REALNESS - A SCREENWRITERS RESIDENCY

Realness Residency is a pan-African programme dedicated to developing and supporting the next generation of African screenwriting talent. Realness ensures that projects are given the space to mature sufficiently in the development phase such that, once they enter production, they result in films that have the potential to travel and appeal to worldwide independent cinema audiences. Its purpose is to offer talent a nurturing environment that allows them to stretch their creativity and drive their craft under mentorship from industry experts. Its aim is to not only nurture and empower filmmakers every year but to foster a New Wave of Authentic African Cinema. It is a year round support system to the alumni, helping them to bring their scripts from the page to the screen ensuring that the programme maintains a long-standing impact.

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Operating from the stunning Cradle of Humankind in South Africa, the residency period is a six-week focused incubation where residents write in a inspiring and relaxed environment but are provided feedback and support at every step of the process. Residents also attend the Durban International Film Festival as participants of the Market (DFM) after receiving mentorship on how to pitch their film projects. This step is designed to get them closer to realising their films by facilitating their proficiency in attracting financial investment/partnership for their work. After the festival participation, residents are given another 6 weeks to finesse their work from the comfort of home. Final deliveries are submitted to our partners for awards consideration. Each project is eligible for scholarships to attend Locarno Filmmakers Academy, Torino Film Lab Meeting Event, EAVE Producer's Workshop and La Fabrique des Cinemas du Monde in Cannes.

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Urucu Media are grateful for the support of Berlinale Talents, in partnership with Nirox Foundation, The French Institute of South Africa and Institute Français’s Cinémas du Monde, Torino Film Lab, EAVE Producer's Workshop, Toronto International Film Festival and Locarno Filmmaker's Academy.





Feedback from previous REALNESS residents:

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"This residency is at the forefront of African cinema and I truly believe in years to come will be regarded as one of the most important homes of a new wave of African cinema... I cannot commend Elias and Cait enough for their passion and tenacity which drives the initiative"

- Fradique, Angola, 2017

"The Residency has been a nurturing environment and incubator of growth and expression which we have each benefitted from considerably. This is made possible in large by the liberty afforded to focus only on our nascent screenplays, free from daily material concerns….a place of immense exploration and artistic evolution and I hope will continue to be."

- Gloria Huwiller, Zambia, 2017

"Living in a country that is not conducive to 'writing' I am delighted to have been able to take part in REALNESS. The most important thing for me was the interactions with my co-residents and how much I learned from the consultants."

- Luck Razanajoana, Madagascar, 2016

"It's the first time, in our history of African Cinema that we have this kind of program. The writing process is the most difficult phases of our work. Many of us, can't afford to rent a house in the countryside far away from our family and daily work: so we have no other choice than to write our scripts in very bad conditions. That's one of our major weaknesses. Most of the time, our scripts and storytelling are very original and full of creativity, but they are very badly written, due to a lack of time, means and money. And most of the time, all the good programs are in Europe or US, and those programs are orientated for western directors. That's one of the main reasons why very few films and filmmakers can emerge from Africa"

- Rama Thiaw, Senegal, 2017

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