GEORGE NEWS - Eleven delegates from the Garden Route, including Garden Route Film Office (GRFO) members, visited the Durban FilmMart (DFM) earlier this month. 

The DFM is a joint programme of the Durban Film Office (DFO) and the Durban International Film Festival (Diff) and takes place in conjunction with the Durban International Film Festival that spans over a 10-day period, from 18 to 28 July.

Five youngsters who attended the event, Stefan Kloppers, Cara Botha, Antonie Botha, Moses Williams and Amy Jansen, had the opportunity to witness how the film industry functions. The rest of the team included Philip de Vries (GRFO chairperson), Jacques van der Merwe (GRFO director), Patrick Walton (GRFO director), Lika Berning (GRFO director and owner of Ikasi Media), Liza Stroebel (Garden Route District Municipality councillor and GRFO Exco member, and Amy Jansen (GRFO secretary).

Stroebel said the presence at such a festival is vibrant and exciting. "To see the hype of activities within the film industry under one roof and to be able to meet and greet foreign contingents, attend panel discussions and interact socially with artistic individuals within the broader film industry in South Africa and abroad, was an amazing experience. I learnt so much about the film industry and will now be able to better represent the Garden Route District Municipality in the film industry in the Garden Route."

On an annual basis, the DFM offers creatives, producers and other film industry experts the opportunity to develop content, skills and expertise, while also paving the way for cross-border collaborations and networks. A jam-packed programme of panel discussions, seminars, workshops, masterclasses, a finance forum and mini conferences and exhibitions formed part of the festival.

'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'