DATABASE
ATFT has just started building a database of black and disabled individuals and their companies and has already had over 100 individuals register themselves on this database. The database contains detailed information including all their contact details, company details and work experience as individuals and as a company. Our website is the portal through which individuals can sign up an
d are then automatically added to the database. The database can then segment and export specific lists according to various categories for example province, work experience etc.. There is also a query form on our website whereby anyone can request companies or individuals with specific skills or work experience and their query is matched to individuals and companies that have the requested skills or experience and the query emailed to them. Individuals in the database also have the facility to update their details at any given time via a link in our emails and are encouraged to do so at specific intervals to keep the database up to date. Other databases have been supplied to ATFT be various industry bodies or government stakeholders and are used to request further registrations to our database. The inactive members of these databases are removed after the mailshots and a clean database returned to the original database owners.
2. DELEGATIONS TO MARKETS AND FESTIVALS
ATFT takes delegations of emerging black and disabled filmmakers to various international markets and festivals, and partners with established filmmakers to mentor them leading up to and at the markets and festivals. ATFT puts up an exhibition stand under the brand “SA Indies” at these markets and festivals as well as distributes a catalogue of companies and productions from South Africa in attendance, both emerging and mentoring and promotes these South African companies there. ATFT assists producers that attend these markets and festivals to secure finance for their projects or a slate of projects and enable them to put in place the final elements of finance and distribution and sales for their projects. ATFT provides support to producers with minimal or no experience of international film and television markets who have a project to pitch, by pre-arranging speed dating sessions at the SA Indies stand with distributors we have existing relationships with, that are interested in their projects. The distributors or sales agents receive the catalogue of projects and companies in the delegation in advance and select the projects or companies they would like to meet with. We then coordinate a speed dating session and schedule 15 minute meetings for each project or company selected with the distributor or sales agent that has chosen them. In addition we help develop their financing, distribution and sales skills at workshops prior to the market or festival and through mentorship at the market by experienced producers as well as ATFT project coordinators.
3. PREPARATORY WORKSHOPS FOR MARKETS AND FESTIVALS
In advance to markets and festivals, ATFT hosts a series of workshops in several key cities around the country, to bring delegates and those interested in the market or festival up to speed on what it is and how to make the most of it in terms of sales, distribution, financing and co-production. These workshops are always facilitated by an international producer who is experienced in the particular market or festival the delegation will be attending, as well as understands how to finance and distribute or sell content in that region. An ATFT facilitator additionally covers all the available South African production funds and market attendance incentives that companies can use to make the most of these specific market or festivals. The morning session is an introduction to specific market or festival, as well as an overview of all other relevant international markets and festivals, for anyone who has never attended another market or festival before.
2. The afternoon session is an advanced financing, sales, distribution and co-production session on how to make the most of that specific market or festival and attract investment to your project.
4. EDUCATION AND TRAINING
ATFT constantly monitors skills gaps and needs for education and training through our surveys and feedback forms at workshops and develops strategies and curriculum in partnership with stakeholders to address the skills gap in our industry for black and disabled individuals. At all encounters with individuals and companies we address questions and disseminate information on the industry and skills required. ATFT develops incubation and consulting projects to assist companies and individuals reach specific goals in their careers or companies in order to grow the industry and ensure the growth is by majority black and disabled individuals and companies.
