in January has left many local producers frustrated and confused. “It...
- 3/3/2024
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
The awards aim to celebrate outstanding and sustainable work in the world of film and TV production, locations and studios.
Leading figures in the TV and film world have joined the judging panel for Screen International’s inaugural Global Production Awards taking place at the Cannes Film Festival in May this year.
Judges so far announced include Elvis producer Schuyler Weiss, president of production and development at Bazmark; Amazon Studios’ head of worldwide production and post-production, Tim Clawson; producer and former Sundance executive Bird Runningwater; and the Association of Film Commissioners International’s (Afci) executive director, Jaclyn Philpott.
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Leading figures in the TV and film world have joined the judging panel for Screen International’s inaugural Global Production Awards taking place at the Cannes Film Festival in May this year.
Judges so far announced include Elvis producer Schuyler Weiss, president of production and development at Bazmark; Amazon Studios’ head of worldwide production and post-production, Tim Clawson; producer and former Sundance executive Bird Runningwater; and the Association of Film Commissioners International’s (Afci) executive director, Jaclyn Philpott.
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- 3/8/2023
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
Peter Nadermann’s Nadcon Film and South African genre specialists Gambit Films (“Indemnity”) are teaming up to adapt a trilogy of best-selling crime thrillers, Variety can reveal.
The “Revenge Trilogy” is based on the Cape Town-set novels from South African author Mike Nicol. The books will be adapted for screen by Gambit’s Daryne Joshua and will be produced by Gambit Films and Nadcon Film in cooperation with Zdf Enterprises, which co-owns Nadcon.
The story begins with ex-gun-runners Mace Bishop and Pylon Buso, who made an illicit fortune while part of the struggle against Apartheid but are now at the helm of a private security company, trying to settle into a comfortable life in Cape Town. With their ill-gotten riches stuck in the Cayman Islands, however, the partners find their dreams of a worry-free future in jeopardy.
Instead, they’re plunged into Cape Town’s violent underworld, where a powerful...
The “Revenge Trilogy” is based on the Cape Town-set novels from South African author Mike Nicol. The books will be adapted for screen by Gambit’s Daryne Joshua and will be produced by Gambit Films and Nadcon Film in cooperation with Zdf Enterprises, which co-owns Nadcon.
The story begins with ex-gun-runners Mace Bishop and Pylon Buso, who made an illicit fortune while part of the struggle against Apartheid but are now at the helm of a private security company, trying to settle into a comfortable life in Cape Town. With their ill-gotten riches stuck in the Cayman Islands, however, the partners find their dreams of a worry-free future in jeopardy.
Instead, they’re plunged into Cape Town’s violent underworld, where a powerful...
- 2/14/2022
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Find Her Exclusive Poster Reveal & New Stills: "Psychological Thriller Find Her has released it's final poster (attached) and revised synopsis (see below) ahead of the film's 2022 release.
The noir stars Nick McCallum (Burning Kentucky), Richard Gunn (Clemency), Stelio Savante, (Running For Grace), Rebecca Lines (The Falcon And The Winter Soldier), Anais Lilit (The Walking Dead: Red Machete), Randal Gonzalez (Greenland), John James (Axcellerator), Mary Drew Ahrens, John Daniel Gates and G. Andrew Ahrens who also serves as producer.
Filmed in Louisiana and Florida, Find Her was directed by Nick McCallum from his own script with Emmy award winning director of photography, Evan Zissimopulos providing the cinematography.
In the film, a mysterious ex-cop named Isaiah Slade arrives in a small town searching for answers to a murdered ranch owner and his still missing daughter. It slowly becomes clear that not only are there multiple suspects, but that Slade himself has his...
The noir stars Nick McCallum (Burning Kentucky), Richard Gunn (Clemency), Stelio Savante, (Running For Grace), Rebecca Lines (The Falcon And The Winter Soldier), Anais Lilit (The Walking Dead: Red Machete), Randal Gonzalez (Greenland), John James (Axcellerator), Mary Drew Ahrens, John Daniel Gates and G. Andrew Ahrens who also serves as producer.
Filmed in Louisiana and Florida, Find Her was directed by Nick McCallum from his own script with Emmy award winning director of photography, Evan Zissimopulos providing the cinematography.
In the film, a mysterious ex-cop named Isaiah Slade arrives in a small town searching for answers to a murdered ranch owner and his still missing daughter. It slowly becomes clear that not only are there multiple suspects, but that Slade himself has his...
- 1/21/2022
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, has acquired worldwide rights (excluding Africa and Japan) to “Indemnity,” an action-thriller written and directed by South African filmmaker Travis Taute that had its world premiere at Montreal’s Fantasia Film Festival. Magnet is targeting an early 2022 release.
“Indemnity” follows Theo Abrams, an ex-Cape Town fireman whose world is rocked when he wakes up next to his wife’s dead body with no recollection of what transpired and all evidence pointing to him as the killer.
“’Indemnity’ is visceral, high-octane cinema done with an amazing level of accomplishment and imagination,” said Magnolia Pictures president Eamonn Bowles. “Travis Taute and his South African crew have delivered a real winner.”
