Preparations are already well underway for The Cape Town International Film Market and Festival 2018. Building on both the successes and learnings of the inaugural event in 2017, the CTIFMF is excited to announce the appointment of a new Market Director, Elias Ribiero.
Ribeiro is well known and respected across the industry as a Producer and will bring his strong and extensive worldwide network, skills range in international co-productions, financing, content distribution and 13 years of experience in the film business to the CTIFMF directing team.
Ribeiro, through his production company Urucu Media, in partnership with Cait Pansegrouw, has produced numerous shorts, a feature documentary and 5 award winning feature films in just 5 years. The work they have produced is often audacious and challenging of the status quo. They have also become known for having a great eye for talent, with both of the first-time feature directors From the last two productions going on to sign with CAA in Los Angeles.
Urucu’s break was Necktie Youth (South Africa/ Holland) by Sibs Shongwe LaMer, followed by The Wound (South Africa/ France/ Germany/ Holland)) by John Trengove and The Train of Salt and Sugar (Mozambique/ South Africa/ Brazil/ Portugal/ France) by Licinio Azevedo; both were selected as their country’s official entry to the Academy Awards, with The Wound making it to the December shortlist of 9 out of a record entry of 92 foreign language films. The Wound also won 26 prizes internationally, including the Sutherland Award at the London BFI for best first feature and 6 SAFTAS.
They have licensed content to Netflix, HBO, ARTE, ZDF, SABC and MNET. Urucu’s films have competed at Sundance, Berlinale, Tribecca, Toronto, Locarno and Venice among others and have sold to more than 50 territories worldwide.
Ribeiro is excited to engage with the various industry stakeholders to ensure that this year’s event is collaborative, representative and valuable. With this wealth of experience, Ribeiro understands the need of the industry From a global perspective. He is the ideal person to lead the business-oriented side of the event in its goal to re-create the African film industry From the bottom up.
This audacious yet essential aim is at the core of the planning for this year’s market and festival and Ribeiro has this to say of his plans for the year, “I am thrilled to spend the next few months talking to people both locally and internationally to seek guidance and get feedback in order to develop a market that truly meets the needs of the African film industry.”
