Wome, Ajao selected for Talents Durban

Two Nigerians, Wome Uyeye and Adefoyeke Ajao, are among film talents selected from across Africa to attend this year’s Talents Durban which forms part of the 37th Durban International Film Festival (DIFF).
Presented under the theme, ‘Degrees of Separation: Connecting People and Story’, the ninth edition of Talents Durban, organisers said, aims to boost the already rising flow of contemporary filmmaking in Africa, and to encourage filmmakers on the continent to share their stories through the lens of their own particular culture.
Sharlene Versfeld, publicist for DIFF, said participants would interact with over 600 delegates from DIFF and Durban FilmMart, the co-production and finance forum which takes place from June 17 to 20 during the festival.
The talents will also be part of several project-oriented, hands-on skills development programmes. Practical development programmes within Talents Durban include Story Junction, masterclasses, and one-on-one mentorships, she stated.
Presented in cooperation with the Berlinale Talents, an initiative of the Berlin International Film Festival, Talents Durban is a five-day development programme consisting of workshops and seminars for African filmmakers delivered by film professionals and academics. It is one of the six Talents International programmes formed by Berlinale Talents.
The Talents, who are selected through a rigorous application process, will also have the opportunity to attend screenings and other events at the DIFF.
The other Talents programmes include Talents Beirut in Lebanon, Talents Buenos Aires in Argentina, Talents Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Talents Tokyo in Japan and Talents Guadalajara in Mexico.
Other participants are: Amirah Tadjin (Kenya), Desmond Denton (South Africa), Flavia Motsisi (South Africa), Hiwot Getaneh (Ethiopia), Izette Mostert (South Africa), Kennedy Omoro (Kenya), Maragert Wacera (South Africa), Nathan Rice (South Africa), Peter Seduffia (Ghana), Razanajaona Luck (Madagascar), Sakhumzi Mati (South Africa), Sameh Morsy (Egypt), Sheetal Magan (South Africa), Tamara Dawit (Ethiopia), Thea Small (South Africa), Tumelo Moutlana (South Africa), Wim Steytler (South Africa) and Yara Pereira (Mozambique).
Talents Durban participants will have access to all industry masterclasses, panel discussions and festival functions. In addition, the talents will be invited to all festival functions as well as events of the Durban FilmMart.
Each of the Talents Durban participants will receive a mentor for an intensive programme of one-on-one consultation and project and strategy development workshops for the entire group. The mentors selected are experts in their respective fields (e.g. documentary, fiction, drama series, web, mobile content, TV) that suit the needs of the participants and their projects.
Talents Durban is supported by the Goethe Institut SA, the German Embassy in South Africa and the Gauteng Film Commission.