“’Indemnity’ is at its very core a simple and poetic journey of one man’s attempt at redemption in the wake of a devastating trauma,” said Taute. “It was conceived as a vehicle to...
“Indemnity” follows Theo Abrams, an ex-Cape Town fireman whose world is rocked when he wakes up next to his wife’s dead body with no recollection of what transpired and all evidence pointing to him as the killer.
“’Indemnity’ is visceral, high-octane cinema done with an amazing level of accomplishment and imagination,” said Magnolia Pictures president Eamonn Bowles. “Travis Taute and his South African crew have delivered a real winner.”
“’Indemnity’ is at its very core a simple and poetic journey of one man’s attempt at redemption in the wake of a devastating trauma,” said Taute. “It was conceived as a vehicle to...
- 11/3/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
XYZ Films has acquired North American sales rights to “Indemnity,” an action thriller from South African director Travis Taute that’s set to world premiere at Montreal’s Fantasia Film Festival.
Written and directed by Taute, “Indemnity” tells the story of an ex-firefighter in Cape Town who’s forced to fight for his life after being accused of murdering his wife. Starring Jarrid Geduld, Nicole Fortuin and Andre Jacobs, pic is produced by Benjamin Overmeyer and Bradley Joshua for Gambit Films, the South African production outfit behind the Netflix series “Blood and Water” and the Fantasia prize winner “Number 37.”
“‘Indemnity’ is, at its very core, a simple and poetic journey of one man’s attempt at redemption in the wake of a devastating trauma,” said Taute. “It was conceived as a vehicle to shine a spotlight on the importance of mental health and deliver sobering insight into the destructive nature of toxic masculinity.
Written and directed by Taute, “Indemnity” tells the story of an ex-firefighter in Cape Town who’s forced to fight for his life after being accused of murdering his wife. Starring Jarrid Geduld, Nicole Fortuin and Andre Jacobs, pic is produced by Benjamin Overmeyer and Bradley Joshua for Gambit Films, the South African production outfit behind the Netflix series “Blood and Water” and the Fantasia prize winner “Number 37.”
“‘Indemnity’ is, at its very core, a simple and poetic journey of one man’s attempt at redemption in the wake of a devastating trauma,” said Taute. “It was conceived as a vehicle to shine a spotlight on the importance of mental health and deliver sobering insight into the destructive nature of toxic masculinity.
- 8/2/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix is continuing its push into African originals with its latest order, the South African teen series “Blood & Water.”
The series, which is directed by Nosipho Dumisa, the helmer behind the buzzy SXSW title “Number 37,” follows a local teen who discovers her family’s secret past while navigating the complicated world of a South African high school.
The news comes two months after Netflix announced its first African original, “Queen Sono,” starring veteran South African thesp Pearl Thusi (“Quantico”) as a secret agent fighting crime while dealing with her messy personal life. Last week the streamer also announced its acquisition of South African drama “Shadow,” about an ex-cop with superpowers, which will be released globally as a Netflix Original March 8.
“Blood & Water” features an up-and-coming local cast and will be produced by the Gambit Films team behind “Number 37.” Daryne Joshua and Travis Taute will be writing and co-directing with Dumisa,...
The series, which is directed by Nosipho Dumisa, the helmer behind the buzzy SXSW title “Number 37,” follows a local teen who discovers her family’s secret past while navigating the complicated world of a South African high school.
The news comes two months after Netflix announced its first African original, “Queen Sono,” starring veteran South African thesp Pearl Thusi (“Quantico”) as a secret agent fighting crime while dealing with her messy personal life. Last week the streamer also announced its acquisition of South African drama “Shadow,” about an ex-cop with superpowers, which will be released globally as a Netflix Original March 8.
“Blood & Water” features an up-and-coming local cast and will be produced by the Gambit Films team behind “Number 37.” Daryne Joshua and Travis Taute will be writing and co-directing with Dumisa,...
- 2/25/2019
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix is continuing its aggressive move into African originals with its latest commission: teen series Blood & Water.
The series, which will be directed by Nommer 37 director Nosipho Dumisa, follows a local teen uncovering her family’s secret past and navigating the complicated world of a South African high school.
This comes two months after the Svod service unveiled Queen Sono, starring Quantico’s Pearl Thusi, as its first African original.
Blood & Water will be produced by Dumisa’s Nommer 37 team at Gambit Films with Daryne Joshua and Travis Taute writing and co-directing with Nosipho, Bradley Joshua and Benjamin Overmeyer as producers and Simon Beesley as lead editor.
The series is set to start production later this year and is expected to launch globally in 190 countries in 2020.
“Gambit Films and I are so excited to be working with Netflix on this explosive young adult drama, with not only a cool look...
The series, which will be directed by Nommer 37 director Nosipho Dumisa, follows a local teen uncovering her family’s secret past and navigating the complicated world of a South African high school.
This comes two months after the Svod service unveiled Queen Sono, starring Quantico’s Pearl Thusi, as its first African original.
Blood & Water will be produced by Dumisa’s Nommer 37 team at Gambit Films with Daryne Joshua and Travis Taute writing and co-directing with Nosipho, Bradley Joshua and Benjamin Overmeyer as producers and Simon Beesley as lead editor.
