| Adjust font size: |
  |
Focus Features announced the 5 filmmakers being awarded $10,000 apiece in Focus Features’ Africa First Program. The program is exclusively for emerging filmmakers of African nationality and residence.
Earlier this year, Focus offered participating filmmakers the chance to be awarded the financing for production and/or post-production on their narrative short film made in continental Africa and tapping the resources of the film industry there.
The short films that they will be directing are, Long Coat, a drama about a young Hutu coming to terms with Rwanda’s and his own family’s past; The Tunnel, a 1980s-set story centering around a 10-year-old girl’s quest; The Abyss Boys, a thriller about an illegal trade in a small fishing town; the public transportation musical N’Dar [Saint Louis Blues]; and Pumzi [Breath], a futuristic sci-fi tale.
Supervising producer of the Africa First Program had this to say, “We are hoping to work closely with these filmmakers on any aspects of their films that they want assistance with, so that they can fully realize their artistic visions. I’m so pleased that we found diverse finalists from all over continental Africa.”
Focus Features exists to produce, acquire and distribute original and daring films that challenge the mainstream to embrace and enjoy voices and visions from around the world that deliver global commercial success.
|
|
 |



|