The series is set to start production later this year and is expected to launch globally in 190 countries in 2020.
“Gambit Films and I are so excited to be working with Netflix on this explosive young adult drama, with not only a cool look...
- 2/25/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Blood & Water will flow on Netflix, with the streamer on Monday unveiling its second African original set for a 2020 debut.
Number 37 director Nosipho Dumisa will helm the young adult drama, which follows a teen uncovering her family's past in South Africa.
Dumisa's psychological crime film premiered at SXSW and went on to be nominated for seven South African Film and Television awards, as well as took the Cheval Noir directing prize at Montreal's Fantasia Film Fest. She'll bring her Gambit Films producing team along, with producers Bradley Joshua and Benjamin Overmeyer, lead editor ...
Number 37 director Nosipho Dumisa will helm the young adult drama, which follows a teen uncovering her family's past in South Africa.
Dumisa's psychological crime film premiered at SXSW and went on to be nominated for seven South African Film and Television awards, as well as took the Cheval Noir directing prize at Montreal's Fantasia Film Fest. She'll bring her Gambit Films producing team along, with producers Bradley Joshua and Benjamin Overmeyer, lead editor ...
- 2/25/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
“Number 37,” a Hitchcockian crime thriller set in the gritty Cape Flats outside Cape Town, hits U.S. theaters Nov. 2, opening in New York and L.A. ahead of a wider theatrical release.
For producer Bradley Joshua, who’s part of a delegation of filmmakers brought by South Africa’s Dept. of Trade & Industry (Dti) to the Afm this week, the movie’s North American rollout wouldn’t have been possible without the support of a government body widely considered to be the lifeblood of the local industry.
“Without [the Dti], it would have been infinitely more difficult to even get this project off the ground,” said Joshua. Dark Star Pictures is distributing; Xyz Films is handling sales.
South Africa’s incentive schemes have helped the country become a global player in the production services industry and offered vital support to local producers. But the Dti has put special emphasis on the emerging black filmmakers incentive,...
For producer Bradley Joshua, who’s part of a delegation of filmmakers brought by South Africa’s Dept. of Trade & Industry (Dti) to the Afm this week, the movie’s North American rollout wouldn’t have been possible without the support of a government body widely considered to be the lifeblood of the local industry.
“Without [the Dti], it would have been infinitely more difficult to even get this project off the ground,” said Joshua. Dark Star Pictures is distributing; Xyz Films is handling sales.
South Africa’s incentive schemes have helped the country become a global player in the production services industry and offered vital support to local producers. But the Dti has put special emphasis on the emerging black filmmakers incentive,...
- 11/2/2018
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Austria and Switzerland, Germany and China have all taken the film.
Paris-based Reel Suspects has scored deals on its South African crime thriller Number 37 following the film’s market screening in Cannes.
The film, which had its world premiere at SXSW this year, has gone to Germany, Austria and Switzerland (Indeed Films) and China (Time Vision).
Us distributor Dark Star Pictures picked up North American rights from Xyz earlier this month. Reel Suspects handles international rights.
The Afrikaans-language film is the directing debut of Nosipho Dumisa and is styled as a homage to Hitchcock’s Rear Window. The story follows...
Paris-based Reel Suspects has scored deals on its South African crime thriller Number 37 following the film’s market screening in Cannes.
The film, which had its world premiere at SXSW this year, has gone to Germany, Austria and Switzerland (Indeed Films) and China (Time Vision).
Us distributor Dark Star Pictures picked up North American rights from Xyz earlier this month. Reel Suspects handles international rights.
The Afrikaans-language film is the directing debut of Nosipho Dumisa and is styled as a homage to Hitchcock’s Rear Window. The story follows...
- 5/12/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Hot SXSW title Number 37, a Hitchcockian South African crime thriller, is heading to theaters in the U.S. after Dark Star Pictures picked up all North American rights.
The film, which is the directorial debut of Nosipho Dumisa, is to get a fall theatrical release, starting in New York and L.A., followed by an early winter video-on-demand release.
Number 37, which started out as a short film before picking up steam after the festival route, aired as part of the Narrative Feature section at the Austin fest earlier this year.
The plot of the Afrikaans-language pic is an homage to Hitchcock’s Rear Window and centers on Randall, a low-level criminal recently crippled in an illicit deal gone wrong. Cooped up in his apartment in a rough Cape Town neighborhood, he is heavily indebted to a loan shark named Emmie with the clock ticking for him and his girlfriend...
The film, which is the directorial debut of Nosipho Dumisa, is to get a fall theatrical release, starting in New York and L.A., followed by an early winter video-on-demand release.
Number 37, which started out as a short film before picking up steam after the festival route, aired as part of the Narrative Feature section at the Austin fest earlier this year.
The plot of the Afrikaans-language pic is an homage to Hitchcock’s Rear Window and centers on Randall, a low-level criminal recently crippled in an illicit deal gone wrong. Cooped up in his apartment in a rough Cape Town neighborhood, he is heavily indebted to a loan shark named Emmie with the clock ticking for him and his girlfriend...
- 5/3/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
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